HUMAN SOULS METBMPSTCHOSED ESTTO FISH. 129 



Meachain has given several of these concretionary products of the uncultivated Modoc 

 mind. In making a study of aboriginal mythology and folklore such fictions must be 

 disregarded, though they may be of interest to psychologists. 



IV. Eaces in an undeveloped, primitive state of mind are prone to regard living 

 animals as the abodes of spirits, and most frequently the wild and carnivorous quad- 

 rui>eds are believed to harbor wicked spirits. These are either elementary spirits, or 

 the ghosts of deceased persons. To see a spirit means death, and in their terrified 

 state they often behold, as here, the spirit in a half human, half beastly appearance, 

 when coyote-wolves, gray wolves, bears, cougars etc. come in sight. Such a sight can 

 cause the instant death of the hunter, or deprive him of his reason, or make him sick 

 for months. In Greek and Eoman mythology. Pan, the Satyrs and the Fauns retain 

 something of these primitive notions (in the panic terror etc.), though these genii were 

 largely idealized in the later periods of national development. In every nation a rela- 

 tively large amount of superstitions refers to hunting and the chase of wild beasts. 



128, 9. Tanktchi'kni is in fact an adjective, not an adverb; literally, it means "those 

 who existed, or hunted since that time", and is composed of tdnk, a while or time ago, 

 tchek, finaUy, and the suflQx -ni. Of. 13, 2. 128, 1. 



Sku'ks=kia'm. 

 HUMAN SOULS METEMPSYCHOSED INTO FISH. 



Given in the Klamath Lake Dialect by Dave Hill. 



Kd-i hfl'nk shla' at kanf kia'mat sku'ksliash. Hu'k pll link shla't 



Not can see anybody in a fish .t dead man's spirit. Dead men only can see 



shku'ks; pll mAklaks hu'k shla't sku'ks. Hushtr;{ak tsa'taks nl'sh, sfuks 



spirits; only dtiiid Indians can see spirits. Ho makes dream but if me, to kill 



only (about deceased) (me) 



tche'k sanaho'li huk, wakianua shuishaltki tchii bants' giugnush. Ha'toks 3 



then be wants, or perhaps to keep the song- because ho wants me. If 



medicine 



nf shla4t k'lakdtak nl; ha n' lYnk shladt sku'ks=kiam, ha n' fi'nk shla4t 



I should see might die I; if I it fiboaldsee, the spirit-fish, if I him should see 



(the dead), 



mdklaks hii'nk sko'ks tchi'sh, k'lakdt n' u'nk shla-6k; wakidnua hissiinuk 



the dead person the spirit also, may die I, him for havinjj: seen ; or perhaps if song-medicine 



is applied, 



tchatch ni'sh ka-i siu'gat. HH'masht hu'nkash shla-ukit na'd mdklaks, 6 



then me not he may kill. Therefore him if should see we Indians, 



hu'k tchish kia'm, kat gek wA; ka-i hu'nk shla^t hii'nkesh kia'mat 



the dead also (would appear which there lives; not I can see it in the fish 



as) a fish, 



sk6kshash. 



the dead man's 

 spirit. 



9 



