538 REPORT— 1900. 



some time, and then the eldest boy says they are sorry for her and will 

 now help her and make her happy and comfortable. ' O mother ! ' said he, 

 ' I know what I will do for you : I will become a great hunter and kill 

 lots of mountain-goats for you.' The second then chimes in ' O mother ! 

 I know what I will do : I will build you a nice house with carved posts ' 

 (Stutna). The third then says, ' O mother ! I will become a great fisher 

 and catch lots of whales and seals, <fcc.' In like manner each declares in 

 turn what he intends to do for her. The fourth would be a canoe-builder 

 and build them all canoes. The fifth a bear-hunter and bring them many 

 bear-skins. The sixth a song-maker and dancer and make songs and 

 dances. The seventh a bird-hunter and bring home many birds. The 

 eighth a transformer (suiwe'n) and wonder-worker. The ninth would be 

 a great chief and look after everything belonging to the village. The 

 tenth would do a little of everything — in short, would become a ' Jack-of- 

 ull-trades.' The mother listened to them all without making any remark. 

 The two girls now chimed in, and the elder declared that she would be a 

 great basket-maker and make all kinds of baskets for her mother ; and 

 the younger, that she would be a berry and root gatherer and keep 

 the house supplied with berries and roots. The day following they 

 undertook the special task they had allotted themselves. The hunters 

 brought home their different kinds of games and presented it to their 

 mother, while each of the others presented her with some specimen of 

 their craft or handiwork. From this time onward they lived in comfort and 

 happiness. One day the mother, fearing they might on some occasion go 

 round the point of land and come in contact with her former associates 

 and friends, with whom she now desired to have no dealings, warned 

 them never to go in that direction or they would get into trouble and 

 danger. This caution served but to awaken their curiosity, and one day, 

 when they wei'e out on the water in their canoes, one of them remarked to 

 the others, ' I believe that village round the point belongs to our mother's 

 people ; let us go round and see.' The others agreeing, they make for 

 their grandfather's settlement. It was then early in the day, and in 

 their canoes they had many seal which the fisher brother had caught that 

 morning. When they had got round the point they perceived an old man 

 sitting on the beach. They direct their canoes towards him and land 

 close by. The old man observed their movements, but did not speak to 

 them. Presently one of them accosts him in these words : ' We think 

 our grandfather lives here and we have come over to see ; can you tell 

 us ? ' The old man then asks them where they come from. They tell 

 him, from behind the point, where they live alone with their mother. The 

 old man, who is really the chief, their grandfather, perceived at once that 

 they must be his daughter's children who were born as puppies, and 

 declares himself to them, telling them he is their grandfather whom they 

 are seeking. They are glad to learn this, and present him with all the 

 seals they had brought in their canoes. The old chief now calls some of 

 his people and instructs them to unload the visitors' canoes and bring the 

 seals up to his house. He is feeling very joyful and happy (tsa'stauq). 

 ' Come into my house, grandchildren,' said he to his grandsons, ' and let 

 me tell my people of your arrival.' They follow him into his big house, 

 where the rest of the people soon assemble. The old man presently 

 informs them that the strangers are his grandsons, the children of his 

 deserted daughter, and proposes that they shall all go back to the old 

 settlement. The idea is accepted, and he tells his grandsons that they 



