I 



m tME ethnological survey of CANAttA. 5-i5 



their bodies and hfeads, and shook their blankets again and again, but all 

 to no purpose ; and not until late in the night, when the mice ceased their 

 noise, and the fleas and lice left them, did they get any sleep. Then, worn 

 out and heavy with sleep, all sank into deep slumber. QOa'tEn now 

 opened the door and let in the waiting Skauk", who quietly takes the rain- 

 maker's sleeping son in his arms and carries him down to the canoe. In 

 leaving Sla'tlmEQ's dwelling Skauk" sets the door ajar, and the rain at 

 once beo-ins to fall lightly. As soon as the child is placed in the canoe 

 they leave the place and return to Skauk''s house. When they arrive 

 Skauk- takes the still sleeping boy to his house and lays him on his bed. 

 About the time that Skauk- and his friends got home Sia'tlmEQ woke up 

 and found his door ajar. He soon discovers that his son is missing. He 

 is much grieved and goes out and looks about. As he does so he opens 

 the door wide and leaves it in that position, thus causing the rain to 

 descend in torrents. Suspecting who had robbed him of his child, he 

 presently takes his canoe and makes for Skauk-'s landing. When he 

 arrives he anchors his canoe, but does not get out of it. The rain does 

 not incommode Sia'tlmEQ in the least. Although he has come some 

 distance in his canoe, and it has been pouring all the while, not a drop has 

 fallen upon him or in his canoe. Wherever he is no rain falls within 

 a certain radius of him. The creeks and streams are now full of 

 water, and the whole land is drinking in the long-desired rain. When 

 Sia'tlmEQ reached the landing he asked the people if they had seen or 

 knew anything of his son. ' Yes,' they reply, ' he is here. Skauk- has 

 him.' "Tell Skauk- to come to me,' said the rain-maker, who still sat in 

 his canoe. Skauk- comes down to the water's edge. Said Sia'tlmEQ to 

 him : ' You have my son here, I learn. Why did you steal him away 1 ' 

 'Yes,' replied Skauk-, ' your son is here, but I did not steal him. I only 

 brought him here because we were badly in want of water, and I did not 

 know how otherwise to get you to give us rain. I do not wish to rob you 

 of your child,' continued he. All the people were dying for want of 

 water. You would not open your dwelling to me, and so I got some of 

 my friends to help me, and together we found a way to open your door, 

 and while you slept I brought away your son. But I am willing to 

 restore him to you if you will be friends with us and give us rain whenever 

 we want any. I cannot bear to see all the people die and all the berries 

 and roots fail us for want of water.' Sia'tlmEQ replied : ' Very well, I will 

 be good friends and do as you request, only give me back my son.' Skauk- 

 gives the rain-maker back his child, and the two return to their own house. 

 Before Sia'tlmEQ left he promised to open his door every now and again 

 from that time on. Said he : ' I will keep my door shut for five or ten or 

 perhaps twenty days, then I will open it again for a little while and you 

 shall have plenty of rain.' As soon as he got home he closed his dwelling 

 and the rain ceased at once. About a week after he opened it again for 

 some time and the rain again fell. This he did from time to time, and 

 has ever since continued to do so ; and thus it is that the rain falls on 

 some days and not on others, and we have periods of wet alternating with 

 periods of dry weather. 



Skattk- and K-icaie'tEk, or the Origin of Daylight. 



Very long ago, in the early days, it was always dark, the daylight being 

 then shut up in a box and carefully stored away in the dwelling of 

 K-waietsk, the Seagull, who alone possessed it. This condition of 

 1900. N N 



