560 REPORT—1899, 
has happened, and rush home quickly, and collect the smoke and return it 
to the box, scolding him the while, and telling him not to be so disobedient 
again. The boy pleaded forgetfulness, and promised to let the boxes 
alone for the future. The women set out again on their walk. When 
this boy, who had Snikia’p’s soul within him, and Snikia’p’s cunning 
and experience, was left alone the second time, he went out and examined 
the salmon-weir. He perceives that it prevents the salmon from getting 
higher up the river. The sisters presently return, and he is called away for 
that time. One day they say they are going out for the morning. The 
boy says he wants to go too, but they tell him they cannot be bothered 
with him ; he must stay at home and look after the place. As soon as 
the women have gone, Snikia’p opens one of the ‘ medicine’ boxes, and 
the wind escapes and a gale arises. He then opens the other three boxes, 
and lets their contents out also. He now proceeds to the centre of the 
weir, and makes an opening in it through which the salmon swim up 
river. The sisters soon perceive what has happened, and rush home. 
They set to work to gather their scattered property, but can only secure 
some of the smoke and flies. The wind gets away beyond their power to 
recall, and they lose it entirely. Snikia’p now changes into an old man 
again, and runs away, feeling happy and in good spirits. He has let the 
salmon up the river, and the people above will be able to get them now. 
There is only one drawback to his feelings of satisfaction—the smoke and 
flies are troublesome, and the wasps are very annoying. However, he | 
goes up river, shouting and singing, and in good time gets back to the 
camp at Britta’ni. As he enters the camp he shouts to the people to _ 
come and see the salmon he has brought up the river. He does not 
remain there, but goes up the river shouting to the people that he has 
brought the salmon, By-and-by he gets tired, and walks quietly and 
slowly. He picks some green branches and carries them over his shoulders. 
As he passes the villages along the river he asks the people what they 
would like to have. They answer, ‘We want some of the mountain- 
sheep fat that grows on the neck and smells nice.’ ‘Can’t give you 
that,’ replied Snikia’p. They then mention another rare luxury—the 
back of a salmon. He declares they can have all they want of that, and 
bids them go to the river, and they will find it full of salmon. He arrives 
in time at Bridge River, where he makes a fall to stop the salmon from 
going further by stepping to and fro across the river three times 
But he does not make the fall high enough, and many of the salmon 
jump it and get up the river. From thence he goes up the North Fraser, 
and brings the steep banks of the river together to form a cafion, so that 
the people there can more easily catch the salmon. He presently crosses 
the river, and passes over into the Shuswap country. At this time he is 
wearing a handsome buckskin shirt. He wanders all round the country, 
and in time gets back to Lytton. No one recognises him when he returns, 
he is so altered ; and he keeps up his disguise by speaking a strange 
language and pretending ignorance of the N’tlaka’pamug tongue. The 
people inquire among themselves who there is that is acquainted with the 
other languages of the country. Some one says that Pi’iyaug, an old 
woman, knows several tongues besides her own. She is sent for to see if 
she can hold converse with the stranger. She begins by speaking 
Sk-quamic. Snikia’p shakes his head at this. She now tries him with 
the Yale tongue. Again he shakes his head. She next tries Okanakan, 
but with no better success. Then Shuswap, then Lillooet, then Carrier ; 
