Chapter XIX: Part 19

On the day following Nᴀñ-gut-tcî′ng̣a gave property to the Earth-eaters. He gave them eight slaves, as blood payment for the four persons that had been killed, and three hundred and twenty blankets. Because Qołgî′t was very sorry on account of his canoe he gave him a young slave. He was very glad to have him. And he also had his canoe repaired. The day after he called them [to a feast].

After that they again came to fight with us. Then the Town-of-Tcꜝā′ał people shot at us for two nights. After they had acted toward us in this way for three months a ship of the Iron people came. Nᴀñ-gut-tcî′ng̣a then told the Iron people about himself. Then they left us all kinds of ammunition.

After fifteen nights were passed they came after Nᴀñ-gut-tcî′ng̣a. And then, too, the Town-of-Tcꜝā′ał people came to fight with us. After they had shot at us for two nights they went away again. They (the Iron people) then took Nᴀñ-gut-tcî′ng̣a with them. His heart was not strong enough to go without me. So they took me as well.

We then started off. Some time afterward we came to Nass inlet. Two vessels lay there. Then they started to settle there. They put a stockade around the house, and the Nass people brought in cedar bark. They paid a blanket for the bark of two cedars to be used as roofing. [795] When the house was completed they finished the warehouse.

They began at once to buy furs. All sorts of people brought furs there to sell to them. During the whole time what was dropped upon the ground from the tobacco that they sold I put up into a sack. When my father came from Masset I gave it to him. And Nᴀñ-gut-tcî′ng̣a gave him many blankets from the trading house. My father gave him a canoe. In it they went to the head of Nass inlet with property to trade. At the end of ten nights the 10-fathom canoe was full of furs.

At that time Nᴀñ-gut-tcî′ng̣a threw chips into the water and shot at them. One youth then wanted the gun very much. And he asked how much it cost. They told him then that they would let him have it if he piled up furs to the muzzle as it stood on end. They then stood the gun on end, and they piled up beaver skins alongside it. And, when they reached the muzzle of the gun, they pressed them down. And when [the pile] got lower they piled on more. By and by, when it got even with the end, they stopped. And he also bought a longer one. And he gave six land-otter skins for the ammunition. He also gave six land-otter skins for a bag of bullets.

They then went away. After five nights were passed they returned. After they had lived there three years it was found to be too cold, and they removed to Port Simpson. There also I lived with them seven years. Nᴀñ-gut-tcî′ng̣a lived at the house of the Iron people. After that he lived there all the time.

Here is all of this.

This story gives us an idea of what intestine conflicts were like among people on this part of the Northwest coast. Strife having arisen between the Tcꜝā′ał-lā′nas and Ya′ku-qe′ig̣awa-i, or Ya′ku-gitina′-i, to which latter family my informant himself belonged. The Raven families among the Kaigani joined the weaker, and apparently the aggrieved, party. The feud was not ended, however, until the chief of the Ya′ku-qe′ig̣awa-i went away to live with the white people.

FIGHTS BETWEEN THE TSIMSHIAN AND HAIDA AND AMONG THE NORTHERN HAIDA

[Told by Richard of the Middle-gîtî′ns.]

The Skidegate people went once to trade at Port Simpson [796] in sixty canoes. The Pebble-town people [797] also went there. And they traded with dry halibut. They lived outside. There a Tsimshian, who was with a white man, came to them. Sticks were given around to them (the Haida). And afterward he took the sticks back again. They planned to destroy them during the winter. That was why they counted them.

A woman of the Gîtî′ns’-servants [798] named Bufflehead [799] sold dry halibut to the wife of Lgiäx. [800] She said it was too small and she wanted to exchange it for more. Bufflehead then refused to give her more in exchange. And they threw the dry halibut at Bufflehead. She then threw the dry halibut in the face of Lgiäx’s daughter, and she went home crying.

Some one shouted, and I went out. They were throwing stones at each other. They gave each other a thorough stoning. By and by they stopped. And some time afterward a gun went off. Some one shouted: “They killed so-and-so.” Some time after that another gun went off. Another was shot. Then it stopped for a while. When evening came they began to shoot at us. All through the night they shot at the Skidegate people. During all that time they shouted out [the name of the person shot]. I was then without a gun, and I borrowed one. I held it and two cartridge boxes. They shot at the sail houses on the beach in which we lived. There was nothing behind which we could shelter ourselves. Then I dug a hole for myself in the sand and lay in it.

I then shot at some one who lay behind a log and was shooting, back from the sea. I shot off his hat. When I shot at him again I shot his gun away from him. He then ran away.

A hill lay behind us, from which they were shooting at us. I also began to shoot at those. They also ran away. After they had shot at us for five nights they stopped for a while.

Then the Tsimshian came to dance. They wanted to make peace because we had killed Lgiäx’s nephew. We also enslaved two women who were walking seaward from the town. By and by they started to dance. We then gave them some property. After this had gone on for a while they made the following arrangements. They said that we might go with them to Laqꜝalā′m. And we said that we would give them more property. We thought then that it was all right, and we went to our canoes. While a part of the provisions lay on shore the Tsimshian took the provisions. We then got into our canoes. I pushed my canoe off with the many which were there. When the canoes got away two remained. I then ran toward the fort at Port Simpson. [801] There was yet a crowd of Skidegate people there. And, while I stood there, two canoes with the dancers [802] in them were still there. Then the Tsimshian pursued. They shot into the canoes, pulled themselves close alongside, and in a short time they drifted along empty. Then, when the two that were there started off, I ran down from in front of Port Simpson house. I jumped into the stern. Then the two dancers[802] [in their canoes] paddled backward. I took a gun and shot them both. At that time I scared them. Those who first went off took their property. A south wind was blowing. Canoes drifted off empty.

They then shot much at us from Laqꜝalā′m. There was no gun in my canoe. After that they again shot at us. We then fled. During all that time the Tsimshian pursued us. That was a great disaster, though the story of it sounds well enough. They pursued us far out to sea. I was in my wife’s canoe.

When they got far out at sea they returned. They enslaved very many of the Skidegate people.

Then they (the Skidegate people) landed at ʟꜝg̣a′odana-i. [803] At that time a heavy rain set in. They called it “The-rain-upon-the-skins-of-dead-bodies.” And, when daylight came, I built a big fire. Then the wounded sat around the fire. On the following day, when we started off, a man of Those-born-at-House-point [804] was angry, because, he said, we went off first. Then he and I were going to shoot each other. They held us apart. And they went away.

And on the next day they stood crying in front of ʟꜝg̣a′odana-i. The Pebble-town people did not cry, however, because all of them escaped. Fifty canoe loads were destroyed. The weather was bad. And, while they lay there, the one who had quarreled with me came to me and pulled up his canoe alongside of ours. He then made peace with me. He gave me whisky. And, after we had sent food through the fire to those who had been unable to escape, we spent the night in our canoes. We remained awake. We were afraid. We thought that they might pursue us again.

And when day broke we went away. About noon they sailed over to Skidegate. They laid the blame on Bufflehead, who had escaped. They then asked her for property. Her husband was named Lū′g̣ot. [805] Then they began to give away property. He was about to make a potlatch. His house pole lay there for good. He gave the town all of his property.

Some time afterward Gudiqā′yiñao’s father came back. They had been unable to get away from Port Simpson house, whence they came. Before he could ask for blood money the Gîtî′ns’-servants came there, with paddles on their shoulders. They said that they had come to go to war for him.

Some time afterward a great many Masset people went to trade. They came to the Gyînxᴀngī′g [806] family. They say that there were sixty canoes. After they had been there for a while they started off. And, after they had traded, a Tsimshian shot at the canoes. The bullet then struck the canoe of a man of the Point-town family [807] named X̣ᴀ′na.

His son then seized a gun and shot into a crowd standing on shore. And he shot one down. They at once shot after them. They immediately started off. The Tsimshian chased them. They made them upset by shooting. They also destroyed them. They took them also for slaves. They also enslaved many of the Rotten-house people. [808]

At that time they destroyed a canoe at Laxanē′st [809] out of which two men and a woman escaped. Many nights afterward, when some persons came there for wood, they got away in their canoes. And in them they came across. They were saved.

Those in Port Simpson house who could not escape were afterward presented with a canoe by the Iron people, [810] who let them escape. Those also got home. Then, too, it was not a good time.

Gîtqōna′-i’s father went to Masset, and five families [811] banded together and began to drink sea water. During the whole time they practiced how they would fight. A cartridge box then caught fire, and a man was burned.

After they had drunk sea water for six nights they set out to war in ten canoes. And, when they reached the mainland, some stopped at Qꜝadō′. [812] After they had looked for enemies on the opposite side as well, [they saw] two canoes go out from Siwā′łins [813] after salmon.

They then quickly pulled toward them. They shot the man in the stern, so that he fell over into the water, after which they closed with the canoes. When they ran into them to fight they upset them. They then even struck them in the sea. Gî′tg̣ax̣ī′lîña killed three people at that time. The Tsimshian had killed his wife, of whom he was very fond. Four persons were in the canoe. They also destroyed two canoe loads which were farther off.

After they had watched for a while longer [they saw] three more canoes sailing along. They killed all the people in those. They took the heads of them all. After they had watched for some time longer two canoes came with sockeyes. They went out also to those people and killed them. On that day they destroyed seven canoes. On that day they killed twenty-eight people. They enslaved one brave man of the Tsimshian.

The Masset people were then happy. They went off singing songs of victory. And they came to Masset singing songs of victory, for they had made accounts even. But the Skidegate people did not come out even.

But Gî′tg̣ax̣ī′lîña’s canoe was unfinished. When he had finished it he brought over to his brothers-in-law at Gᴀsa′n [814] the news that their sister had been killed. His brothers-in-law belonged to the Sand-town people. [815] When he came they, too, raised their canoes. He also went with them. The Sand-town people went in four canoes.

They then began to watch Tcꜝidᴀlqꜝeda′-i. [816] After they had watched for a while four Tsimshian canoes came there. They then shot at them. They made them upset, and they enslaved six women. They killed many men. There Gî′tg̣ax̣ī′lîña got some slaves. He gave them to his brothers-in-law. Afterward they went home happy. They sang songs of victory as they came to Gᴀsa′n.

Three days later news came to Gᴀsa′n that one of the Yä′dᴀs [817] had been killed at Howkan. [818] The Yä′dᴀs then went to Howkan to fight, and killed six people there. And afterward the Town-of-Tcꜝā′ał people also went to fight at Gᴀsa′n. There they also killed many of the Yä′dᴀs. They then began to war upon each other. In all that time many were killed on both sides.

Some time afterward some of the Town-of-Tcꜝā′ał [819] people went to visit one of their friends who had married in Masset. After they had stayed there for a while and were on the way home many of them upset. A chief named Voice-at-evening was drowned. In the winter his nephews went for his grave post. When it was almost finished the Yä′dᴀs came there to fight and killed five of the Town-of-Tcꜝā′ał people. The grave post lay there for good.

They at once began fighting again. Wherever they met they killed one another. They killed each other during many years. They did not make peace with one another. Some are still bad to one another.

Some time afterward news came that one of the Sqoā′ładas [820] had killed one of the Cod-people [821] at Kꜝiū′stᴀ. [822] He was a great chief. He had a house hole at Tꜝī′g̣ᴀn. [823] His nephews then killed a shaman, Tcꜝā′nūt, belonging to the Sa′gua-lā′nas. [824] They shot ten bullets into him. He was town chief. He owned the town of Qᴀñ. After they had shot him and had walked around him for a while one of his bunches of matted hair, which was lying on the ground, rose up and lay over his head. It went on in that way until all came to lie over his head.

When the Sqoā′ładas on the west coast heard that they had killed Gîtkū′ [825] they also went to war. They killed many of the Cod-people. They also enslaved one of them.

After that one of the Sg̣adjī′gua-ał-lā′nas [826] in Masset, named Kiłtcꜝāñ, invited the people. And he had a dance. He pulled out ten slaves that he owned in a string [holding each other’s hands]. After they had taken home food one of the Middle-gîtî′ns [827] named Łnē′kꜝî, shot one of the Cod-people in the arm from between the houses. Upon this his two younger brothers acted as if they were drunk. They killed there a chief, Gā′la. He belonged to the Ya′gun-gîtîna′-i. [828] He did not die at once. He died afterward. His entire family shot at once at the house of the Cod-people. They killed two persons.

For ten days and nights they fought in the town. No one had a fire. No one had water. When the chiefs’ wives, thinking that they would not touch them, went for water the Ya′gun-gîtîna′-i smashed their buckets with stones, and they returned. At the end of ten days the Ya′gun-gîtîna′-i suggested making peace. They then stopped shooting at the house.

By and by an old man, their uncle, came behind the town singing catastrophe songs. He belonged to the Cod-people. After he had sung for a while he made a good speech: “Chiefs, my brothers-in-law, the war trail and the feather trail came out together at Na-i î′ndjawa in the middle of the town. I went up by the war trail. I came out upon the feather trail. ‘What town is this? What town is this?’ ‘Chief, my son, this is the town of Gā′la, your father. You started up on the war trail which comes out in the middle of your father’s town. Your fathers were troubled [829] about you. You came out upon the feather trail.’” He also spake so: “Is it my father’s town? Is it indeed my father’s town? [I thought it was] some other.” [830]

They then started to dance. After they had been for two days in the woods, they were called toward the house. They came then and stood in a line in front of the house. They had their guns ready. Presently the Ya′gun-gîtîna′-i stood in lines opposite. They struck each other with their guns. They struck each other with their knives.

By and by the Cod-people picked up two chiefs [of the Ya′gun-gîtîna′-i]. [831] There was a great crowd of people. They picked them up and laid them upon a bed of feathers in the rear part of the house. Then two slaves were tendered as blood money to Those-born-at-Ya′gun. [832] And they refused them. They afterward tendered them two more. Those they refused also.

Then Tcꜝā′nut said: “Do I ask four slaves of you? My uncle is worth ten slaves and four hundred blankets. I will not dance.” There were many in the house. They did not pay any attention to the bad words that he gave them. [833]

By and by the Middle-gîtî′ns began rapping on the front of the house. They presently went in and got the dancers. They took them up. They then brought them into the house of the Middle-gîtî′ns because they had started the trouble. [834] They brought these in [to give to them property]. They (the Middle-gîtî′ns) gave them the four slaves. They also gave them a great quantity of property. They (the Ya′gun-gîtîna′-i) began to dance in the house at once.

At that time the Gîtî′ns [835] also gave property to them. It reached beyond their expectations. After they had danced for four nights the Cod-people came and got them. They also gave them six slaves as blood money. And they washed their faces and began to dance. Then the Skîtg̣a′oqao, [836] Middle-gîtî′ns, and Cod-people gave them more property. They gave them seven hundred blankets.

Then Tcꜝā′nut married his uncle’s wife, and they made him take his uncle’s place. And, when he kept staying away from his wife, the Middle-gîtî′ns talked roughly to him. After they had spoken to him for a while they told him to leave the house.

But on the next day his wife had him call in his friends. He called in all of the Eagles. After he had given them all kinds of food, and evening was come, they left him. On the next day he called in the Ravens. After he had fed them for a while it was evening, and they went home. On the day after that he again called in the Eagles. After those had gone home he again called in the Ravens. When eighty boxes of grease and berries had been used up he invited the Eagles to ten more, and they assigned while in the house the work on his uncle’s grave post. [837]

They went to get it. After they had been four days away they came home. My father carved the grave post at once. It was finished. He then raised it, and the potlatch was over. He gave away four hundred blankets, and slaves with them. They gave my father slaves and twenty blankets for carving the grave post.

After that Tcꜝā′nut quarreled with his younger brother. He asked him then why he had not evened accounts at the time when they killed his uncle. And his younger brother made him ashamed. On that night he shot one of the Cod-people through the smoke hole. Again they shot each other. After two days had passed they stopped fighting. And they gave a lot of property for [the one killed]. They made them feel good then.

WAR BETWEEN THE EGGS-OF-SKÎ′TG̣AO AND THE INLET-REAR-TOWN PEOPLE

[Told by Richard of the Middle-gîtî′ns]

They lived together in the town of Masset. In the fall they went up the inlet to dry salmon. They camped then on both sides of A′-în. [838] After they had dried salmon for a while some of the Eggs-of-Skî′tg̣ao went off in the night to hunt hair seal.

He (the leader) remained then during the night on one side of an islet. There, while he was trying to get a chance to shoot hair seal, a gun sounded from across the point. Then a boy who was in his canoe shouted like one who is shot. “Wa′nanî, wa′nanî; they shot me.”

One who was with him jumped off then. Then he asked: “Who did it? Who did it?” Instead of answering, they pulled away from him, and he shot toward them in the darkness. He shot the man in the bow, so that he fell into the water. He [839] then went home and told his friends.

Some time after that, during the night, the child came home crying. He told his friends what had happened. The Eggs-of-Skî′tg̣ao and the Inlet-rear-town people at once began fighting. They shot at each other through all the fall. Their wives being between the families (i.e., of different families), their sons got dog salmon for them. [840]

By and by they went away. After the men of both families had got into two canoes they fought in their canoes all the way down. But the women came behind in canoes. [841] And when they landed they fought each other again on land. They shot at each other there all night. There many of the Inlet-rear-town people were killed.

On the next morning they fought each other again. And, since the Eggs-of-Skî′tg̣ao landed at White-slope [842] first, the Inlet-rear-town people passed by in front. At that time they began to settle at Yan. [843] And they had a fort on an islet there.

After that they again began to fight each other. Then many were killed on both sides. They fought through the winter and through the summer around it. By and by, after they had settled at Yan, one of the Eggs-of-Skî′tg̣ao went over to them. Thereupon they stabbed him in front of the town. [844] Then they again went across to fight. They killed four of the Inlet-rear-town people.

Some time afterward a whale floated into the inlet. They went then to get it, and with the Inlet-rear-town people they jointly cut it up. One of the Inlet-rear-town people was killed there with a war spear. They started at once to fight again. They then again killed each other. At that time all the sharpshooters among the Inlet-rear-town people were destroyed.

Some time afterward a chief of the Inlet-rear-town people destroyed a whole canoe load of the Eggs-of-Skî′tg̣ao. The war began again at once. While they were still trying to kill one another, when I was yet a boy, there came a great pestilence, [845] and, when the people on the Haida islands were being destroyed, they stopped fighting. Then there was peace.

The first of these families was spoken of in “Story of the House-point families” notes; the second was one of several divisions of the Rear-town people referred to in note 6 to “Story of the Food-giving-town people.” My informant’s father belonged to the Eggs-of-Skî′tg̣ao or to a related family, hence his sympathies were rather on their side.

WARS WITH THE NISKA AND TSIMSHIAN AND CONFLICTS BETWEEN HAIDA FAMILIES

[Told by Richard of the Middle-gîtî′ns]

One of the Point-town people [846] lived in Nass. Word came that he had been killed there. Then the Point-town people started to war. After they had drunk sea water for a while they raised their canoes. In the canoes Skîlqē′xas [847] and Gia′ołins were the war chiefs. Presently they started. They had their town at House-point. [848]

They then went by way of the Tlingit country. They even traveled during the day. They discovered some dried salmon at Lᴀ′mas. [849] They (the Nass people) thought that they did not care about the man who was killed. After they had waited there until evening they went out early in the morning. They killed then many of the Nass people. They also took slaves. At that time Qogī′s ran after some. He ran quickly to some women who were sitting together. He started to bring out ten by the hair. He got only six of them out.

They got then all the heads of the Niska people. They got sixteen slaves for Gia′ołins, and they got thirteen for Skîlqē′xas. Then they occupied a fort at House-point.

After some time the Niska people came to fight in five canoes. That time they began to fight at House-point. Five of the Point-town people were killed. And one canoe load of Niska people was destroyed. They then went away.

And the Point-town people again went to war. That time they fought at Nass village. They enslaved ten for Skîlqē′xas. They also enslaved eight for Gia′ołins. They then returned to House-point, singing songs of victory.

And while they were living at Łi′elᴀñ [850] the Nass people came to House-point to fight. The town of House-point was empty then, and the Nass people burned the town. And the Nass people also seized the provision house [851] of Skîlqē′xas behind the town.

Then the Point-town people again went to Nass to fight. At that time they met four canoes below the town of Lag̣ᴀ′mkꜝida. [852] And they destroyed three. They again took some slaves that time. They came away to Łi′elᴀñ, singing songs of victory.

After they had lived there for a while, they thought the Nass people too powerful for them, and they moved to Masset. After they had lived there some time, the Nass people came to Łi′elᴀñ to fight. When the Nass people came upon it very early in the morning they found the town empty, and they burned it. And, when they saw the smoke from Masset, the Point-town people went thither to fight. At that time they had a pitched battle. They fought all day. Many were killed on both sides. Four of the Up-inlet-gîtî′ns [853] went to fight with them. Two of them were killed.

And, when they came back, the Up-inlet-gîtî′ns asked the Point-town people to pay something for them. They gave then one slave for the two men. And the Up-inlet-gîtî′ns went away and left the slave. That evening they killed two of the Point-town people. The Up-inlet-gîtî′ns began at once to fight with the Point-town people. Many were killed on each side. After they had fought all winter they talked of peace. They then gave many slaves back and forth as blood compensation. Then there was peace.

When summer came the Point-town people went to the Nass to war. After they had been unable to find an opportunity to do any damage for some time three canoes came along, and they pursued them. They killed all who were in them. But they were Tsimshian. They enslaved them.

On account of that the Tsimshian came to fight. Then they had a pitched battle with the Point-town people. At that time many were killed on both sides.

After that the Point-town people again went to fight. Some campers were then drying halibut at the mouth of the Skeena. They destroyed them all. They also took many as slaves.

After that the Tsimshian again came to war. At that time they took nine women as slaves out of four canoes in which the people had gone out to pick berries. They belonged to many families. They also killed three men. Some escaped to the woods.

Many families went at once to war together. They destroyed then many Tsimshian who were camping out. At that time they also enslaved a great number. Then they came to Masset, singing songs of victory. Then they did not come again to fight. When it was summer the Tsimshian came to make peace. And, while the whole town danced together, they gave them property. When that was over they wanted the Masset people to go across in their turn. Those also then went over to make peace. They also gave them a great deal of property.

The news then reached the Niska that they had made peace. And they also came to dance [without having sent word in advance]. When the Nass people landed in front of the town they shot at them. Many of the Nass people were killed. Part escaped, and some time afterward they came to fight. At that time many were killed on both sides.

Then the Point-town people also went to fight. They came to Lag̣ᴀ′mkꜝida. That time the Nass people won. They killed many of the Masset people. When they went to war the next time they killed many of the Nass people. And they killed a town chief named Sqatꜝî′n. The Nass people were very sorry on account of him. They wept and scratched their faces. The others returned singing songs of victory.

And when they went thither to fight again the town of Lag̣ᴀ′mkꜝida was empty. They then burned the town. They captured many boxes of grease.

When they returned Skîlqē′xas summoned the people. He said that he would send feathers to the Niska. Then some of them did not like it. And Gia′ołins also summoned the people. He said the same thing. Then all agreed. And they took over feathers to the Tsimshian. After that they carried them up to the Niska.

Some time afterward they came in ten canoes. They then carried the dancers into all the houses. At that time they gave them a great deal of blood money. They gave three slaves for the chief they had killed. At that time there was not a single slave left in Masset. They gave them all away as blood money. Then they went joyfully away. Some were dancing; some were singing canoe songs. At that time they also left feathers. They wanted the Masset people [to visit them].

They then also went over. They gave them a great deal of blood money. They had then a true peace with each other. The Nass people also told them to come and get boxes of grease, and they went over to get them. They [the Niska] then settled again in the burned town. The Nass people gave them boxes of grease.

And when they came home the Point-town people again fought with the Up-inlet-gîtî′ns. Five chiefs of the Point-town people were killed. After they had fought for a while the Point-town people carried over two copper plates to Qꜝayā′ñ. [854] There they threw them into the water. Then those, too, had peace with each other. They gave slaves back and forth as blood money. And they had women on each side marry with the opposites, because they feared that they would be angry again. Now there was peace.

Afterward, when they had been visiting among the Tsimshian for some time, one of the Rocky-coast-gîtî′ns [855] was killed among the Tsimshian. When they came to make peace on account of him they were so easy to kill on the coast that they destroyed them. Then they brought those [dead bodies] home also.

At that time some went behind the town of Masset to keep watch. And when the Tsimshian had almost got ashore behind Masset they shot at them. They drove the warriors away. Then the Rocky-coast-gîtî′ns went to war. They killed many Tsimshian.

Afterward, when the Tsimshian came to fight, they enslaved nine of the Masset people. Then all the families again started to make war on the Tsimshian. At that time they continually killed each other.

At one time, when they went to war and had approached some who were living in a lonely place, one came out on shore wearing a grizzly-bear crest. They then thought that he was all right. [856] They suggested making peace. The warriors returned. And the Masset people went to make peace. They then gave a great deal of property to the Masset people.

After they had started away they shot another Tsimshian. The Tsimshian then did nothing in return. They shot down the one who was going to take Lgiäx’s [857] place without his saying a word. Then he did not want his nephew to be killed for nothing and came to make peace. That time they gave a great amount of property to him. Then there was peace again everywhere.

At that time he (Lgiäx) felt very good and went to visit the Kaigani. After they had gone along for a while they fell into the hands of the Middle-town people, who were going to war upon the Niska. They then shot at each other. The Gîtsqoalʼâ′tcꜝî [858] they completely destroyed. Nine escaped along with Lgiäx to the woods. They also broke up five canoes. Part of the Middle-town people were also killed.

After two nights had passed the Tlingit came to him. During all that time they lived on the food which had been thrown overboard and had floated ashore. The Tlingit then carried news about Lgiäx [to his people]. And the Tsimshian went to get him in four canoes. Then he said that he was too great to be taken away. “Do you come after me because you think that our grandfathers ever got into strange canoes? Lgiäx does not get into a stranger’s canoe.” [859]

He then sent word to have food brought to himself. And, after they had started away, they made a 6-fathom canoe. When it was finished he came to his town. Then the house chiefs came and danced before him.

Some time after they prepared for war. They set out. At that time the Tsimshian destroyed the fort of Sidī′kun. [860] They enslaved many of the Middle-town people. They killed then many of the renowned men of the Middle-town people.

The Middle-town people began at once to eat medicine, and did so all winter. When summer came they went to war. At that time they killed or enslaved many Tsimshian. They went up directly [among the Tlingit] to sell them. They got a lot of ammunition and guns in exchange. Then they again fortified themselves.

Some time afterward the Tsimshian came against the fort. At that time the Middle-town people went out in their canoes. They shot at each other on the ocean. Only five of the Middle-town people were killed then. But many of the Tsimshian were killed.

And, after the Tsimshian had started off, they said that they would raise their canoes. On the very next day after they had raised them they went to fight. They enslaved then very many women who were out after berries. At that time they came to the fort singing songs of victory. They remained there then on the watch.

By and by the Tsimshian came to fight again. And again many were killed on both sides. Some time afterward they settled at Kꜝᴀgā′ni.

And, after they had lived there for a while, a 3-sail canoe came. The Middle people were going to destroy it then because a man of the Eagle side who lived with them had gone to Masset and had been killed there. One of the Middle-town people then came out to talk to the Middle-born. [861]

After it (the canoe) had approached the town for a while, the Middle-born got ready for it. And when the canoe came in front they upset it by shooting. The Middle-town people and the Middle people at once had a pitched battle outside. Some of the Salᴀ′ndas [862] who were neutral went to look at the canoe. Under it they found the owner of the canoe and his wife.

After they had fought and killed each other for a while they said that Gî′tg̣ax̣ī′liña [863] was killed. He was kept under some slaves, but still he was killed. Many also were wounded. When they told his grandfather, he said: “Be careful how you tell me that Gî′tg̣ax̣ī′liña is killed.” He thought he was too great to be killed. He went then to see him sitting up. Then he turned around quickly. There was a high cliff there. He was going to throw himself over, when they seized him. Afterward, as he went crying around the fire, he dashed himself against a [white man’s] anvil.

Gî′tg̣ax̣ī′liña’s elder brother, Î′ldjiwas, [864] was sitting at the time in front of his younger brother. They then stopped shooting one another. And Gî′tg̣ax̣ī′liña’s parents got ten slaves from the house of the Middle-town people. Then Î′ldjiwas asked the Middle-town people to stay awake with [the body of] Gî′tg̣ax̣ī′liña. Although they had just shot at each other, they were called for it.

Then they came in a crowd. They were afraid to enter. By and by they came in. They let them stay awake there. They were ten nights in the house. All the time they gave them food. And, after they buried him, they gave property to the Middle-town people to pay for the wake. After that Î′ldjiwas started to kill the Middle-town people. [865] Each time much property was given as blood money.

By and by Nᴀñ-gut-tcî′ng̣a went off on a vessel. After that, when a vessel came with him and they went out to trade, Gîtkudja′os approached Î′ldjiwas to kill him. Nᴀñ-gut-tcî′ng̣a said to him: “Take care, they are coming to kill you.” At that time Î′ldjiwas shot Gîtkudja′os alongside the vessel, so that he fell into the water. The crowd of people who were about then fled to their homes. When all had got in he went home. They then shot at him. He escaped into his house.

The Middle-town people and the Middle people at once fought together. Then they again gave a great deal of property to each other. Some time afterward a vessel again stopped there with Nᴀñ-gut-tcî′ng̣a on board. He then remained there. After they had drunk whisky [866] one of the Middle-town people shot at Nᴀñ-gut-tcî′ng̣a, but his gun missed fire. He, however, killed the Middle-town man. They fought again at once.

After peace had been made the father of Î′ldjiwas bought a pistol for him which was all silver. And, when he had it in his hand in front of the town, his father’s younger brother asked to look at it. At that time he told him that people could not be killed by it [but only wounded]. So he shot his father’s younger brother with it. And they again began fighting.

After that they also killed Î′ldjiwas. They wounded him. After he had remained alive for fifteen nights he held his gun loaded and said: “Now, they are coming down for me.” He then shot through the smoke hole. And he talked again. “I am going up, and I will throw down the planks that are inside his house. I will also throw down his burning coals.” Then he said: “Now, I am going up to be with him.” After he had finished speaking he was as those who go to sleep.

And, when evening was coming on, something made a slight noise in the air. Then something red fell out of the sky. It happened as he had said. [867]

Afterward Nᴀñ-gut-tcî′ng̣a killed one of the Middle-town people, and they again had a fight. They again made peace with each other after one of the nephews of Nᴀñ-gut-tcî′ng̣a was killed. After they had given property to him, Nᴀñ-gut-tcî′ng̣a went away and settled among the Tsimshian. His nephews lived at Kꜝᴀgā′ni.

At that time a youth, Sg̣ā′gia, lived with Sg̣atcꜝîdā′łgîñ, who took care of him. Then he treated Sg̣ā′gia badly. Getting angry with him, he drew blood. And two nights afterward he killed Sg̣atcꜝîdā′łgîñ. He then took his three slaves. When he was going to kill his wife also she used good words to him. He went away in his canoe.

He then passed right by in front of Kꜝᴀgā′ni. He crossed the sea. He went to Tcꜝā′ał. [868] Sg̣ā′gia’s gun was heard to sound at Kaisun [869] as he came along. And, when he landed and stood among them, he related his adventure.

All that summer, while they were fishing for black cod, he kept a watch for war people. After they had caught salmon, they moved to Skidegate inlet.

When we camped for the night [we heard] a Tsimshian named Xagu′n of the Gîtgwî′lgiaodjî, [870] who had enslaved some Pebble-people, sing songs of victory in front of us.

Some who were returning home from Skidegate were enslaved by the Tsimshian. We then carried the news to Skidegate. At that time we started to live at Xā′na. [871] They then asked property of us on account of what we had done to the Tsimshian. [872] After that, when we were living at Kaisun, more news came. They said that some canoes had been destroyed in Skidegate passage. Part of the people were enslaved also. It happened to three families. They did it to the Gîtî′ns’-servants, [873] Those-born-at-Stasa′os, [874] and Those-born-at-Pebble-town. [875] The Tlingit were the ones who did it. When we came to Xā′na Those-born-at-House-point [876] asked property of us for some who had been captured. Then they first gave us property. After that we also gave them property. When we came to Tcꜝā′ał Those-born-at-Stasa′os also asked blood money of us. We also gave to them blood money.

After that the Ninstints people invited the people of Kaisun. The Kaisun people went thither at once. And, after they had been there for a while, they went after house planks. The Ninstints people went out also to fish near by. Some time afterward they discovered enemies. The Bellabella [877] destroyed or enslaved those who were out fishing. At that time the Bellabella killed many of the Ninstints people. They also enslaved many of the Sand-town people [878] of high rank. Then they at once stopped getting the parts of the house. Things went badly. We went away immediately.

FIGHT BETWEEN THOSE-BORN-AT-QĀ′GIALS AND THOSE-BORN-AT-SKEDANS

[Told by Abraham of Those-born-at-Qꜝā′dᴀsgo]

They were encamped in G̣a′ogîts [879] to gather fish eggs. Those-born-at-Qā′gials and Those-born-at-Skedans lived on opposite sides.

Once Koa′gians [880] won from Kusʟxa′s a large knife that his dead father had owned. And he refused to give it to him. They wrangled then with each other. Then Koa′gians went out and announced the day that they had agreed upon for fighting. On the appointed day they put on their armor. They used helmets, war coats, and gorgets.

Then Koa′gians asked: “Whom shall I use for my fighting skirt?” [881] And Sounding-property said: “You shall use me for your fighting skirt.” He was a youth. They even broke up their canoes to use the pieces as gorgets.

Presently, when they were ready, they approached each other in lines. Koa′gians acted as leader of Those-born-at-Skedans. Sounding-property protected him below his breast. And Qagi′t acted as leader of Those-born-at-Qā′gials. He, too, was a brave man, and he determined to fight with Koa′gians. As soon as they were all engaged in battle, Qagi′t speared Koa′gians, so that he fell. Then Qagi′t pulled him toward himself and stabbed him with a knife. Sounding-property also lay dead in front of him.

And, after they had fought for a while, Those-born-at-Skedans and the Town-of-Djī′gua [882] people were driven back. And they did not go near the place where they used to live. They went instead toward the woods. And Those-born-at-Qā′gials pursued them.

Then the great chief South-east [883] rested on two strong youths, and they helped him up the mountain. And he heard the Skedans people calling from behind: “They are taking your beaver.” But still he went away. South-east owned a beaver dish. That was what they meant when they called to him. [884]

While they carried him along he repeated: “My beaver.” And when they reached the top of the mountain all the men and women sat with him, and he began to weep for his beaver:

“𝄆 𝄆 Hī-ī-ī-ī-ī-ī⁺ 𝄇 𝄆 Wadīkâ′lᴀm tcâlī′-ī-ī-ī-ī 𝄇 [885] hī-ī-ī-ī⁺ 𝄇 hī-ī-ī-ī⁺, hī hī hī.” They then started away from there. And they came to Dju-î′tga. [886] And, when he saw the inlet open out, he sang another song:

“𝄆 Wâ yī′a hē ē ī ē 𝄇 I look upon it, xē ē ē ē

“𝄆 Wīya hī yē hē yē 𝄇 There is now daylight (i.e., the trouble is partly over). [887]

“𝄆 Wayī′a hē′ē ē ē 𝄇”

And after that they occupied Mountain-fort. [888] Then the women of Those-born-at-Skedans gathered a supernatural medicine. And, after they had collected it, they gave it to One-going-to-be-the-elder-Sqaa′n. [889] They put it then upon a charmed necklace, and they also put some upon a looking-glass. One-going-to-be-the-elder Sqaa′n then sent the charm over to Wā′nᴀg̣ᴀn. [890] And she sent over to Tcinxā′da[890] the mirror on which she had put the medicine.

As soon as they reached Skedans Wā′nᴀg̣ᴀn wore the charm and Tcinxā′da looked at himself in the mirror. They felt [the effects of] the medicine at once. Tcinxā′da’s face, which had been touched by a war spear’s point, had not healed. They went from Skedans at once to get wives. And a large number went along.

When they got near Mountain-fort they stood up. And they began to sing: “One will not even feel where he fell, ā′hiya.” [891] Then someone in the canoe repeated: “That is the way it will happen.”[891]

At that time Qꜝayū′s got ready for them. He said that they might get off the canoe, but perhaps he would not let them in. When they had gone ashore they entered the house. When [Those-born-at-Skedans] acted in an unfriendly manner, as if they were ready to do something, all escaped to their canoe.

And, after they had gone up the inlet some distance, they came to their brother-in-law. And he asked: “Say! brothers-in-law, why did you come up here?” And they said to him: “They almost destroyed us. We escaped by sea.” Then he said: “Come back then. I think they did it to you because I was away.” Then they returned with him.

When they fought at G̣a′ogîts they had killed his nephew. He called upon his brothers-in-law to go back because his mind was sick on account of it. So, after they landed at the fort, they killed them. They afterward made peace with each other. After that they ceased to treat each other badly.

The first of these families was the principal family at Skedans; the second, the ruling family at Kloo. The one was Raven; the other, Eagle. They were so closely connected by intermarriages that quarrels seldom arose between them, and the one narrated here seems to have been thought remarkable for that reason.

WAR BETWEEN THE PEBBLE-TOWN PEOPLE AND THE SLAVES

[Told by Abraham of Those-born-at-Qꜝā′dᴀsg̣o]

Sg̣agᴀ′ño [892] went from Tcꜝā′ał to visit Always-ready. [893] After they had gone along for a while on the sqā′djañ [894] they came to Songs-of-victory town. [895] And, when they came near the shore, Always-ready shot an arrow into the canoe. When he turned away he said: “Mine strikes in the way that it does when something is killed.” And Sg̣agᴀ′ño paddled back behind Fin island. Then they took things out of a box for the one who had been shot and put him in its place. And they fastened a rope around the box and came to the town again.

They then landed, and the town people carried up the things. With the rest of the property they brought up a big, heavy box. And, after food had been given to them to eat and evening was come, Sg̣agᴀ′ño’s companions went to a flat rock lying in front of the town and sat there. Then Sg̣agᴀ′ño, with two youths, went toward the upper end of the town.

They (the town people) then untied the heavy box. A dead man lay in it. Then all of the town people reached for their war spears. They ran down to the others, who were lying idly about, and killed all.

Then the chief looked behind him. And he started into the woods with the young fellows. At that time he shook this entire island. [896] On account of that they began to assume the name “Island-shaker.”

Then the two youths and Sg̣agᴀ′ño went away. Many nights passed over them. By and by they came to one who was making a canoe behind X̣i′das. [897] The youths wished to kill him. While they were talking Sg̣agᴀ′ño came to him. When he (the stranger) saw him he said: “Alas! he must have been doing as he always does.” [898] Then, without even putting away his tools, he went down before them. The man was a good canoe-builder, and he was a good bear-hunter. He then went in and spread out three bear skins for them, and his wife cooked food. And, when he had it set before him, Sg̣agᴀ′ño said: “Stranger, [899] I shall not eat this food. This ground might see me.” [900] Only the youths ate the food. He then let them go in a new 5-fathom canoe.

He gave them mat sails, paddles, and mats and food for the youths. Then Sg̣agᴀ′ño said to the man: “You had better not stay where the people of Sqā′ma-qꜝe-u [901] camp this summer. Stay near some sandy beach. When we return from fighting we will put off in front of you your friends who have been taken as slaves.” He then went to Tcꜝā′ał with the youths.

Then the Ninstints people began to live in a fort on the top of Sqas. But, although they were afraid, the one who gave his canoe to Sg̣agᴀ′ño lived toward the sea at Ga′-igᴀn-kun. [902] Then the people of Tcꜝā′ał went to war in successive parties. And they were on the water in front of the fort.

Always-ready then came out of the smoke hole, and he walked about on the roof wearing his armor. They shot at him then with arrows. They did not pierce him. He then went back and shot at them in turn. The next time they went to war they climbed up to the top of the cliff. They tried to roll down stones upon them. These did not come near the houses. The stones all skipped over the houses. And they again went home.

And, after they had held them besieged for a while, they were straitened for food. Then Always-ready told his brother-in-law to make ten bows for himself. And, after he had worked upon them for a while, he finished them. Fine feathers were fastened near the tips. And his brother-in-law gave them to him. He was glad to have them. Then he gave up the big cedar bow he always used in favor of these new ones.

The people of the town began to dislike him. His sisters and his brothers-in-law were affected with the same feeling, because, on account of him, they were always hungry.

One day his brothers-in-law came in from fishing. His sister gave him the white part of the belly of the halibut they had caught. On account of that he went out fishing with three persons. He took his ten bows with him, and he took his two arrow boxes. But he left his cedar bow behind.

And on the day after he went fishing, very early, they again came to fight. And, as he used to do, one came out on the top of the house and said “Ha-ha.” And when they shot up at him he went in. When they again shot down from the fort, one of the floating arrows stood on end in the water. They brought it in. From it hung a small stone. Then they handed it to an old man among them, and, after he had thought about it for a while, he said they did that as a sign that he (Always-ready) was out fishing. The ten canoes then started seaward.

Five went out on each side of Xē′na. [903] They looked for him as they went along, and, when they had nearly met at the end, they saw him lying out to sea. Then they went to him. When he discovered them he walked about in the middle of the canoe awaiting them. And when they got near him he took one bow. He broke it. He took another. He also broke that. When he had done that for a while he broke all ten bows. His brother-in-law who had made his bows for him had notched the rounded side of the bow under the feathers. All broke just there.

He then threw the broken pieces of the bows and the two arrow boxes into the sea. He did not scratch anyone’s skin. They were afraid of him. When he threw his arrows away they went to him. And they killed the three who were fishing with him, but him they captured.