A fight between the Xā′gi-town people and Sand-town people
[Told by Abraham of Those-born-at-Qꜝā′dᴀsgo]
At the town of Xā′gi[1] a woman of the Slaves[2] went outside before she went to bed. She did not return. But instead of saying anything they kept the matter in their minds. They did not know from what town people had come to get her.
Some time afterward they discovered that she had been taken by a man from the town of G̣a′-idi[3] who had been in love with her. It was a man of the Sand-town people. They went then in a large canoe to demand the property which was given when a woman deserted her husband. And they came there at low water.
When the tide was well up he (the seducer) went out and played with his wife between the houses. He who had formerly had her as his wife was the bow man. And, when he paddled shoreward, he said: “Shoreward! Future people shall always remember me.” He then took a bow and two arrows and jumped off with them. And he ran up and shot his wife. Afterward he shot the man. At that time he escaped into the canoe. They went away and landed. The man’s mind was happy.
And Wada′[4] thought his town was too great to have a woman taken out of it. Then she (his wife) said to her husband: “Make it all right with property.” He would not agree. He said they thought his town was common. By and by she told her husband to go ahead: “Make a stir about it. My children are clear of it.”
And the people of Chief-discovered’s town[5] said the same things to him that Wada’s wife had said. They could not stop him. He also thought that his town was too great. By and by they announced a fight. They cleaned their spears. They agreed upon a day on which to fight.
When the day at last arrived they came around Sqas point.[6] One in the town shouted: “It is becoming dry [with the number of canoes].” They landed at once at the end of the town. Then they went to the town of Xā′gi. The people of Wada’s town stood in lines on the beach awaiting them.
When they came together all the women went into the woods. After the lines had approached each other for a while they got within a spear cast, and one from Wada’s side shouted: “Bring on the spear-whetstones.”[7] One on the other side from among Chief-discovered’s people also said: “Ho, ho, you are not the only ones to have them.” They thought that they had called spears spear-whetstones when they [[414]]answered. What they really intended was to call out ten persons who were reckless and brave.
As soon as they came down they began to spear the people of Chief-discovered’s town. At the very beginning Chief-discovered fell. Wada′, however, escaped.
The people of Common-town[8] came in front and looked on from their canoes. Only five canoes [of the Sand-town people] escaped. He destroyed the people of Chief-discovered’s town. After they had pulled the spears out of the slain they (the people of Common-town) brought their canoes in front of the people of Chief-discovered’s town and carried in the dead bodies. They did not wish to fight.
And the women came back. Wada’s wife, with her children, did not come back. Although they hunted for her body they could not find it. And the others carried up their dead. They did not, however, take up the body of Chief-discovered. The canoe was rolled about by the waves with his body in it. He floated about in the bilge-water. They treated his body in that way because they had lost so many friends through him.
These were both Ninstints families of the Raven clan. The former was named from an islet in Skincuttle inlet, which is said to have been the first land to appear above the waters of the flood raised by Raven’s uncle; see the story of “[Raven traveling].” From this they claimed to be the oldest Haida family. The Sand-town people have been referred to in “[Story of the Food-giving-town people],” note [4]. [[415]]
[1] Either on the island of Xā′gi, referred to above, or on the mainland opposite. [↑]
[2] See “[The story of him through whom Łᴀ′gua spoke],” note [5]. They were considered a part of Xā′gi lā′nas. [↑]
[3] On a small inlet east of Huston inlet. G̣a′-idi is the name of a fish said to resemble a smelt somewhat. This town was owned by the Sand-town people. [↑]
[4] Chief of the Xā′gi-town people. The word was one used when detaching certain bivalves from the rocks. If these were taken by surprise this could be done with ease. [↑]
[6] Near one end of Xā′gi. [↑]
[7] The word they coined for the occasion, giving to it this application in order to deceive their enemies. [↑]
[8] Or “Bad town.” It is said to have been owned by the Sa′ki qē′g̣awa-i; see “[The story of him through whom Łᴀ′gua spoke],” note [1]. [↑]