Wars between the Stikine and Sitka Tlingit
[Told by Richard of the Middle-gîtî′ns]
The nephew of Cēks lived at Sitka for the sake of some woman. He was killed there. Then all the Stikine people went to Sitka to fight. At that time they had a pitched battle there, and they destroyed many Sitka people. After that the Sitka people also started out to war.
At that time the eulachon were running into the Stikine. After they had filled the ground with holes they went out to get stones. They did not have the right kind of stones there. They had only whetstones. And, when they came from it, a man passed out by them to get some. His name was Daoł.[1] Then he gave them the following prediction: “They will kill me [and my family] when the tide is on the ebb, and I shall never come back.”
As soon as the tide was out they went out to fight. The warriors came upon him at the place where he was gathering stones. Then they took him into the war chief’s canoe. He had left his gun behind. They then made fun of him by telling him to do various things.
While they were talking to him the warriors (his friends) came into the bay. They asked him then: “One-who-is-always-mentioned, are you still alive?” “Yes,” he said. He also asked: “Did you bring my gun? Did you bring my knife?” “Yes.” “Give them to me.” They then got his things to him.
When he put on his cartridge box some one shouted: “Ixiâ′⁺ī,[2] One-who-is-always-mentioned has his weapons in his hands.” Then, forgetting himself, he shot. Straightway they all shot. And he also said that he pulled out his knife and kept striking them as he moved forward. They then destroyed the Sitka people. They stabbed those who there escaped to the woods. They said that two young fellows then came from watching for their enemies. They took them into Cēks’s canoe.
They then went away. On the next day they collected heads. Some of them got twelve. Others got ten. The heads were drying in the sunshine, looking like clothes drying on a line and bellying in the wind. Then Cēks, having called the people together, told them to stop fighting. He told them that they had destroyed the Sitka people.
By and by they let the two youths that they had enslaved go. They then ripped open the seams in a little, old, 3-fathom canoe. In it they started off. They also gave them a small paddle. They thought then that they would drown. In the summer after that they heard that they had escaped. [[378]]
Some time afterward the Sitka people were coming to make peace. And they got ready for them. They thought it well to make peace [they said]. Then Cēks again called the people together, and they agreed to destroy them. They then talked over how they should preserve themselves from injury.
By and by the Sitka people came in many canoes. After they had danced for a while in front of the town they came ashore, and the dancers entered the house and danced there. Then property was given to them. They gave them four or two slaves apiece as blood money. After that they also danced in Cēks’s house. When nearly all were in they shut the door, and they killed those outside and threw their bodies over the cliff in front.
After they had killed all of those they crowded against each other near the door. They then quietly pulled out one after another, stabbed each one, and threw out the bodies. At that time a woman looked in through the smoke hole. She held a knife. She made the motion of cutting off heads. She said that they were going to destroy them. Those who were dancing paid no attention to her. After they had killed on for a while they began to discover it for themselves. But still they kept dancing. Although only ten were left they kept dancing. Presently they killed all. Six that they saved they let go home.
Some time afterward they began to visit back and forth. Once a great many went to [Sitka], and Qała′x[3] paid a great sum to the Russians. Then many canoes came there and, when all the Stikine people were inside the stockade, Qała′x began to fight them. And they destroyed the Stikine people.
Some time after that they became good to each other. They began visiting back and forth again. Then ten canoes came to the Stikine, and Yaqoa′n began to kill them. And they destroyed all of them. At that time they stopped visiting each other.
Some time after that Qała′x’s nephew was in love with the daughter of a Russian. For that the Russians killed him. They then killed the Russian’s son. They said that the Russians were going to fight them with Qała′x, and they fortified themselves. They built the walls out of big cedars. And they built the houses inside. They put flat rocks along the fronts and sides of the houses.[4] And, after they had lived there for a while, the Iron people[5] came in a vessel to destroy them. After they had shot at them ten times they called for Qała′x. When he answered they shot at him still more.
After they had done this for a while they came off to fight them in three boats. All had guns with bayonets. They came on land at once. And, after they had prepared for them in the house, they went out. They then shot at them. While the Russians were shooting by command they shot into them. They also threw out their cartridges quickly and shot again. After they had done this for some time they [[379]]destroyed the Russians. Only those who had charge of the boats got to the ship. Then the warship sailed away. [Meanwhile] they strengthened the fort.
After two months had passed they came to fight them with two warships. They then shot at them from both sides. At that time they called to him: “Qała′x, are you still alive?” “Yes; I am not afraid of the cannon you use against me.” The cannon sounded then still more.
After some time had passed they went to get him. They then fought again with the Russians. They also destroyed those. At that time they took guns, coats, hats, and swords. After some time had passed, they (the Russians) brought property over to the winners. “Qała′x, are you yet alive?” “Yes; I am still alive. I won. Now it is all right for you to kill me.” When he said this, they raised the flags. They then gave him clothing, food, rum, and ammunition. They let him win. Many of the Russians were killed.
My informant heard this story from an old Tlingit from the Stikine. It is of peculiar interest as containing a native account of the struggle between Baranof and the Indians at Sitka. It differs from the Russian account, however, in so many particulars that it is evident that few real facts are preserved. [[380]]
[1] The Tlingit equivalent of Dī′lᴀ, “sand-hill crane”. [↑]
[2] An exclamation indicating extreme terror. [↑]
[3] The chief at Sitka. He was really named Katlian. [↑]
[4] Rocks were filled in between two walls of timber. [↑]
[5] That is, the white people; in this case, the Russians. [↑]