[5] Compare the story of the “[Canoe people who wear headdresses],” pp. [38], [40]. [↑]

[6] That is, he was able to accomplish more for the human being than the others because he had more power and more property. ↑ [a] [b]

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Big-tail.

[Told by Job Moody of the Witch people.]

Mouse-woman adopted him.[1] Presently, after she had lived at Skidegate for a while, supernatural powers began to try him. After some time he began to be a shaman. By and by he became a real shaman.

Then he prepared to dance upon the surface of the ocean. He was going out after whales. Then they began to observe the regulations.[2] [They did so for] five nights. The old people were afraid to let it become ten nights. If the number of nights were even, they said his supernatural power would be spoiled. For that reason they said they wanted it uneven. When some said there were ten nights, and some, too, said there were nine, the supernatural power came through him.

Then he asked them for his name. “What kind of supernatural being am I?” he said. Then they guessed at his name. By and by an old man said: “Great shaman, you are Supernatural-being-at-whose-voice-the-ravens-sit-on-the-sea.”[3] Then he jumped up and ran around the fire four times. And he named himself as follows: “I am he, grandson. I am he.”

While he was speaking through him he said to him: “How many whales are there going to be?” He said to him: “One floats at Point-tꜝā′łᴀs.”[4] And he said to him, “One is floating below Ku′nga-i.”[5] Then he (the shaman) looked there and the whale floated there. Then he sent a person thither. He saw nothing. Only coots floated there. And, since he did not find it there, he (the shaman) again looked, and it was still floating there. Then he became angry, because he (the spirit) kept fooling him.

Now he put tobacco into his mouth. After it he put in calcined shells. Then he went down to the house of Supernatural-being-at-whose-voice-the-ravens-sit-on-the-sea. And he entered his house. And Supernatural-being-at-whose-voice-the-ravens-sit-on-the-sea said to him: “Big-tail, bring that box of mine to me.” Then he put his box before him. They sat at either end.