[2] My informant added that all of the people drank sea water with him for ten days and repeated everything that he said. Every time he spoke he began with the word Ha′gugwâk. He said to them: “Shall I get this?” pulling at something meantime with his teeth and hands. At the end of ten days he got it and told the singers that he had pulled it ashore with his teeth, some of which were broken by the strain. It was his supernatural helper. [↑]
[3] The shaman treats this iron just as he would a whale. Compare Memoirs Jesup North Pacific Expedition, volume V, part 1, page 139. It is said to have been part of some vessel. [↑]
[4] Masset inlet was called simply the Inlet as being preeminent and the people there were called Inlet people. At the same time this latter expression was so extended as to cover all the Haida of the northern coast of Graham island; all of those in short who are now known as Masset people. ↑ [a] [b]
[5] Haida, Xᴀldā′ñg̣ats, one of the leading Raven families of Ninstints. [↑]
Cloud-watcher
[Told by Abraham of Those-born-at-Qꜝā′dᴀsgo]
A Tlingit supernatural power spoke through him. After he had acted as shaman for a while, and, when all were at Tꜝā′łdi, the son of the chief of the salmon spoke through him. At that time there were no salmon on this island. Then the salmon came like a strong wind.
At that time he used to go into a deep place. His moose-skin blankets had pictures of salmon on them. He also wore a dance hat. He had a dancing skirt. He had rattles of puffin beaks.
At that time the chiefs refused to allow him [to go down]. They told him he would swim away forever. Then he became disgusted, so they said the salmon would be lost, and they let him go down. They let one who was always truthful go with him.