[12] The words are in Tsimshian. ↑ [a] [b]
[13] This song was Tsimshian, but no words accompanied it. [↑]
Story of the shaman, G̣ᴀ′ndox’s-father
[Told by Abraham of Those-born-at-Qꜝā′dᴀsgo.]
G̣ᴀ′ndox’s father was making a canoe inland from one end of Sea-grass town.[1] One evening, when he came home, he dropped dead[2] on the sand at the end of the town. Then they ran to him, and carried him over to his house.
Qołdai′yêk[3] spoke through him first. Whenever his uncles became shamans, he always made a hole in their minds first. He did not tell his name. Instead he turned about around the house. After they had taken him in and came to know that it was Qołdai′yêk, they began to sing a song for him. After they had carried him around the fire four times he began turning around.
Afterward Hū′dᴀgiag̣ᴀñ also spoke through him. He acted like the former one. When he had ceased to act Sᴀqaiyū′ł[4] spoke through him. When they sang for him he walked about entirely on the ends of his toes.
After he had spoken through him for a while, a certain person fell sick. When he was almost dead they got him. Then he fasted four nights. At the end of that time, just before daybreak, he went out to look for his soul. Two other persons went with him. He went round the town on both sides of the houses. By and by he seized his soul. He made a noise like that of a young sea otter.
At once his companions seized him and carried him toward the house. When they carried them (shamans) so, they were very careful, because the shaman had the soul between his hands.