Fight between the Kaigani and West Coast Haida
[Told by Richard of the Middle-gîtî′ns.]
They had occupied Thin-fort. There were many black cod there. Then they saw portents. The black cod, the day after they were brought in, moved their mouths. And at one time a headless cormorant came there.[1] Some time after that, they say that [the children] who had a little fire in a cave below them and were picnicking there, ran out of it. Some small being with disheveled hair and a yellow-cedar-bark blanket over its shoulder came out of the cave. It was Supernatural-slave[2] who was among them, they say. Its belly was big, they say. Then they feared to play in the cave.
After that the rotten gills lying about groaned. Another day Tia flew over to the fort from the opposite side. He said “Tia, tia,” and blood spurted out of his neck.[1]
One day, while they were away fishing for black cod, they (the enemy) came upon them. These were the Kaigani, Sta′stas, and Middle-town people. Then they shot up at the fort. My grandmother was born among them. That was why they did not touch her people.[3]
One man then shot from the fort. When his ammunition failed they went up to the fort. They enslaved all of the Pebble-town people. And, going out to those who were fishing, they destroyed half of them also. Some escaped to Kaisun.
When the warriors started off they were told about a child of the Middle-gîtî′ns,[4] whose cousin was carrying her on her back. They would have taken her back, but were afraid. When they had recrossed her friends adopted her.[5] At the end of the following autumn they brought her back.
After that they sent word by canoe that they wanted to make peace. They (the West Coast people) then went thither. When they arrived at Tꜝē[6] no attention was paid to them. And, since their food was gone, they wanted to buy food from one who lived opposite. He was stingy, and they laid hold of him. Although he was a chief they enslaved him. They also fought the people of Tꜝē. And they killed many of them, and those they enslaved were many. The Pebble-town people made matters even.
And, after they had talked over where they should have a fort, they made one on the west coast. Two were staying at Kꜝiū′stᴀ. After some time had passed the Kaigani people came to make peace. When they stopped in front they began to shoot at them. When they fled they [[376]]met the two persons[7] in a canoe. When they were going to enslave them they jumped into the water. And they swam over to an islet. They now fled in terror.
Some time after that they went to the Kaigani country to fight again. Then they destroyed some people there. They enslaved ten and killed many. And, while they were on the way back, the wind was strong, and they threw some slaves overboard. They did this to four. The Kꜝiū′stᴀ people then came to them. And they took the slaves away from them and split up their canoe. They then started home around by the West Coast shore. They went to Tcꜝā′ał.[8] They came to Lagî′nda,[9] where people were catching salmon. A single slave was with them. The chief finished sending food through the fire.[10] [[377]]