Some time after they prepared for war. They set out. At that time the Tsimshian destroyed the fort of Sidī′kun.[15] They enslaved many of the Middle-town people. They killed then many of the renowned men of the Middle-town people.
The Middle-town people began at once to eat medicine, and did so all winter. When summer came they went to war. At that time they killed or enslaved many Tsimshian. They went up directly [among the Tlingit] to sell them. They got a lot of ammunition and guns in exchange. Then they again fortified themselves.
Some time afterward the Tsimshian came against the fort. At that time the Middle-town people went out in their canoes. They shot at each other on the ocean. Only five of the Middle-town people were killed then. But many of the Tsimshian were killed. [[397]]
And, after the Tsimshian had started off, they said that they would raise their canoes. On the very next day after they had raised them they went to fight. They enslaved then very many women who were out after berries. At that time they came to the fort singing songs of victory. They remained there then on the watch.
By and by the Tsimshian came to fight again. And again many were killed on both sides. Some time afterward they settled at Kꜝᴀgā′ni.
And, after they had lived there for a while, a 3-sail canoe came. The Middle people were going to destroy it then because a man of the Eagle side who lived with them had gone to Masset and had been killed there. One of the Middle-town people then came out to talk to the Middle-born.[16]
After it (the canoe) had approached the town for a while, the Middle-born got ready for it. And when the canoe came in front they upset it by shooting. The Middle-town people and the Middle people at once had a pitched battle outside. Some of the Salᴀ′ndas[17] who were neutral went to look at the canoe. Under it they found the owner of the canoe and his wife.
After they had fought and killed each other for a while they said that Gî′tg̣ax̣ī′liña[18] was killed. He was kept under some slaves, but still he was killed. Many also were wounded. When they told his grandfather, he said: “Be careful how you tell me that Gî′tg̣ax̣ī′liña is killed.” He thought he was too great to be killed. He went then to see him sitting up. Then he turned around quickly. There was a high cliff there. He was going to throw himself over, when they seized him. Afterward, as he went crying around the fire, he dashed himself against a [white man’s] anvil.
Gî′tg̣ax̣ī′liña’s elder brother, Î′ldjiwas,[19] was sitting at the time in front of his younger brother. They then stopped shooting one another. And Gî′tg̣ax̣ī′liña’s parents got ten slaves from the house of the Middle-town people. Then Î′ldjiwas asked the Middle-town people to stay awake with [the body of] Gî′tg̣ax̣ī′liña. Although they had just shot at each other, they were called for it.
Then they came in a crowd. They were afraid to enter. By and by they came in. They let them stay awake there. They were ten nights in the house. All the time they gave them food. And, after they buried him, they gave property to the Middle-town people to pay for the wake. After that Î′ldjiwas started to kill the Middle-town people.[20] Each time much property was given as blood money.