Xāusgana[100] was fishing for halibut. The Raven went to visit him. He was kindly received, because Xāusgana did not know that he was trying to steal food wherever he went. One morning when he went out fishing Raven said: “On my travels I saw a large island on [[144]]which there are a great many woodpeckers.” Xāusgana believed him. He said: “Let us go and see it.” One day, when the water was calm, they started, accompanied by Xāusgana’s wife. They paddled toward the island, and Raven said: “Stay here in the canoe while I go ashore to hunt woodpeckers in the woods.” There were many sʟāskʼᴇma (a plant bearing something resembling berries) in the woods. Raven took one of these and struck his nose until it bled. Then he transformed the blood into woodpeckers. Then he went back to the canoe and said: “Did you see the woodpeckers coming out of the woods?” By this time many woodpeckers had come out from under the trees, and Xāusgana became eager to hunt them. Fishermen are in the habit of tying the red feathers of the woodpeckers to their hooks in order to secure good luck.[101]
As soon as Xāusgana had gone a hunting Raven went back to the canoe. He lay down in it and thought: “I wish that a wind would start from the island and that the canoe would drift away!” He pulled his blanket over his head and pretended to sleep. Now a wind arose, and the canoe drifted away. When Xāusgana saw this he shouted: “Wake up! You are drifting out to sea!” but Raven did not stir. Then Xāusgana was greatly troubled because he had lost his canoe. As soon as Raven was out of sight he assumed the shape of Xāusgana and turned the canoe toward his house. He went up to the house and said to Xāusgana’s wife:[102] “That man who came visiting us is Raven. He is a liar.” Then the woman gave him to eat, and after he had finished the food he asked for more. The woman remarked: “How does it happen that you are so hungry now? Formerly you never ate as much as you do to-day.” She was unable to satisfy his hunger. At night he lay down with her. He lived in the house, and people believed that he was Xāusgana.
The latter was staying on the island, unable to leave it. After a while he thought: “I wish my rattle would come here!” The rattle obeyed his summons. Then he wished his bow to come. Then he walked home over the surface of the water as though it were firm land. He reached his village. After a while he saw his wife coming out of the house. He called her and told her: “The Raven has cheated you. Let us take revenge. Close all the chinks of our house and lock the door. When everything is done shut the smoke hole; then I will appear and take revenge.” The woman reentered the house and acted as though nothing had happened. She prepared food for him, and he ate. While he was eating he said all the time: “It is strange how much I have changed. Formerly I was never as hungry as I am now.”
Meanwhile the woman closed all the chinks of the house. Then Xāusgana entered. Raven put on his skin and tried to escape, but Xāusgana caught him and killed him. He broke his bones to pieces [[145]]and threw him into the latrine. On the following day when his wife went to defecate Raven spit upward at her genitalia. He took the body and struck it again, and he took a large stone and pounded it to jelly. Then he threw it into the sea. It drifted about on the water. One day many people went out in their canoe. When they saw the body they remarked: “Why is that chief drifting about on the water?” And the body replied, “A woman is the cause of this.”
After a while he thought, “I wish that a whale would come and swallow me!” Then the whale came and swallowed him.
Here follows the story of the Raven in the Whale.
The whale stranded and was discovered by the people. They came and cut it. Then Raven thought: “I wish that the chief’s son would open the whale’s stomach, that I may get out again!” At once the chief’s son cut open the whale’s stomach. Then Raven flew out right against the young man’s chest. The youth fell down dead. Then the people were afraid, and ran away.
Raven flew into the woods, and assumed the shape of an old man. He came back, leaning on a staff, and asked the people: “Why are you running away?” They told him what had happened. Then he said, “I heard that the same events happened long ago. At that time the people left the town, leaving all their property behind. I think it would be best for you to do the same.” Then the people, who were much afraid, left the village at once. Raven stayed behind, and ate all their provisions.
Beaver[103] was a chief who had his room in the rear of a very beautiful house. Behind the house there was a large lake, where Beaver went to play. Then he returned to his house. In the lake there were many salmon, and on the shores were growing all kinds of berries. When he returned home he carried a fish, which he boiled.