ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE [Haida totem poles] Frontispiece [Carved stone dishes] 12 [Paradise Valley] 24 [Lakes in the clouds] 24 [Shuswap beadwork] 36 [Cathedral Peak] 48 [Haida blanket border designs] 60 [Salish basketry designs] 72 [Canoe and paddles] 84 [Haida house] 96 [Moraine Lake] 106 [Cameron Lake] 106 [Haida house with totems] 122 [Carved handles of horn spoons] 132 [Takakkaw Falls] 142 [Mount Stephen] 142 [Indian pipes] 156 [Shuswap beadwork] 170 [Sun Dance Cañon] 180 [Castle Mountain] 180 [Haida memorial columns] 192 [Indian defensive armor] 202
MYTHS AND LEGENDS
OF
BRITISH NORTH AMERICA
BELIEFS
Haida
The Earth World is flat and has a circular out-line, and above it is a solid sky like a great bowl. Upon the top of the sky is the Sky Country. The sky rises and falls regularly, and so the clouds strike against the mountains and make a noise.
The Earth World floats, but it rests upon Sacred-One-standing-and-moving, and he rests upon a copper box. Upon his breast rests a pole which reaches up to the sky. When Sacred-One-standing-and-moving is about to move, a marten runs up the pole making the thundering noise which is always heard just before an earthquake. Because when this Sacred-One moves, it causes an earthquake.
In the Sky Country, the greatest power is held by Power-of-the-Shining-Heavens. He gives power to all things. The clouds are his blankets. Thunderclouds are the “dressing up” of the Thunder Bird. Thunder Bird produces a very loud noise by rustling his feathers.
Southeast Wind lives under the sea. Northeast Wind abides along the northern mountains.
There are many tribes of Ocean People. Now in Haida Land, that is, the Queen Charlotte Islands, the land and sea are entangled in an extraordinary way.