Haida texts and myths, Skidegate dialect / recorded by John R. Swanton.

  • Swanton, John Reed, 1873-1958.
Date:
1905
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Haida texts and myths, Skidegate dialect / recorded by John R. Swanton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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108/458 (page 104)
[bull. 29 War between the West Coast Haida and the Tlingit [Told by Richard of the Middle-Qltt'ns] The Tlingfit destroyed Tho.se-born-at-Stasao.s‘ in Skidegate channel. For that reason ten canoes went to war from Gu'dAl,® and tliree canoes of us came apart from the rest [when we were] among the Tlingit. Then they (the others) plundered. They destroyed a fort. On that account they had many slaves. Then we landed on a fine beach, not knowing where the Tlingit lived, and we started a fire. We acted as if we were visitors. And after we had had a big fire there for some time seven Tlingit came to us in a canoe. They asked us: “What warriors are these?” Then SkA'ngwai’s father said: “ We are not warriors. We come to buy food of you.” And they .said: “No; you are warriors.” Then we denied it. We told them to come near shore, and the} entered the mouth of the inlet. And after he (one of them) had balked for a while, he said: “Get [into] the canoe. 1 do not understand their pronunciation.”* As soon as they got [into] the canoe they went off in fright. Then we pursued. [The other canoes] shot at them, one from each side, and we were behind. And after we had shot for a while we upset them near an island. One whom we had shot lay there, having fallen out into the water. Then XA'nxogutg.as‘ and his brothei’s started to get out to fight, and I stopped them. After that we went away and started across [to the Queen Charlotte islands]. The wind blew strong fi-om the north. In the middle.of the night a great wind arose. The canoe was split. I nailed the parts together with some staples I had. We also tied ropes round the canoe. Some of us cried from fright. We thought the other canoes had cap- sized. This was the first time I experienced a strong wind since I was grown. At daybreak we were in front of Paint mountain.* And after we had sailed from there for a while I shouted: “He he he he he; chiefs' nephews whom I have for sons-in-law, do not let your minds be down- cast. We go out to have a warm time. Make }our minds strong.” Then the} stopped weeping. Some time after that our canoe came to Gwi'gwAfi-bay,® and there was one canoe there. There we spent the night. When we left next day another sail came in sight from Skidegate. Then we saw each other. And we were glad to see each other. And when we came to Gu'dal the [other] warriors had taken thirty-eight slaves. We were