Mythology and Folklore UN-Textbook: Unit: Pacific Northwest

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Myth-Folklore Unit: Pacific Northwest

Overview. As the title of Judson's book explains, there are Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, and the stories come from a variety of different tribes, including the Klamath, Kwakiutl, Shasta, and Nez Perce, among others. You will find creation stories here, along with origin stories, such as why there are no snakes on Mount Takhoma (a.k.a. Mount Rainier). There are many stories about Coyote, the great trickster who once thought he could travel into the sky by riding on the star, and also Raven, giver of gifts and player of tricks. You will meet the creator god Kemush, the mighty Thunder Bird whose wings make the thunder and whose glance is lightning, and Whishpoosh, the monster-beaver. There are ghost stories, too, including a legend of the Memaloose Islands, the mysterious realm of the dead on the Columbia River.

Language. Judson's book is an anthology of stories takes from various anthropological sources, written in a variety of styles. Some of the stories are told in a more traditional oral style, while other stories are edited in a style more like literary prose.

Story Length. Most of the stories here are quite short, and all of them are single-page stories.

Navigation. You will find the table of contents below, and you can also use this link to see the story posts displayed on two pages total: Pacific Northwest. Click "Older Posts" at the bottom of that page to see the second page.

(free audiobook at LibriVox)

READING A:

READING B:

(Mount Shasta)

Pacific NW: How Silver-Fox Created the World

The Atsugewi are sometimes referred to as the "Hat Creek Indians" because they lived near Mount Shashta along the Burney, Dixie Valley, Horse, and Hat Creeks. You can read more about the Atsugewi people at Wikipedia.

[Notes by LKG]

This story is part of the Pacific Northwest unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910).

(Silver-Fox)

How Silver-Fox Created the World

Hat Creek Indians (Atsugewi)

IN the beginning there was nothing but water. Coyote and Silver-Fox lived above in the sky, where there was a world like this one. Silver-Fox was anxious to make things, but Coyote was opposed to this.

Finally Silver-Fox got tired of Coyote and sent him one day to get wood. While he was gone, Silver-Fox took an arrow-flaker and made a hole in the upper world and looked down on the sea below. When Coyote came back, Silver-Fox did not tell him about the hole he had made.

Next day he sent Coyote off again for wood. While he was gone, Silver-Fox thrust down the arrow-flaker and found that it reached to the water and down to the bottom of the water. So he climbed through the hole. As he came near the surface of the water, he made a little round island on which he stayed.

When Coyote returned, he could not find Silver-Fox and, after hunting a long time, he began to feel remorseful. Finally he found the hole in the sky. He peeped through and saw Silver-Fox on his island, far, far below.

He called to Silver-Fox he was sorry, and asked how to get down. Silver-Fox did not answer.

Coyote said Silver-Fox ought not to treat him so badly; then Silver-Fox put up the arrow-flaker and Coyote came down. But the island was very small, and there was not room enough for Coyote to stretch out.

For some time they slept and when they awoke they were very hungry. For five days things continued this way, until at last Silver-Fox gave Coyote some sunflower seeds. He asked where they came from. Silver-Fox did not answer.

(sunflower seeds)

After five days more, Silver-Fox made the island a little larger so that Coyote could have room to stretch out. At last he went comfortably asleep. At once Silver-Fox got up, dressed himself finely, and then made a big sweat house. When it was all done, he woke Coyote, who was much surprised to see the sweat house.

Silver-Fox told Coyote to sweep it out, to spread grass on the floor, and to go to sleep again. He did so, and Silver-Fox dressed up again. He put on a finely beaded shirt and leggings, and smoked and sang more. Then, going outside, he pushed with his foot and stretched out the earth in all directions, first to the east, then to the north, then to the west, and last to the south.

For five nights he repeated this until the world became as large as it is to-day. Each day Silver-Fox told Coyote to run around the edge and see how large it was growing. At first Coyote could do this very quickly, but the last time he grew old and gray before he got back.

Then Silver-Fox made trees and springs and fixed the world up nicely. He also made all kinds of animal, merely by thinking about them. These animals, however, were like people.

When the world was all made, Coyote asked what they were going to have for food. Silver-Fox did not reply.

Coyote then said he thought there ought to be ten moons of winter in the year. Silver-Fox replied there would not be enough food for so long a winter.

Coyote said it would be better not to have much food, that people could make soup out of dirt. Silver-Fox at first did not reply. Then Silver-Fox said it was not right to have ten moons of winter, that two were enough, and that people could then eat sunflower seeds, roots, and berries. Coyote repeated what he had said before, and they argued about it a long time.

Finally Silver-Fox said: "You talk too much! I am going to make four moons for the whole year. I won't talk about it any more. There will be two moons of winter, and one of spring, and one of autumn. That's enough."

Next: Three Coyote Stories

(700 words)

Pacific NW: Three Coyote Stories

The word "Skookum" is a word of Chinook jargon language (more about that at Wikipedia) which refers to a monster, something like Sasquatch, a.k.a. Bigfoot.

The Clatsop tribe referred to below are a Chinook-speaking people; you can read more about the Clatsop people at Wikipedia.

[Notes by LKG]

This story is part of the Pacific Northwest unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910).

(coyote)

Creation of Mankind

Pit River (Achomawi)

SILVER-FOX and Coyote lived together. Silver-Fox gathered some service-berry sticks and whittled them down, working all night. The shavings were to be made into common people. The finished sticks were to be warriors and chiefs. About sunset the next day he was ready to make them alive. They turned into people. Then Silver-Fox sent them away, some in one direction and some in another. Then he and Coyote had a big feast.

But Coyote wanted also to make people, so he did everything he had seen Silver-Fox do. He gathered some service-berry sticks and whittled them down, working all night. About sunset the next day he was ready to make them alive. They turned into people. Then Coyote ran after some of the women and after a long chase caught them. But so soon as he touched them, they turned into shavings.

How Coyote Got His Cunning

Shastan

LONG, long ago, Chareya, Old Man Above, made first the fishes, then the lower animals.

Afterwards he made a man. Chareya ordered the man to decide the rank of the animals. The man said he would give to each a bow. By the length of the bow given him would each animal know his rank. The next day, when the sun was new, would man give away the bows.

Coyote listened. If he received the longest bow, he would be the most important animal; he decided not to sleep. He would be the first one at the meeting place when the day was new.

Night Owl hooted, Wolf howled in the darkness, and Bat flitted over his head. Coyote slept not.

Robin chirped and Thrush sang when the day was new. Coyote slept. So Coyote was last to reach the man and received the shortest bow of all.

So Coyote became the meanest of all animals. But in his distress, Coyote howled to the man, and he, in turn, appealed to Old Man Above. Chareya ordered that Coyote should be the most cunning of all animals. And so he is to this day.

How Coyote was Killed

Clatsop

COYOTE had done many things. Fire he had stolen from Skookums and salmon he had given to the Indians. Therefore Coyote, thinking very highly of himself, wanted to travel to the sky world.

Now Star came every night very close to Coyote. Coyote lived above the clouds, on a mountain top. Therefore Coyote said to Star, "Take me with you." Star only laughed.

Thus Coyote was angry. Coyote said every night when Star came, "Take me with you into the sky." But Star only laughed. Then Coyote howled at Star.

At last Star said, "Tomorrow night I will take you to the sky world." Next night Star came again to the mountain. Star came quite close to Coyote. Then Coyote leaped far and caught on the edge of Star.

So they travelled through the sky world. Star climbed higher and higher. Coyote looked down. The tall firs of the forest were only as large as arrows. Then Coyote became cold, travelling high in the sky world. Star was not warm like Sun.

Coyote became so cold he could not hold on. His paws slipped and he fell. Coyote fell far to the earth below him. For ten snows he fell. When Coyote struck the earth he was crushed as flat as a willow mat. Thus Coyote was killed.

Next: How Kemush Created the World

(600 words)

Pacific NW: How Kemush Created the World

Kemush (also spelled Kumush) is a creator god, and the Klamath people originally lived in Oregon around the Upper Klamath Late and along the Klamath, Sprague and Williamson rivers. You can read more about the Klamath people at Wikipedia.

[Notes by LKG]

This story is part of the Pacific Northwest unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910).

(Upper Klamath Lake)

How Kemush Created the World

Klamath

IN the time that was, Kemush, Old Man of the Ancients, slept in Yamsi, Lodge of the North Wind. Hard had been his work. Kemush had made the world. He had sprung quickly from the ashes of the northern lights and made the world at the call of Morning Star.

At first Kaila, the earth, had been flat and bare. Then Kemush planted in the valleys the grass, and camas roots, iba and ipo roots.

On Molaiksi, Steepness, he had set Kapka, the pine, Wako, the white pine, and Ktalo, the juniper.

On the rivers and lakes Kemush placed Weks, the mallard, and Waiwash, the white goose. Mushmush, the white-tail deer, Wan, the red fox, and Ketchkatch, the little gray fox, ran through the forest. Koil, the mountain sheep, and Luk, the grizzly bear, Kemush set on Kta-iti, place of rocks.

So made Kemush the earth. And all the earth was new except Shapashkeni, the rock, where was built the lodge of Sun and Moon.

So Kemush slept while the day was young. Then came Wanaka, the sun halo, and called to the sleeping one, Old Man of the Ancients. Kemush rose from the door of the lodge. Together they followed the trail of Shel, the sun, until they reached the edge of the dark. But Maidu, the Indian, was not yet created.

Then Kemush, with his daughter, Evening Sky, went to the Place of the Dark, to the lodges of the Munatalkni. Five nights in a great circle about a vast fire they danced with the spirits of the dark. The spirits were without number, like the leaves on the trees. But when Shel called to the world, the spirits became dry bones.

On the fifth day, when the sun was new, Kemush rose and put the dry bones into a sack. Then, as he followed the trail of Shel to the edge of the world, he threw away the bones.

He threw them away two by two. To Kta-iti, place of steepness, he threw two. To Kuyani Shaiks, the crawfish trail, to Molaiksi, steepness of snow, and to Kakasam Yama, mountain of the great blue heron, to each he threw two bones. Thus people were created. The dry bones became Maidu, the Indian, Aikspala, the people of the chipmunks, and last of all, Maklaks, the Klamath Indian.

Then Kemush followed the trail of Shel, the sun, climbing higher and higher. At the top of the trail he built his lodge. Here still lives Kemush, Old Man of the Ancients, with his daughter Evening Sky, and Wanaka, the sun halo.

The Robe of Kemush

Klamath

KEMUSH, walking upon the earth after having created it, saw five lynxes sitting upon a tree. Kemush had on only a rabbit blanket. Kemush tore his blanket to pieces, saying, "The lynxes will be a good robe to me when I kill them."

Picking up a stone, he threw it at the lynxes. One lynx jumped down and ran away. Kemush said, "Oh! it will not be a good mantle."

Again he missed with a stone. Another lynx, jumping down, ran off. Kemush said, "Again one skipped away. Now my mantle will become small."

The three lynxes sitting on the tree scoffed at Kemush. Again with a stone he missed the lynxes. Another one jumped down and ran away. Kemush said, "It will only cover my back."

Picking up another stone, he missed the lynxes. Both skipping down, ran away. Kemush began crying, "Lo-t loyan loyak. Lo-loyan loyak."

Again gathering the pieces of his blanket, he pinned it together with splinters. Then putting it around himself, started off.

Not far away an antelope with an aching tooth lay on a clearing. Spreading his rabbit blanket over the antelope, Kemush kicked it. Then he began searching for a stone knife with which to skin it. An antelope behind him ran off. Looking at it, Kemush said, "This looks like my antelope."

Then the antelope of Kemush ran in front of him. Kemush saw his blanket on the antelope's back. He cried, "Stop! Stop! The people will make fun of you, wrapped in my old rabbit blanket."

Next: How Old Man Above Created the World

(700 words)

Pacific NW: How Old Man Above Created the World

This story is part of the Pacific Northwest unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910).

How Old Man Above Created the World

Shasta Indians

LONG, long ago, when the world was so new that even the stars were dark, it was very, very flat. Chareya, Old Man Above, could not see through the dark to the new, flat earth. Neither could he step down to it because it was so far below him. With a large stone he bored a hole in the sky. Then through the hole he pushed down masses of ice and snow until a great pyramid rose from the plain.

Old Man Above climbed down through the hole he had made in the sky, stepping from cloud to cloud, until he could put his foot on top the mass of ice and snow. Then with one long step he reached the earth. The sun shone through the hole in the sky and began to melt the ice and snow. It made holes in the ice and snow. When it was soft, Chareya bored with his finger into the earth, here and there, and planted the first trees. Streams from the melting snow watered the new trees and made them grow.

Then he gathered the leaves which fell from the trees and blew upon them. They became birds. He took a stick and broke it into pieces. Out of the small end he made fishes and placed them in the mountain streams. Of the middle of the stick, he made all the animals except the grizzly bear. From the big end of the stick came the grizzly bear, who was made master of all.

Grizzly was large and strong and cunning. When the earth was new, he walked upon two feet and carried a large club. So strong was Grizzly that Old Man Above feared the creature he had made. Therefore, so that he might be safe, Chareya hollowed out the pyramid of ice and snow as a tepee. There he lived for thousands of snows. The Indians knew he lived there because they could see the smoke curling from the smoke hole of his tepee.

When the pale-face came, Old Man Above went away. There is no longer any smoke from the smoke hole. White men call the tepee Mount Shasta.

Next: How Beaver Stole Fire

(Mount Shasta)

(400 words)

Pacific NW: How Beaver Stole Fire

This story is part of the Pacific Northwest unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910).

(beaver)

How Beaver Stole Fire

Nez Perce

LONG ago there were no people in the world. Animals and trees talked just as men do now. They also walked about.

Now in those days, Pine Trees had the secret of fire. They would tell no one else. No one could have a fire, no matter how cold it was, unless he were a Pine. One winter it was so cold the animals almost froze to death.

Then they called a council. They wanted to steal fire from Pine Trees.

Now on Grande Ronde River, Pine Trees were holding also a great council. They had built a large fire to warm themselves. Guards were put around the fire to keep off all animals.

But Beaver hid under the bank, near the fire, before the guards took their places, so they did not see him. After a while a live coal rolled down the bank near Beaver. He hid it in his breast and ran away.

Pine Trees started after him. When Pine Trees caught up near him, Beaver dodged from side to side. Other times he ran straight ahead. That is why Grande Ronde River winds from side to side in some places. In other places it is straight.

When they had run a long way, Pine Trees grew tired. They stopped on the river banks. So many stopped there, and so close together, that even today hunters can hardly get through the trees.

A few kept on after Beaver and stopped here and there. These also remain here and there on the river bank. A few Pine Trees kept close after Beaver. So did Cedar.

Cedar said, "I will run to the top of that hill. I will see how far ahead he is." So Cedar ran to the top of the hill. Beaver was far ahead. He was just diving into Big Snake River where Grande Ronde joins it.

Beaver swam across Big Snake River and gave fire to Willows on the opposite bank. Farther on he gave fire to Birches and to other trees. So these woods have fire in them. Ever since then, animals and Indians can get fire from these woods by rubbing two pieces together.

Cedar still stands all alone on the very top of the hill. He is very old. His top is dead. The chase was a long one. You can see that because there are no other cedars within a hundred miles of him. Old men of the tribes point him out to the children. They say, "There is Old Cedar. He stands just where he stopped when he chased Beaver."

Next: How Dog Stole Fire

(400 words)

Pacific NW: How Dog Stole Fire

This story is part of the Pacific Northwest unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910).

How Dog Stole Fire

Pit River (Achomawi)

PINE-MARTEN stole the two wives of Hawk-Man. Hawk-Man grew very angry, and at once put on his shaman's ornaments and began to dance and to sing, "Ketj ketja winino, ketj ketja winino."

At once it began to rain. Only Weasel noticed it and spoke of it. All night it poured. The water rose higher and higher until it ran in at the door. "Tell them to go back, these two women! That Hawk-Man will kill us, he will drown us."

But Pine-Marten said nothing until morning. Then he said, "I do not like this. Where is a brave man? I want him to go and kill Hawk-Man."

So a man got up and went over, taking a knife and a shield.

Hawk-Man was dancing harder and harder, and at every leap his head came up through the smoke hole. The man crept nearer and nearer, and finally struck Hawk-Man. He cut off his head.

At once the rain stopped, and the clouds cleared away, and the water sank. Then people said, "If a shaman is bad, we will kill him. That is how it shall be." Then they went off to hunt.

After Hawk-Man had been killed and the waters had sunk again, people found that the fires were put out all over the world. Nothing could be cooked. For a time they did not trouble about it, but in a few days they began to talk about it.

They sent Owl to Shasta to look out all over the world and see if he could find any trace of fire. Owl took a feather blanket and went. Lizard watched him go and told the people how he was getting on. After a long while, when Owl did not come back, people thought he was dead. But Lizard said, "Sh! I can see him."

Owl got to the top at last, very tired and wet with sweat. He looked all around. Twice he looked to the west and there saw smoke coming from a sweat house.

(sweat house / sweat lodge)

After a while Owl came down from the mountain and told the people what he had seen. Next morning all got ready and went off to the west, to where the smoke had been seen. Every one had a cedar-bark torch. Dog had some punk hidden in his ear.

Late in the evening they arrived at the lodge and asked to be allowed to warm their hands. Dog held his ear down and fire caught in the punk. Then every one thrust their torches into the fire and ran. The people in the lodge were angry and struck at them as they ran off.

Coyote's fire gave out first, then the fire of one after another gave out, until all the torches were out. The people who owned the fire had made it rain and this put out the torches. No one knew that Dog had fire.

They got home and were much troubled, for they thought the fire had all been lost. Dog was laughing and said, "I am sweating."

Coyote got angry at this and said, "Hit him! Put him out!"

Then Dog said to Fox, "Look in my ear." When he did so, he saw the fire. He took out the punk, made fire from it, and so people got fire again.

Next: The Story of Ashish

(600 words)

Pacific NW: The Story of Ashish

This story features two characters you saw previously - the gods Kemush and Silver-Fox - along with a new hero of the story: Ashish. As you will see, Kemush gets angry at Ashish and decides to impersonate him, so pay attention to the clues at the beginning of the story which reveal each character's identity and how Kemush is the worst of the three at all the things they try, so he is not able to do a good job of impersonating Ashish even if he does manage to get Ashish out of the way for a while!

[Notes by LKG]

This story is part of the Pacific Northwest unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910).

The Story of Ashish

Klamath

ASHISH, they say, having many people with him, gambled.

While on their way gambling, they built fires. Purple-blue was the fire of Ashish; the fire of Silver-Fox was yellow only; the fire of Kemush was smoke only.

Then they shot at the target. Ashish hit it straight; Silver-Fox slightly missed the mark; Kemush hit this side of the mark. All the others struck far this side of the mark.

After doing so they began gambling again. They bet on many things. Then Ashish won over them. About noon all the men had lost all they had. Then they went to their lodges.

Now Ashish had five wives. Mud Hen was one wife of Ashish; Long-tail Squirrel was one wife; Sandhill Crane was one wife; Mallard was one wife; Chaffinch was one wife.

Then Kemush plotted secretly. After daybreak he plotted against Ashish. Then Kemush began to weep, pretending to remember the inherited place where his father had killed eagles. Now declared Kemush to Ashish, "Far away is the killing place of the young eagles. I kill them not, being afraid."

Then they set out together, Kemush and Ashish.

Now Kemush coveted Little Squirrel, the wife of Ashish.

Then they saw eagles. Kemush pointed out the pine for Ashish to climb up. Then the eagles flew on the pine. Ashish climbed up, but as he climbed the tree grew. Far up, the pine now touched the sky. Ashish having climbed to the top, saw only the young ones of a lark, although it was the eyrie of an eagle. Thus Ashish wept, sitting in the eyrie.

(eagle nest)

Then Kemush went away. He dressed himself to appear like Ashish. He came back to the lodge from the pine tree.

Now the wives of Ashish became suspicious. "This one is Kemush" — thus said the wives of Ashish.

Next morning they all went with those who were in the habit of gambling with Ashish. They built a fire while gambling. And from the fire of Kemush smoke only curled up. Then they suspected, and said, "This is not Ashish. This is Kemush" — thus said those afar off, "Ashish did not come. The fire of Ashish is not burning there." Thus said the followers in the distance.

Those in the distance also said, "You will find out this man after he has shot at the mark. Ashish always hits straight." Then they shot. Kemush struck far this side of the mark. Silver-Fox missed a little. Then they commenced gambling, and they won over Kemush. All day long they won many stakes. Then they went back to the lodges. Then they quit gambling for they missed Ashish.

Now Ashish's wives wept constantly and left their lodges to dig roots. Four wives put pitch on their heads. Only Mallard mourned not for Ashish. Then Ashish heard the weeping cries of Sandhill Crane, and Ashish wept hearing them. Now Ashish was far away, close to the sky. He was nothing but bones.

Then two butterflies flew up close to the sky and saw Ashish. Then they flew back, having seen him. They returned home and said to their father, "A good man will soon perish. Far off, close to the sky, we saw that man, nothing but bones. He will soon die." Thus they said to their father.

The father ordered them early next morning to fly up with a basket strung around them. So the butterflies carried up there food, carrying water also. They raised up Ashish in that eyrie.

Then inquired those butterflies, "What are you doing up here?"

Then Ashish said, "Kemush sent me after the eagles. And I climbed the small pine and it grew up under me. The pine grew up during my climbing. Then I saw eagles. Of the lark saw I only the young." So Ashish said, giving explanations to them.

Then the butterflies spread a wildcat's skin in the willow basket. They placed Ashish in it, after giving him food, giving him water also. Then they took him in the basket down to the ground. Thus he returned. Then he lay sick a long time; then he recovered.

Next: Chinook Wind

(700 words)

Pacific NW: Chinook Wind

This story is part of the Pacific Northwest unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910).

Chinook Wind

Yakima

ONCE five brothers lived on Great River. They were the Chinook brothers and they caused the warm wind to blow. There were five other brothers who lived on Great River. They lived at Walla Walla, the meeting of the waters. They caused the cold wind to blow. Now the grandparents of all these brothers lived at Umatilla, the place of wind-drifted sands.

Walla Walla brothers and Chinook brothers were always fighting. They made the winds to sweep over the country, they blew down trees and raised great clouds of dust, they froze the rivers and thawed them so as to make floods. It was very hard for the people.

At last Walla Walla brothers said to Chinook brothers: "We will wrestle with you. Whoever falls down shall have his head cut off. Thus he shall be dead."

So Coyote was made judge. He was also to cut the heads off those who fell down.

Now Coyote secretly told the grandparents of Chinook brothers to throw oil on the ground. Then their sons would not fall.

Coyote also secretly told the grandparents of Walla Walla brothers to throw ice on the ground. Then their sons would not fall.

The oil and the ice made the ground very slippery. But the Walla Walla grandparents had thrown ice on the ground last. So Chinook brothers fell down. First one fell and then another, until all fell down. Then Coyote cut off their heads.

Now the oldest Chinook brother had a baby son. The baby's mother taught him he must revenge his father and uncles. So Young Chinook grew very strong. At last he felt himself very strong. He could pull up large fir trees and throw them around like weeds.

Then Young Chinook went up Great River. Wherever he went he pulled up large fir trees and threw them around like weeds. In the valley of the Yakima he turned aside and went to sleep by Setas, the creek. The mark of his sleeping-place can still be seen on the mountain side.

Then Young Chinook came back to the Great River and went to Umatilla, the place of wind-drifted sands. Here he found his grandparents very cold and hungry. Walla Walla brothers caused the northeast wind to blow all the time. They also stole their fish when they were returning to the shore. Always they stole the fish.

Young Chinook said: "We will go fishing now." So grandfather started out to fish. Young Chinook lay down in the bottom of the boat. When the boat was full of fish, grandfather started back for the shore.

Then Walla Walla brothers started out from the shore to rob grandfather. But they could not catch the boat. Every time Walla Walla brothers came near the boat, it would shoot ahead. So grandfather reached the shore with his fish.

Then Young Chinook took his grandparents to the river and bathed them. All the straw and grass and bark which he washed off became trout. That is how trout came to be in Great River.

Now Walla Walla brothers knew that Young Chinook was alive. They sent a messenger to him. They said: "We will wrestle with you. Whoever falls down shall have his head cut off. Thus he shall be dead."

So Coyote was made judge. He was also to cut off the heads of those who fell down. Now Coyote secretly told the grandparents of Walla Walla brothers to throw ice on the ground. Coyote also secretly told the grandparents of Young Chinook to throw oil on the ground. But he told them to throw oil last. So young Chinook wrestled with Walla Walla brothers, one after another. So the Walla Walla brothers fell to the ground. First one fell and then another, until four had fallen. Then Coyote cut off their heads.

The fifth one yielded without wrestling. So Coyote let him live. But Coyote said: "You must blow only lightly. You must never freeze people again."

To Young Chinook, Coyote said: "You shall blow hardest only at night. You shall blow first on the mountain ridges to warn the people." Thus now winter is only a little cold.

Next: As-Ai-Yahal

(Yakima River in winter)

(700 words)

Pacific NW: As-Ai-Yahal

This story is part of the Pacific Northwest unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910).

As-Ai-Yahal

Tillamook

As-Ai-Yahal, the god, lived far up in the country. A long time ago he travelled all over the world. He came down the river and arrived at Natahts. There he gathered clams and mussels. He made a fire and roasted them. When he opened them, he found two animals in each shell. After he had roasted them he began to eat and soon had enough. That made him angry and he said, "Henceforth there shall be only one animal in each shell."

The god came to Tillamook Bay and then went up the river. He had to cross it far up because he had no canoe and the river was deep. He met a number of women who were digging roots. He asked, "What are you doing there?"

They replied, "We are digging roots."

He said, "I do not like that."

He took the roots away and sent them to Clatsop. Ever since that time there have been no roots at Tillamook while at Clatsop they are very plentiful.

He went on and came to a river full of salmon which were clapping their fins. He caught one of them, threw it ashore, stepped on it, and flattened it. It became a flounder. Ever since then flounders have been plentiful at Tillamook while there have been no salmon there.

As-ai-yahal travelled on and came to a house in which he saw people lying around the fire. He asked, "What is the matter? Are you sick?"

"No," they replied, "we are starving. East Wind wants to kill us. The river, sea, and beach are frozen over and we cannot get any food."

Then he said, "Can't you make East Wind stop blowing so you can secure food?"

He went out of the house and far up the river, which was frozen over. It was so slippery he could hardly stand. He went up the river to meet East Wind and to conquer him.

Before he came to the house of East Wind, he took up some pieces of ice which he threw into the river, saying, "Henceforth it shall not be as cold as it is now. Winter shall be a little cold but not very much so. You shall become herring." The ice at once became herring and swam down the river.

As-ai-yahal went on until he reached the house of East Wind. He entered and whistled. He was trembling with cold, but did not go near the fire. He said, "I am so warm I cannot go near the fire." Then he told East Wind he came from a house where they were drying herring.

East Wind said, "Don't say so. It is winter now. There will be no herring for a long time to come."

As-ai-yahal replied, "Don't you believe me? There are plenty of herring outside." He took an icicle which he warmed at the fire. "Look how quickly it boils," he said to East Wind as the ice melted. He made East Wind believe that the melting ice was a herring. Then East Wind ceased to blow, the ice began to melt, and the people had plenty of food. Until then, it had been winter all the year; now we have both summer and winter.

Next: The First Totem Pole

(herring, photo by J. Boetter)

(600 words)

Pacific NW: The First Totem Pole

This story is part of the Pacific Northwest unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910).

The First Totem Pole

Kwakiutl

ONCE there was a chief who had never had a dance. All the other chiefs had big dances, but Wakiash none. Therefore Wakiash was unhappy. He thought for a long while about the dance.

Then he went up into the mountains to fast. Four days he fasted. On the fourth day he fell asleep.

Then something fell on his breast. It was a green frog. Frog said, "Wake up." Then Wakiash waked up. He looked about to see where he was.

Frog said, "You are on Raven's back. Raven will fly around the world with you."

So Raven flew. Raven flew all around the world. Raven showed Wakiash everything in the world.

On the fourth day, Raven flew past a house with a totem pole in front of it. Wakiash could hear singing in the house. Wakiash wished he could take the totem pole and the house with him. Now Frog knew what Wakiash was thinking. Frog told Raven. Raven stopped and Frog told Wakiash to hide behind the door.

Frog said, "When they dance, jump out into the room."

The people in the house began to dance. They were animal people. But they could not sing or dance. One said, "Something is the matter. Some one is near us."

Chief said, "Let one who can run faster than the flames go around the house and see."

So Mouse went. Mouse could go anywhere, even into a box. Now Mouse looked like a woman; she had taken off her animal clothes. Mouse ran out, but Wakiash caught her.

Wakiash said, "Wait. I will give you something." So he gave her a piece of mountain goat's fat. Wakiash said to Mouse, "I want the totem pole and the house. I want the dances and the songs."

Mouse said, "Wait until I come again." Mouse went back into the house. She said, "I could find nobody."

So the animal people tried again to dance. They tried three times. Each time, Chief sent Mouse out to see if some one was near. Each time, Mouse talked with Wakiash. The third time Mouse said, "When they begin to dance, jump into the room."

So the animal people began to dance. Then Wakiash sprang into the room. The dancers were ashamed. They had taken off their animal clothes and looked like men. So the animal people were silent. Then Mouse said, "What does this man want?"

Now Wakiash wanted the totem pole and the house. He wanted the dances and the songs.

Mouse knew what Wakiash was thinking. Mouse told the animal people.

Chief said, "Let the man sit down. We will show him how to dance." So they danced. Then Chief asked Wakiash what kind of a dance he would like to choose. They were using masks for the dance.

Wakiash wanted the Echo mask, and the Little Man mask — the little man who talks, talks, and quarrels with others. Mouse told the people what Wakiash was thinking.

Then Chief said, "You can take the totem pole and the house also. You can take the masks and dances, for one dance." Then Chief folded up the house very small. He put it in a dancer's headdress.

Chief said, "When you reach home, throw down this bundle. The house will unfold and you can give a dance."

Then Wakiash went back to Raven. Wakiash climbed on Raven's back and went to sleep.

When he awoke, Raven and Frog were gone. Wakiash was alone. It was night and the tribe was asleep. Then Wakiash threw down the bundle. Behold! The house and totem pole were there. The whale painted on the house was blowing. The animals on the totem pole were making noises.

At once the tribe woke up. They came to see Wakiash. Wakiash found he had been gone four years instead of four days.

Then Wakiash gave a great dance. He taught the people the songs. Echo came to the dance. He repeated all the sounds they made.

When they finished the dance, behold: the house was gone. It went back to the animal people. Thus all the chiefs were ashamed because Wakiash had the best dance.

Then Wakiash made out of wood a house and another totem pole. They called it Kalakuyuwish, "the pole that holds up the sky."

Next: Three Raven Stories

(Kwakiutl dance)

(800 words)

Pacific NW: Three Raven Stories

This story is part of the Pacific Northwest unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910).

(dancers with raven masks)

The Origin of Daylight

Nanaimo version of Tlingit legend

WHEN the earth was very new and young, it was dark and cold and gray. Even the stars were black. There was no light anywhere for Gull kept it in a small box which he guarded carefully.

His cousin, Raven, was tired of the dark. He wished for the daylight.

One day when Gull and Raven were out walking, Raven thought, "I wish Gull would run a thorn into his foot."

Hardly had he thought so, when, in the darkness, Gull stepped on a thorn. "Sqenán! My foot!" cried Gull.

"A thorn?" asked Raven. "Let me see it. I will take it out." But it was so dark Raven could not see the thorn. He asked Gull to open the box and make it light.

Gull opened it just a little way and the light was very faint. Raven said, "You must give me more light."

Gull answered, "Sqenán!"

So Raven pretended not to see the thorn. Instead of pulling it out, he pushed it in deeper and deeper, saying, "You must give me more light."

"Sqenán! Sqenán! My foot! My foot!" cried Gull. Raven pushed the thorn in deeper and deeper until Gull at last opened the box. That is the way the daylight came.

Owl and Raven

Eskimo

OWL and Raven were close friends. One day Raven made a new dress, dappled black and white, for Owl. Owl, in return, made for Raven a pair of whalebone boots and then began to make for her a white dress.

When Owl wanted to fit the dress, Raven hopped about and would not sit still. Owl became very angry and said, "If I fly over you with a blubber lamp, don't jump." Raven continued to hop about.

At last Owl became very angry and emptied the blubber lamp over the new white dress. Raven cried, "Qaq! Qaq!" Ever since that day Raven has been black all over.

The Spell of the Laughing Raven

Klamath

At "dance place" when the Klamath Lake people danced, many people were there. Kemush, Old Man of the Ancients, went there. Then Old Raven laughed at them, laughed when they danced, and all people dancing there became rocks.

Gray Wolf entered Kitti above, from the north. There he stopped and lay down, although not yet having reached his home. In full dress, at that spot, moccasins with beads on toe, stopped and rested.

Then Old Grizzly approached Old Gray Wolf while lying asleep. And Old Grizzly stole from Gray Wolf his moccasins, beads also, and put them on to go to the fishing place.

Upon this, Old Gray Wolf, waking up, threw Old Grizzly down hill. He rolled him down over the rocks for having robbed him of moccasins and beads also. Thus killed he Old Grizzly.

Upon this, the Klamath Lake people began fighting the Northerners because Old Grizzly had been killed by Old Gray Wolf.

Then Old Raven laughed at them when fighting and they became rocks.

Next: Woodrat and Rabbits

(500 words)

Pacific NW: Woodrat and Rabbits

This story is part of the Pacific Northwest unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910).

(woodrat)

Woodrat and Rabbits

Modoc

A WOODRAT lived with its mother. Five cottontail rabbits lived nearby.

Rat said to Rabbit, "Let us have a quarrel."

Rabbit said, "Why do you want to quarrel with me?"

Woodrat replied, "That's all right. Let us have a fuss. Don't you always prefer the bitter leaves of some sort of cabbage to everything else?"

Rabbit answered, "You must be a thief. Only yesterday I saw you watching carefully for the right moment to steal something. Your big ears were bent sidewise."

Woodrat replied, "And you I see always skipping about with your crooked legs to snatch leaves from the cabbage bush."

Rabbit said, "You are an old fool. You are good for nothing except to eat holes in your grandmother's dress. That is why you want to attack me."

Woodrat went to a distance and spread out a net to catch Rabbit. Then he seized a stick, drove Rabbit into the net, and beat him to death.

Woodrat went to the Second Rabbit. "Let us have a fight."

"Why should we fight?" asked Second Rabbit.

They fought because Second Rabbit said Woodrat ate up his grandmother's long dress.

Woodrat went to Third Rabbit. "You are nothing but a fool — a good-for-nothing eater of cabbage leaves," said Woodrat.

Rabbit answered, "You are a thief. You live in an old wooden shed."

So Woodrat started a quarrel with all the cottontail rabbits. Thus Woodrat killed all five cottontail rabbits. Then Woodrat and his mother ate them up. They danced over them a medicine dance. While they danced, Woodrat's wooden lodge caught fire.

Thus Woodrat and his mother were burned to death. This is the end of the tale.

Next: Why There Are No Snakes on Takhoma

(300 words)

Pacific NW: Why There Are No Snakes on Takhoma

The Cowlitz tribe are a Coast Salish people who live in western Washington. You can find out more at Wikipedia. Tyhee Sahale is their chief god.

Meanwhile, the mountain referred to here as Takhoma is known in English is "Mount Rainier," so named by George Vancouver in honor of Admiral Peter Rainier. You can read more about the mountain's name at Wikipedia.

[Notes by LKG]

This story is part of the Pacific Northwest unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910).

(Mount Rainier / Takhoma)

Why There Are No Snakes on Takhoma

Cowlitz

A LONG, long time ago, Tyhee Sahale became angry with the people. Sahale ordered a medicine man to take his bow and arrow and shoot into the cloud which hung low over Takhoma.

The medicine man shot the arrow, and it stuck fast in the cloud. Then he shot another into the lower end of the first. Then he shot another into the lower end of the second. He shot arrows until he had made a chain which reached from the cloud to the earth.

The medicine man told his klootchman and his children to climb up the arrow trail. Then he told the good animals to climb up the arrow trail. Then the medicine man climbed up himself.

Just as he was climbing into the cloud, he looked back. A long line of bad animals and snakes were also climbing up the arrow trail. Therefore the medicine man broke the chain of arrows. Thus the snakes and bad animals fell down on the mountain side.

Then at once it began to rain. It rained until all the land was flooded. Water reached even to the snow line of Takhoma. When all the bad animals and snakes were drowned, it stopped raining.

After a while the waters sank again. Then the medicine man, and his klootchman, and the children climbed out of the cloud and came down the mountain side. The good animals also climbed out of the cloud. Thus there are now no snakes or bad animals on Takhoma.

Next: Cry-Because-He-Had-No-Wife

(300 words)

Pacific NW: Cry-Because-He-Had-No-Wife

The Nez Perce people call themselves Nimíipuu, "the people." Their ancestral homes were in the Pacific Northwest; the federally recognized Nez Perce Nation lives now in Idaho. You can find out more at Wikipedia.

The Nez Perce had a traditional horse culture, and in 1994 the tribe began a breeding program to recreate that traditional culture. The Nez Perce horse is an Appaloosa noted especially for its speed.

[Notes by LKG]

This story is part of the Pacific Northwest unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910).

Cry-Because-He-Had-No-Wife

Nez Perce

ONCE there was a little boy. He was an orphan. This boy cried day and night and would never be quiet.

His grandmother asked him one day, "What makes you cry?"

He said, "I cry because I want a wife."

Now his grandparents knew of a girl who lived toward the east and they sent him there. As he went along the trail, he came to a giant's house. He went in to see the giant, who asked him to stay to breakfast. The giant had five roasts on the fire. He had four large roasts and one small one.

He said to the boy, "Pick out the roast you want for breakfast."

The boy picked out the small roast. Now, the four large roasts were the legs of people that the giant had killed. The small roast was venison. The boy knew this from what his grandmother had told him. She said, "Never eat too much."

After breakfast he went on. On the road he came to a great rock cliff. Its name was Cliff-Giant and it crushed people. The other giant had told him of this one, and how to get by it. He had said, "Turn yourself into a little dog and very slowly follow the trail under the Rock-Cliff. Keep your eye on Rock-Cliff. When you see it move, run fast." He did this and escaped.

Then he went on. He could see at a distance the place where the girl lived. Until he came in sight of this lodge he had never left off crying.

Now, this girl had a great horse which would kill people before they could reach her lodge. That was her guard.

(Appaloosa)

The boy picked up two large stones and ran, still crying, toward the lodge. The animal ran at the boy, but the boy spat all over one of the stones. When the horse came close, he threw the stone behind him. Then the horse stopped to stamp on the stone and the boy ran on. He was almost in reach of the lodge when he threw the other stone. The horse stopped to stamp on that, and the boy reached the lodge and jumped in.

Very soon the girl entered. She knew him at once and called him by name — Iwapnep Atswitki, Cry-because-he-had-no-wife. She talked to him and asked him if he wanted a bath. So she built a fire, heated water, and prepared him a bath. When he had taken the bath he became of man's size.

Next morning they started toward his home. When they reached this, his grandparents were very old, because he had been gone many years.

The girl said to her husband: "You tell your grandparents to do nothing wrong tonight. If they obey, I will give them a bath that will make them young again."

In the morning she did so, but they had not obeyed her directions so they did not become young again. The next night they were both dead.

Then the girl and her husband started for her old home. They rode back on the great horse but he did not go very well.

They made a whip out of black haw. The whip said to them, "I can outlast all other whips."

They made a whip out of smoke-wood (coyote-rope). This whip said, "When the giant gets too close, throw me down and I will tangle up the giant."

They made a whip out of mud. This whip said, "Throw me down and I will mire the giant."

They made a whip out of slide-rock. This whip said, "Throw me down and the giant will have trouble in getting by."

They made a whip out of red haw. This whip said, "Throw me down, and I will tear the giant's flesh."

They made a whip out of big mountains. This whip said, "Throw me down and the giant will not be able to get past me."

When they had finished all the whips, they started to pass the giant's house. The giant rushed out and cried, "Give me your wife!"

The boy answered, "Get me a drink of water and I will give you my wife."

When the giant went to get the water, the boy whipped up the horse and hurried on. They had gone some ways when the giant came out.

They threw down the whip of black haw. He almost overtook them and they threw down the whip of smoke-wood. It tangled up the giant until they got away. When the giant almost overtook them again, they threw down the mud whip and he was mired. When the giant almost overtook them the fourth time, they threw down the slide-rock whip and the giant had great trouble in getting by. When the giant almost overtook them the fifth time, they threw down the red-haw whip, and it tore the flesh of the giant. And when the giant almost overtook them the sixth time, they threw down the whip of high mountains and he could not cross it. Thus they escaped.

Next: Two Thunder Bird Stories

(900 words)

Pacific NW: Two Thunder Bird Stories

This story is part of the Pacific Northwest unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910).

The Golden Age

Tinne

Long ago the world was only a great sheet of water. There was no land. There were no people. Only the Thunder Bird lived. The beating of its wings was thunder. Its glance was lightning.

Then the Thunder Bird flew down and touched the water. Thus the earth arose. Then the Thunder Bird flew down again and touched the earth. Thus the animals were created.

Thus Thunder Bird created all living things except people. Dog was the ancestor of the Tinne.

Then Thunder Bird gave to the Tinne a sacred arrow. This arrow was never to be used or lost.

Thus the Tinne, because of the sacred arrow, never died. Men wore out their throats with eating. Men lived so long their feet wore out from walking. Thus the Tinne were happy.

Then they disobeyed Thunder Bird. They used the sacred arrow; therefore Arrow flew away. Thus the Tinne now die as do other Indians.

Origin of the Thunder Bird

Klamath

LONG, long ago, Toe-oo-lux, South Wind, travelled to the north. There Toe-oo-lux met Quoots-hooi, the giantess.

Toe-oo-lux said, "I am hungry. Give me something to eat."

Quoots-hooi said, " I have nothing to eat. You can get food by fishing."

So South Wind dragged the net. He caught tanas-eh-ko-le. He caught a little whale. South Wind took his stone knife to kill the whale.

Then the giantess said, "Use a sharp shell. Do not use your knife. Slit tanas-eh-ko-le down the back. Do not cut him crossways."

South Wind pretended not to hear. South Wind cut the whale across the back. Suddenly the fish changed into an immense bird. The bird's wings darkened the sun. The flapping of its wings shook the earth. This bird was the Thunder Bird.

He flew to the north and lighted on Swal-al-a-host, near the mouth of Great River. Then South Wind and the giantess travelled north to find him.

One day, picking berries, Quoots-hooi found the nest of Thunder Bird. The nest was full of eggs. Quoots-hooi broke one egg. It was not good, so she threw it down the mountain side. Before it reached the valley it became an Indian. Quoots-hooi threw down other eggs. Each egg became an Indian. That is how the Chehalis Indians were created.

Indians never cut the first salmon across the back. If they did, the salmon would not run. Always Indians slit the first salmon down the back.

Next: An Indian's Vow to the Thunder Gods

(400 words)

Pacific NW: An Indian's Vow to the Thunder Gods

This story is part of the Pacific Northwest unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910).

An Indian's Vow to the Thunder Gods

[As related by Alice C. Fletcher. Used by permission. This incident is not a myth; it is actual fact.]

TO an Indian woman the Thunder had spoken in a vision. To this god she promised to give her first-born child.

When she became a mother, she forgot in her joy that the life of her little child did not belong to her, nor did she recall her fateful vow until one bright spring day when the clouds gathered, and she heard the roll of the Thunder — a sound which summoned all persons consecrated to these gods to bring their offerings and to pay their vows.

She remembered what she had promised, but her heart forbade her to lay the infant, which was smiling in her arms, upon the cloud-swept hilltop. She pressed the baby to her breast and waited in silence the passing of the gods in the storm.

The following spring when the first thunder pealed, she did not forget her vow, but she could not gather strength to fulfil it.

Another year passed and again the Thunder sounded. Taking the toddling child by the hand, the mother climbed the hill, and when the top was reached she placed it on the ground and fled. But the boy scrambled up and ran after her, and his frightened cry stayed her feet. He caught her garments and clung to them, and although the Thunder called, she could not obey; her vow had been made before she knew the strength of a mother's love.

Gathering the boy within her arms, she hid herself and him from the presence of the gods. The storm passed, and the mother and child returned to the lodge, but fear had taken possession of her; she watched her son with eyes in which terror and love struggled for the mastery.

One day as the little one played beside a rippling brook, laughing and singing in his glee, suddenly the clouds gathered, the flashing lightning sent beast and bird to cover, and drove the mother out to find her child. She heard his voice above the fury of the storm calling to her. As she neared the brook, a vivid flash blinded her eyes; for a moment she was stunned, but recovering, she pushed on, only to be appalled by the sight that met her gaze. Her boy lay dead, struck by the Thunder gods who had claimed their own.

No other children came to lighten the sorrow of the lonely woman, but every spring when the first Thunder sounded, and whenever the storm swept the land, this stricken mother climbed the hills, and there, standing alone, with hands uplifted to the black rolling clouds, she sang her song of sorrow and fealty.

Many years ago the writer met her and heard her song; she was an old, old woman; she is now at rest and let us hope that her lifelong sorrow has turned to joy. The words of her song express her fidelity, and the music betrays her love and sorrow:

Flying, flying, sweeping, swirling,
They return, the Thunder gods.
To me they come, to me their own,
Me they behold, who am their own!
On wings they come —
Flying, flying, sweeping, swirling,
They return, the Thunder gods.

Next: Chinook Ghosts

(600 words)

Pacific NW: Chinook Ghosts

This story is part of the Pacific Northwest unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910).

Chinook Ghosts

Chinook

THE ghosts wanted to buy a wife. They bought Blue Jay's sister, Ioi. They came in the evening and on the next morning Ioi had disappeared.

Now Blue Jay was a wise bird, a foe to magic. After a year Blue Jay said, "I am going to search for Ioi."

Blue Jay asked all the trees, "Where do people go when they die?" They did not answer.

Then Blue Jay asked all the birds, "Where do people go when they die?" They did not answer.

At last Blue Jay said to his wedge, "Where do people go when they die?"

Wedge said, "Pay me and I will tell you."

Blue Jay paid him, and Wedge took him on a journey. They arrived at a large village. The last lodge was very large. Smoke was rising only from this lodge. There Blue Jay found Ioi.

When Ioi saw Blue Jay, she said, "Where did you come from?"

Blue Jay said, "I am not dead. Wedge brought, me here. Are you dead?"

Then Blue Jay opened all the lodges and he saw that they were full of bones. He saw a skull and bones close to Ioi.

He said, "What are you going to do with that skull?"

Ioi said, "That is my husband."

When it grew dark, the bones became alive.

Blue Jay asked, "Where did all these people come from?"

Ioi said, "Do you think they are people? They are ghosts."

After some time, Ioi said to him, "Go with those people fishing with a dip net."

He went with a young boy. The people spoke always in very low tones and he did not understand them. Ioi told him to speak in low tones.

When they were going fishing in their canoe, another canoe came down the river. The people in it were singing. Blue Jay began to sing, too, and at once the boy became a skeleton. Blue Jay stopped singing and the boy became a ghost again. When Blue Jay spoke in loud tones, the boy always became a skeleton.

The ghosts caught leaves and branches in the dip net. These branches and leaves were their trout and salmon. Blue Jay shouted often and all the ghosts became skeletons.

One day when all the ghosts were bones, Blue Jay changed their skulls. He put children's skulls on old people. Therefore the ghosts disliked him. They told Ioi to send him back. But he did not know in what to go. Their canoes were full of holes and covered with moss.

So Ioi sent Blue Jay home, but he did not follow her directions. Therefore he died and became a ghost. He returned to the ghost land and found all the bones were real men. The leaves and branches were real salmon and trout, and all their canoes were new.

Next: The Memaloose Islands

(500 words)

Pacific NW: The Memaloose Islands

You can learn more about the Memaloose Island, which Lewis and Clark called "Sepulcher Island" because of the burial vaults, in this online article: The Columbia River - Memaloose Island.

[Notes by LKG]

This story is part of the Pacific Northwest unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910).

The Memaloose Islands

Klickitat

LONG ago, before the white man came, a young chief and a maiden loved one another. Suddenly the chief went over the spirit trail. But he could find no rest in the land of the spirits. The maiden also grieved for him.

Then a vision came to the maiden. It told her to go to the land of the spirits. The maiden told her father of the vision and they both obeyed. The father made ready a canoe, placed her in it and they paddled up Great River to the spirit island.

Through the darkness, as they neared the death island, they heard singing and the tom-tom of the dance drum. Four spirit people met them on the shore. The maiden landed but the father returned. At the great dance house the maiden met her lover, more beautiful than on earth. All night long they danced. Then when morning came and the robins chirped, the dancers fell asleep. The maiden slept, but not soundly.

When the sun was high, she awoke. All around her were skeletons and skulls. Her lover, with grinning teeth, was gazing upon her. The maiden was in the island of the dead. Struck with horror, she ran to the shore. At last she found an old boat and paddled herself across Great River to the Indian village.

But her father was frightened. She had been to the spirit land. Therefore, if she returned, evil would fall upon the tribe.

That night again the father made ready a canoe and paddled across the river to the Memaloose island. Through the darkness, they heard singing and the tom-tom of the dance drum.

In course of time a baby, half human, half spirit, was born. The spirit lover wished his mother to see it. He sent a messenger to her, telling her to come to the island by night. He told her, when she arrived, not to look at the baby until it was ten days old.

After the old woman reached the Memaloose island, she became impatient. She lifted the cloth from the baby's face. She lifted just one little corner and looked at the baby's face. Therefore the baby died. Thus the spirit people became displeased. They said that never again should living people visit the land of those who had gone by the spirit trail.

Next: Origin of the Tribes

(400 words)

Pacific NW: Origin of the Tribes

This story is part of the Pacific Northwest unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910).

Origin of the Tribes

Chinook

LONG ago, in Lake Cle-el-lum, lived Wishpoosh, the monster beaver.

Cle-el-lum was beautiful. It was also full of fish. The animal people wanted to fish there but Wishpoosh killed them. Wishpoosh dragged them into the water and drowned them. Wishpoosh also killed and ate the animal people.

At last Coyote tried to kill him. Coyote fastened a spear to his wrist with a strong cord. Then he began to fish in the lake. Soon Wishpoosh attacked him. Coyote speared the beaver. Then Wishpoosh plunged to the bottom of Cle-el-lum and dragged Coyote with him. But Coyote fought hard with Wishpoosh.

They fought so hard, they tore out the banks of Cle-el-lum. The waters rushed through the break, then through the mountains and down the canyon. They rushed into Kittitas Valley. The water formed another lake in Kittitas Valley.

Coyote and Wishpoosh fought so hard they tore out the banks of the new lake. The waters rushed down into the basin of the Cowiche, Nachess, and Atahnum. The water formed a larger lake. Yakima was flooded and a very great lake formed at Toppenish.

Coyote and Wishpoosh fought so hard that they tore out the banks of this very great lake. The waters rushed to the meeting-place of the Yakima, the Snake, and the Columbia Rivers. The waters here formed a very, very great lake.

Coyote and Wishpoosh fought so hard that even the banks of this lake were torn out.

Then Wishpoosh dashed down the Great River. Coyote was out of breath. Coyote wanted to stop Wishpoosh. He caught at the trees and stones along the banks of Great River. Nothing could stop Wishpoosh.

At last Coyote and the beaver reached the breakers at the mouth of Great River, reached the breakers of the Bitter Waters. Wishpoosh was very angry. He killed salmon and swallowed them. He killed whales and swallowed them.

Coyote saw that Wishpoosh was very strong. Then he remembered that he was Coyote, the wisest and cunningest of all the animals. So Coyote changed himself into a branch, a tree branch. He drifted toward Wishpoosh. Wishpoosh swallowed him. Then Coyote changed himself back into Coyote again. He took his stone knife. He cut the sinews inside of Wishpoosh. Thus Wishpoosh died.

Now Coyote was very tired. Therefore he asked Muskrat to help him. Together Coyote and Muskrat pulled the great beaver to land. Then they cut up Wishpoosh. They threw the pieces over the land.

From the head of Wishpoosh, Coyote made the Nez Perces, great in council.

From the arms he made the Cayuses, powerful with the bow and war-club.

From the legs he made the Klickitats, famous runners.

From the ribs he made the Yakimas.

From the belly he made the Chinooks, short, fat people, with big stomachs.

Coyote at last had only the hair and blood of Wishpoosh. These he flung far up the valley to the east. They became the Snake River Indians, a tribe of war and blood. Thus Coyote created the tribes. Then he returned up the Columbia.

Now in making the Chinooks and the coast tribes, Coyote forgot to give them any mouth. The god Ecahni, travelling along, noticed this. Then Ecahni called the tribes to him and with a stone knife gave each one a mouth. But for fun Ecahni cut them crooked. He made some mouths very big. Thus the coast tribes have not perfect mouths.

Next: How the Ermine Got Its Necklace

(600 words)

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