Indian Legends of Vancouver Island | Page 7

and after paddling uneventfully through

Klu-quilth-soh, the three E-coulth-ahts stopped beside Toosh-ko.
Looking back they could not see Nob Point which hid their home from
view,--it was as if the mountains which formed those stormy gates, had
closed and barred them in.
"What chehah" they cried, "has lured us within this inland sea and shut
those gates? A-ha A-ha!" they called with anxious cry, and prayed
Kah-oots to save them from all dangers. To the Saghalie Tyee, the chief
above, they also prayed to potlach kloshe to them, and guard them from
the evil chehahs hovering round. After the relief of prayer, their spirits
rose, and once again the splashing of their paddles marked their onward
progress.
Soon they glided by Hy-wach-es Creek and rounding Wak-ah-nit they
came in view of the great valley where the Tsomass flows. At once
they ceased from paddling to gaze with pleasure on that favoured land,
and as they looked they heard the sound of song from up the river
valley.
The evening fell, the pleasant Yuk-stees wind blew more faintly, and as
it passed away, over those calm inland waters swelled again the sound
of many voices chanting Indian songs.
"There are people dwelling there," they said. "It would be well if we
delayed until morning." Agreeing to this plan they crossed the channel
and camped at Klu-quilth-coose.
Next morning while the grass was damp with dew, and long before the
U-ah-tee wind had ceased, the sons of Wick-in-in-ish, hearing again the
quaint alluring song, took their canoe and paddled on, to where
between two grassy slopes, the Tsomass ends. When they approached
the river mouth, they saw extending from the bank a salmon trap, and
even to-day, the Indians will show at Lup-se-kup-se some old rotten
sticks, which they affirm formed part of that same trap. The land was
green, the wild duck's quack was heard among the reeds which edged
the river bank, while flocks of geese were feeding on the grass which
grows thickly upon the tidal flats, the flats the Indians call
Kwi-chuc-a-nit.
Upon the eastern bank the young men saw a wondrous house, which far
surpassed their father's lodge at home beyond the hills in Rainy Bay, in
size of beams and boards. The sons of Wick-in-in-ish were afraid and
would have turned the bow of their canoe home-bound, but that from

the house they heard a woman call. "Oh come and stay with us, go not
away. Our land is full of all the riches nature gives; our woods are
bright with o-lil-lie most luscious to the taste; on yonder hill the nimble
ah-tooch feed; in every stream the silver salmon swim so come within
our lodge with us and stay awhile." Ha-houlth-thuk-amik was
mesmerized by the sweet welcoming and entered in, whereat the
klootsmah said to him, "We welcome thee strange one unto our lodge,
for we have never seen a man before. Come and join us in our song and
dance, for when above great Kuth-kah-chulth the morning sun in glory
rises, we chant this song."
[Illustration: THE INDIAN MAIDEN'S SONG]
and when he sets over Kleetsa's snow white crown, we dance around
our fires, and sing again, and our hearts are happy in this our land."
[Illustration: "WE DANCE ROUND OUR FIRES AND SING
AGAIN"]
Now Han-ah-kut-ish was alarmed and much afraid that if his brother
listened to the klootsmah and was attentive to her blandishments, he
would forget the mission in which they were engaged, therefore he
called to him to come, and after much persuasion the elder brother left
the lodge and joined the younger and the slave See-na-ulth, and
together they paddled up the stream to Ok-sock-tis opposite the present
village of O-pit-ches-aht. Across the river there were houses in which
more klootsmuk lived, but at this time they were employed in gathering
Kwanis in the land behind, and when the young men sought them out
they were afraid and all but one took flight escaping to the woods. This
one had no fear but coming near to Ha-houlth-thuk-amik besought him
with favour to look on her, but Han-ah-kut-ish again reminded him that
they had not as yet attained the object of their quest.
Still further up the stream they went, until they came to where they
found the Ty-ee salmon spawning on the gravel bars. Believing they
had found the object of their search they camped the night at
Sah-ah-hie. All through the darkness they listened to the rushing of the
fish, when the gaunt and savage males with flattened heads and upper
jaws curved like a hook about the lower, and armed with dog-like teeth,
fought for the females of their choice. With great satisfaction they
heard the wallowing of the fish, as, with their heads and tails, they
formed the