Part 37

After that another came at me. When he tried to stab me I dodged him. And when I struck him he grew pale. I told Gā′ala, who came behind me, to kill him. A youth having no knife then made with his hands the motion of surrender to me from the bow. And I picked him up, and I threw him into our canoe. When another came at me I struck him. It grazed him. He went at once into our canoe. He let himself be enslaved. I made a cut down his back. He was a brave man. People did not pass in front of his town. They were afraid of him. When it was reported that he had let himself be enslaved the Tlingit became boneless [with astonishment]. They did not believe it. His name was Yāñ.

After we had fought for a while some one called to me from the middle: “So-and-so’s grandfather, they are too much for me.” I then ran to him. And they had one of our friends in the bottom of the canoe. A Tlingit whose knife had dropped from him was moving it toward himself with his feet when I struck him.

And while I was striking one after another some one shouted to me from the stern. A Tlingit was lying upon one of our young men. And, pushing away his knife, I cut off his head. After that I saw some one who got in out of our canoe and a Tlingit strike each other at the same time. The Tlingit fell upon his breast. Some time after that he (the Haida) called to me: “So-and-so’s grandfather, they have broken my arm.” I looked at him. There was a wound in his right arm. They shot him from beneath hides lying near. I did not hear the sound of the gun. Neither did he hear it. Those who were with us instead [of helping us] stood near looking on. They were afraid.

After we had fought for a while, and had killed nearly all, I ran to the bow. The many women, who sat in two places, I pushed apart. I passed between them to the bow. Then the one who had concealed himself in the bow rose. When he was about to strike me, I struck him in the side. He at once tried to close with me. I kept striking him. By and by he died.

And in the stern out of Gana′-i’s canoe they struck a certain one. He jumped then into the water and struck the edges of the canoe with his knife. They jumped upon the Tlingit and stabbed him.

And after I had gone about in the bow for a while I looked toward the stern. They were already pulling in slaves. And when I went thither I saw a woman left. She had been shot in one leg. And I did not take her. One that I had struck acted as if he were crazy. Then I jumped into [our canoe], and, when I was about to stab him, he held up his hands to me. I then tied his legs together with a rope, and I tied his hands behind his back.

The property was captured at once. Into Gana′-i’s canoe they took ten severed heads. There were only nine slaves. And after Skᴀ′ngwai’s father had brought five heads into ours they found fault. He stopped then. And they took all the property.

In front of the place whence we had been wrangling a whale swam about with its young one. And we shot at the young one. We killed the young one. We took its oil to Port Simpson [749] to trade. There we bought all kinds of stuff. We carried the things away. And, when the canoes were filled with property, some was left behind.

The warriors now got in. And, as they went along, they began to sing war songs. It was hard for me. Two of my younger brothers were killed, and I sang differently from them.

When they were almost out of the inlet some one shouted “Ix̣iâ′⁺ī, they are pursuing us.” Full canoes were behind us. The canoes were close together. They were brave in Sg̣ā′gia’s canoe (the narrator’s). And the people in Gana′-i’s canoe began to paddle away from us. I then stood up and I said: “Chiefs whom I have for fathers-in-law and my sons-in-law’s nephews, do not tell a bad story about us. For that we are out here. That is why they will kill us. Before they destroy us we will destroy a whole canoe load of them.”

After we had paddled away for a while in fright I looked back. Instead of my seeing them they were gone. It was nothing but driftwood, on the top of which sea gulls sat.

Then the people of Gana′-i’s canoe started a fire in a creek where there were many humpbacks. There they roasted humpbacks for us. When we were done eating we went away. We also gave food to the Tlingits.

We then went to Cape Charcon. [We crossed, and], while we were going along together, some one ahead of us shouted: “What warriors are those?” Then Skᴀ′ngwai’s father said: “These are Sg̣ā′gia’s warriors.” And they came out from their concealment. They had guns with red outsides (i.e., new ones) and two cartridge boxes apiece. No one could touch me [I was so dirty]. I had on a white shirt, and I wore a blanket doubled. Where they ate humpbacks I tied cedar bark round the arm of the man that they shot. And the one shot in the head also returned to life. He told us he would not die for some time yet.

And, when we came round the point, they came down in a crowd opposite us. They had had a Kaisun man living at Masset question us. They gave him the following directions. “If you recognize them ask them ‘Is it you?’ and if you do not know them ask ‘What warriors are those?’” That was the way in which he questioned us. They then called ashore from our canoe a Masset man who was born in the same place with a certain one [of them]. We four stayed then in the canoe. But no one got out of Gana′-i’s canoe.

A man of the Sg̣adji′goał lā′nas [750] then stood near them, holding a gun. Two cartridge boxes hung from his side. They said he was a brave man. He said: “Tell me, Pebble-town people, [751] what did the Tlingit do to the people of your family in former times? When the Tlingit formerly beat them every time why do you do this? I could do something to you for your foolishness. You might be shot to pieces.” And, when he aimed his gun, he pointed it at us. His name was Stᴀwa′t.

I felt as though I had been struck in the face. He had pointed a short gun at me. I seized then a long one, and I jumped off. I ran to him. I struck him at once with the gun. I struck him in the neck. And when he was about to strike me I got my gun ready for him. “Now, if you strike me, I will shoot you.” Two of my friends who were ashore then struck him with their guns. And Natqā′g̣oñ said to him: “This is not the first time [men of his family have done such things], and they are also brave. Why don’t you strike back?”

Then some one said to us: “Cease doing it to him. You have struck him more than enough for his talk.” We then stopped, and they took us over to the camping place. A part of our people went round the point. Then Gustᴀmᴀ′lk invited us. And there they pulled in the two canoes. There were a great number there of my father’s nephews, born in the same town with me. They set us then in a line.

And, after he had begun to give us food, the Masset people went down to the canoes in a crowd. And, when they had nearly reached our slaves, I handed my gun to Skᴀ′ngwai’s father. I then ran down. I made fast my knife in my hand. I then pushed them away and anchored the canoes outside.

They then began to give us food. And we had on our cartridge boxes. We also kept our guns at our right sides, and we had our knives hanging down in front. At the same time we ate. Then we finished, and they gave us tobacco.

And in the evening those born with me and my father’s nephews gave me tobacco. Besides, they made me an offer for one of my slaves. They offered sixty blankets for him, an unused musket, a whole suit of clothes, two bags of shot, a big canoe, many things of all kinds. I refused them.

We remained awake that night. A part of us slept ashore. I was all covered with blood from fighting. Very early on the next day they started in this direction. And, when we were ready to go, Skᴀ′ngwai’s father went after some water. He was gone for a long time. While he was still away, Gana′-i’s canoe started. The wind was in the north. I then left the people directions what to do about him. And we left him.

The Masset people afterward took him in. They landed him at Rose spit. He walked home from there. And on that day, when it was almost evening, we sailed by in front of Skidegate. The Skidegate people came out in a crowd to us. We did not stop. [752] They stood behind us [watching]. We spent that night at Water-hole. [753] The one in our canoe whom they had wounded was still alive.

And we started off from there at night. Then we made a camp fire on the inlet above Tcꜝā′ał. [754] From there we started very early to Qa-itg̣a′og̣ao. At that time we sang a war song.

We then went into Qa-itg̣a′og̣ao, singing songs of victory. Hu hu hu hu. When we were going up to the houses we landed the slaves. Some of them carried children. After having fought we sang songs of victory for many nights.

Here is all of this story.

This and the following eight stories and that on page 104 practically constitute one long account of the Haida wars, or rather raids, which have taken place within recent times, except only those related by Abraham of Kloo, which succeed. The story-teller was an interesting old man who, as will be seen by the texts, had himself taken part in many of these expeditions and had lived a life full of adventure. He belonged to the Middle-gîtî′ns (Ya′ku-gitina′-i), a branch of the Pebble-town Gîtî′ns of the west coast, but, while still a young man, had gone to live with members of his family in Alaska. After that he and his uncle were in the employ of the Hudson Bay Company for a long time, until he finally came back to Skidegate to live. He was acquainted with some myths, but war stories were his “specialty.”

WAR BETWEEN THE WEST COAST AND NINSTINTS HAIDA AND THE GÎTÎ′SDA

[Told by Richard of the Middle-gîtî′ns]

The Ninstints people [755] came to Kaisun in four canoes to ask us [756] to go to war in their company. We then went along in four canoes. And, after we had gone across, we entered Lᴀlgī′mi. [757] During the night we went in opposite to a fort. Some people were then camping in the inlet. We began to shoot at them. There Amai′kuns was killed. Gayî′ns [758] was wounded. Qoyā′ [759] was also wounded. He was one of the brave men among us. There we took two slaves.

We went out from there. And those who went in advance came upon some who were sailing along. The sound of two guns was heard. Afterward an empty canoe drifted away. They enslaved two women. And we went thither. And, while we were close to land, rejoicing over the slaves, some persons came sailing round a point near us, and, when they saw us, they jumped off. Then some landed behind them.

I then prepared myself and got off. And I pursued one who was running along near the sea. After I had chased him about for a while in the woods he jumped into the ocean. I took from him his yellow cedar blanket with some of his hair. And, when he emerged farther out, he held up his hands before my face. He then swam to me. When he came near me he dove again. And he came to the surface out at sea. I then began to shoot at him. And he swam landward and squeezed himself tight against the face of a cliff. After I had shot twice at him there, I stopped. He then climbed up a tree that stood against the face of the cliff. And, although there was some space between its top and the cliff, he bent it over, got a hold on the face of the cliff, and went into a hole there. He could not climb thence either down or up. We said one to another that he would die there.

We then went away. We next made a fire and began to give each other food. And after we left we began to fight against the fort. We could not get away then. We could not get away. [760] But afterward they got us back [into the canoe]. And they shot one who was crawling about on the top of the house so that he fell down. And after they lay out to sea for a while a man wearing a dancing skirt and cedar-bark rings dragged down a canoe. A woman also came after him. She came to us and talked to those who were in Ldō′gwañ’s canoe. They told her then to come closer. And some called to them to shoot the man so that he would fall into the water. Ldō′gwañ refused to allow it and started away from them. They then went off in fright. We ran out of ammunition. Then we went away.

We then started from Point-djī′dao and, after we had spent four nights upon the open sea, we came to G̣ᴀ′ñxet-kun. [761] After traveling two nights from there we came to Kaisun. We had really brought nothing with us from the far country.

This is the end of the story.

My interpreter understood that the tribe attacked at this time was, as stated above, a Tsimshian tribe, but he may have been mistaken. In that case it must have been some tribe related to the Bellabella.

RAID BY THE NINSTINTS HAIDA ON THOSE OF THE WEST COAST

[Told by Richard of the Middle-gîtî′ns.]

The Pebble-town people warred with the people of Ninstints. The East Coast people [762] were also at war with them. They were all at G̣ētgā′ñ. [763]

From that place the father of Qꜝaolga′s went to hunt. Then they saw a war canoe pass a place named Gia′g̣ēs lying toward the south. It came along close to the shore and passed behind an islet. And they did not know those who were in it.

And when it was far off he started straight out to sea. And, when the rocky shore had nearly passed out of sight, he turned about. At evening they heard the sound of his guns at G̣ētgā′ñ. He had seen the enemy. Then they went for two shamans who were there. And they whipped the souls of the enemy. At that time they said that a white raven flew into the inlet. After they had drunk salt water for two nights all the warriors went out to meet the enemy.

After they had crept along close to the shore for a while they feared to round ʟuqā′łgᴀłdᴀs. [764] So they stopped there. Some of them said that Kaisun could be seen from there. By and by, however, they went thither. They then saw some persons walking on the beach at Kaisun.

After some time had passed the canoe came in front of them (those at Kaisun). They got into it and went seaward. In the middle was a shaman whipping the souls of his enemies. Then one [Ninstints man] in it saw a strange sight. “Look at the cormorant flying about. It has no head.” And, when they looked at it, its head was lacking. Kꜝadja′-i alone [765] did not see this.

After they had gone on for a while a shot was fired at them. At once [the guns shooting] downward resounded everywhere. It (the canoe) turned bottom up. And as they came alongside they shot at them. And after they had destroyed them and had turned the canoe over one person was in it. He alone they saved. When the first gun sounded, the war chief said: “Sqas, take the gun away. It is not time for that.”

They then went away. Now they sang war songs. And the next day they went to get the heads. They then cut them off and dried them in the sunshine. The shaman who had whipped the souls of his enemies had his hair bunched together. [766] He had told them to go back. On the way they (the Ninstints people) saw portents. They heard the sound of drying frames dropping from above. And Tia [767] also called near them. He called, and blood spurted out of his neck.

This encounter was referred to by others. See Memoirs of the American Museum of Natural History, volume V, part 1, page 31.

FIGHT BETWEEN THE KAIGANI AND WEST COAST HAIDA

[Told by Richard of the Middle-gîtî′ns.]

They had occupied Thin-fort. There were many black cod there. Then they saw portents. The black cod, the day after they were brought in, moved their mouths. And at one time a headless cormorant came there. [768] Some time after that, they say that [the children] who had a little fire in a cave below them and were picnicking there, ran out of it. Some small being with disheveled hair and a yellow-cedar-bark blanket over its shoulder came out of the cave. It was Supernatural-slave [769] who was among them, they say. Its belly was big, they say. Then they feared to play in the cave.

After that the rotten gills lying about groaned. Another day Tia flew over to the fort from the opposite side. He said “Tia, tia,” and blood spurted out of his neck.[768]

One day, while they were away fishing for black cod, they (the enemy) came upon them. These were the Kaigani, Sta′stas, and Middle-town people. Then they shot up at the fort. My grandmother was born among them. That was why they did not touch her people. [770]

One man then shot from the fort. When his ammunition failed they went up to the fort. They enslaved all of the Pebble-town people. And, going out to those who were fishing, they destroyed half of them also. Some escaped to Kaisun.

When the warriors started off they were told about a child of the Middle-gîtî′ns, [771] whose cousin was carrying her on her back. They would have taken her back, but were afraid. When they had recrossed her friends adopted her. [772] At the end of the following autumn they brought her back.

After that they sent word by canoe that they wanted to make peace. They (the West Coast people) then went thither. When they arrived at Tꜝē [773] no attention was paid to them. And, since their food was gone, they wanted to buy food from one who lived opposite. He was stingy, and they laid hold of him. Although he was a chief they enslaved him. They also fought the people of Tꜝē. And they killed many of them, and those they enslaved were many. The Pebble-town people made matters even.

And, after they had talked over where they should have a fort, they made one on the west coast. Two were staying at Kꜝiū′stᴀ. After some time had passed the Kaigani people came to make peace. When they stopped in front they began to shoot at them. When they fled they met the two persons [774] in a canoe. When they were going to enslave them they jumped into the water. And they swam over to an islet. They now fled in terror.

Some time after that they went to the Kaigani country to fight again. Then they destroyed some people there. They enslaved ten and killed many. And, while they were on the way back, the wind was strong, and they threw some slaves overboard. They did this to four. The Kꜝiū′stᴀ people then came to them. And they took the slaves away from them and split up their canoe. They then started home around by the West Coast shore. They went to Tcꜝā′ał. [775] They came to Lagî′nda, [776] where people were catching salmon. A single slave was with them. The chief finished sending food through the fire. [777]

WARS BETWEEN THE STIKINE AND SITKA TLINGIT

[Told by Richard of the Middle-gîtî′ns]

The nephew of Cēks lived at Sitka for the sake of some woman. He was killed there. Then all the Stikine people went to Sitka to fight. At that time they had a pitched battle there, and they destroyed many Sitka people. After that the Sitka people also started out to war.

At that time the eulachon were running into the Stikine. After they had filled the ground with holes they went out to get stones. They did not have the right kind of stones there. They had only whetstones. And, when they came from it, a man passed out by them to get some. His name was Daoł. [778] Then he gave them the following prediction: “They will kill me [and my family] when the tide is on the ebb, and I shall never come back.”

As soon as the tide was out they went out to fight. The warriors came upon him at the place where he was gathering stones. Then they took him into the war chief’s canoe. He had left his gun behind. They then made fun of him by telling him to do various things.

While they were talking to him the warriors (his friends) came into the bay. They asked him then: “One-who-is-always-mentioned, are you still alive?” “Yes,” he said. He also asked: “Did you bring my gun? Did you bring my knife?” “Yes.” “Give them to me.” They then got his things to him.

When he put on his cartridge box some one shouted: “Ixiâ′⁺ī, [779] One-who-is-always-mentioned has his weapons in his hands.” Then, forgetting himself, he shot. Straightway they all shot. And he also said that he pulled out his knife and kept striking them as he moved forward. They then destroyed the Sitka people. They stabbed those who there escaped to the woods. They said that two young fellows then came from watching for their enemies. They took them into Cēks’s canoe.

They then went away. On the next day they collected heads. Some of them got twelve. Others got ten. The heads were drying in the sunshine, looking like clothes drying on a line and bellying in the wind. Then Cēks, having called the people together, told them to stop fighting. He told them that they had destroyed the Sitka people.

By and by they let the two youths that they had enslaved go. They then ripped open the seams in a little, old, 3-fathom canoe. In it they started off. They also gave them a small paddle. They thought then that they would drown. In the summer after that they heard that they had escaped.

Some time afterward the Sitka people were coming to make peace. And they got ready for them. They thought it well to make peace [they said]. Then Cēks again called the people together, and they agreed to destroy them. They then talked over how they should preserve themselves from injury.

By and by the Sitka people came in many canoes. After they had danced for a while in front of the town they came ashore, and the dancers entered the house and danced there. Then property was given to them. They gave them four or two slaves apiece as blood money. After that they also danced in Cēks’s house. When nearly all were in they shut the door, and they killed those outside and threw their bodies over the cliff in front.

After they had killed all of those they crowded against each other near the door. They then quietly pulled out one after another, stabbed each one, and threw out the bodies. At that time a woman looked in through the smoke hole. She held a knife. She made the motion of cutting off heads. She said that they were going to destroy them. Those who were dancing paid no attention to her. After they had killed on for a while they began to discover it for themselves. But still they kept dancing. Although only ten were left they kept dancing. Presently they killed all. Six that they saved they let go home.

Some time afterward they began to visit back and forth. Once a great many went to [Sitka], and Qała′x [780] paid a great sum to the Russians. Then many canoes came there and, when all the Stikine people were inside the stockade, Qała′x began to fight them. And they destroyed the Stikine people.

Some time after that they became good to each other. They began visiting back and forth again. Then ten canoes came to the Stikine, and Yaqoa′n began to kill them. And they destroyed all of them. At that time they stopped visiting each other.

Some time after that Qała′x’s nephew was in love with the daughter of a Russian. For that the Russians killed him. They then killed the Russian’s son. They said that the Russians were going to fight them with Qała′x, and they fortified themselves. They built the walls out of big cedars. And they built the houses inside. They put flat rocks along the fronts and sides of the houses. [781] And, after they had lived there for a while, the Iron people [782] came in a vessel to destroy them. After they had shot at them ten times they called for Qała′x. When he answered they shot at him still more.

After they had done this for a while they came off to fight them in three boats. All had guns with bayonets. They came on land at once. And, after they had prepared for them in the house, they went out. They then shot at them. While the Russians were shooting by command they shot into them. They also threw out their cartridges quickly and shot again. After they had done this for some time they destroyed the Russians. Only those who had charge of the boats got to the ship. Then the warship sailed away. [Meanwhile] they strengthened the fort.