STORIES 505

not likely to occur at the present time; in fact, they belong to
the golden age of the distant past. In addition, a few tales
are popularly told, not for their wealth of interesting detail,
but as historical incidents. Some of these contain exaggera-
tions that verge on mythology, whereas others, especially
those dealing with certain individuals not long deceased, have
clearly a foundation of truth. The themes include tales of
travel, hunting exploits, the experiences of criminals, and
varied subjects.

THE WIFE WHO WAS SOLD AS A SLAVE

This story describes the adventures of a Bella Coola woman, daughter
of a chief named Taxtexwam, who was married to a Bella Bella chief. The
latter’s father sold her as a slave to Teidusa, a Kitkatla chief and ancestor
of the chief with the same name who was so feared by the Bella Coola.
This was, of course, contrary to all established custom. Tewdusa carried
the woman away to Kitkatla, whence there seemed little hope for her
return.

Teihisa owned a number of crabapple trees at Kitlobe which he visited
every autumn to collect and preserve the fruit. The woman had been
with him for some time when he went as usual for the ripe apples. _Mem-
bers of different tribes can be distinguished by their different physique
and a Kitlobe, recognizing that the woman was a Bella Coola, asked her
how she came to be with Tewdisa. She told him how she had been sold,
disgracefully, and he promised to help her return home. Telling her to
conceal her plans, he bade her to be ready to flee early the following
morning. At thé appointed time he appeared, bringing dried olachen,
grease, moccasins, and other equipment, wrapped in a seal’s stomach.
He sketched on the ground the overland route to Kimsquit, telling her
how many affluents of the Kitlobe River she must pass before fol-
lowing one to the south, thence across the divide, and down the Kimsquit
River.

The woman started out, but after several days of travel realized that
she had passed the place where she should turn south, and was lost. In
point of fact, she was at this time near Ootsa Lake. She headed back in
the hope of recovering her trail, but snow fell and she could go no farther;
to make matters worse she had consumed all her olachen, and most of the
grease. The unfortunate woman sought shelter under a big tree, where
in time she was completely covered with snow. Every day she ate a small