28 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [Von WW.

out the origin of our Indians; let us return to our legends. I have said
that our Dénés seem to be of mixed blood ; the following myth will per-
haps strengthen us in that opinion.

III—MADE CELESTIAL!
Told by Zacharie Nusthel (Wolverine), of Steila.

A teneza‘? had a daughter, and she was a virgin®. He made her pass
every night quite close to his pillow, for he was rearing her with the
greatest care. Many a young man asked for her‘, but in vain: her
father would not part with her.

Now it happened that on several nights the maiden awoke suddenly
and then was aware that somebody was getting away from her. She
wanted to know who it was; she guessed indeed that she was being
abused during her sleep. Therefore she filled a little satchel with ver-
milion and placed it near her pillow. The following night she threw the
vermilion at her violator before he had time to get out of the lodge. On
the morrow, she inspected all by herself a crowd of young men who were
playing at the end of the village®, but all tono purpose. As she was re-
turning to her father’s habitation, she noticed an old snotty dog spotted
on the shoulders with her vermilion. Her heart was exceedingly sorry
at seeing this. At the same time she became conscious of haying con-
ceived, and after a while people knew that she was pregnant.

Therefore her father, being a nobleman, prepared a lot of tanned skins.
Laid one over another, they formed a pile as high as the width of one’s
hand. These were to serve as a bed for his daughter’s delivery® and
afterwards to be distributed to his fellow-villagers to celebrate’ the birth
of his grandchild.

After a short period of pregnancy, as short as that of dogs, the girl was
delivered of four little ones, all dogs, three males and one female. Their

*This is a rather free translation of its Indian title: ya-’hé-néntil, “ they arrived on the
sky.”
? Or hereditary nobleman. See ‘‘ The Western Dénés,” Proceedings Can. Inst., Vol. VII.
8 Sak-asta, lit., ‘‘she is sitting alone.” The virginity of such persons had nothing very
meritorious in itself, as it was all but voluntary. It consisted simply in constant seclusion enforced
nolens volens on the girl by the parents.

4 Tane 4iya-atin, t.e., wanted to marry her.

» Carrier villages consisted very generally of a single row of lodges terminated by the funeral
posts, the ground of which served at the same time as campus or play-ground,

° Illegitimate births were not looked upon by Carriers with the same degree of shame as they
now inspire.

TOr atone for. See ‘The Western Dénés,” Proc. Can. Inst., Vol. VIL., p- 164.