388 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

all that his guest had done on the preceding day, but though he pounded
his ankle until it was battered and bruised, no roecame. At length Water
Ouzel went home in disgust.

RAVEN AND SEAL?

Raven once assumed the shape of a herald and went to the home of
Yearling Seal, the fattest of all seals, who received him politely and pre-
pared a meal. First he washed out a box to place near the fire and held
his flippers above it so that the grease that exuded from them should drip
into the receptacle. When a little had collected he tasted it and found it
satisfactory, so he continued to hold his flippers in the heat until the box
was filled with grease. Raven ate his fill and went home, carrying with
him the vessel, and inviting Yearling Seal to call for it the next day.

On the morrow when his expected guest arrived, Raven politely in-
vited him to a meal. The host washed out the same box and held his
hands exposed to the fire, so that the grease from them dripped into the
container. When a few drops had fallen, Raven tasted them as Yearling
Seal had done, found them satisfactory, and again held out his palms.
The heat began to grow uncomfortable. Raven turned and twisted his
hands, putting them as close to the flames as he dared, then drawing them
back until they were blistered on both sides, but no more grease came.
At length he desisted, and ran round the house as if he were looking for
something he had lost. Yearling Seal waited for a long time, but at
length, becoming disgusted, picked up his box and went home.

RAVEN AND SEAL
(Second Version)

Once upon a time Raven went to the home of a young female seal,
who politely asked him to take a seat while she made ready a meal for
him. Raven agreed and watched intently while she obtained and pre-
pared the food. Holding one of her flippers before the fire, Seal allowed
the grease that ran from it to collect ina pan. This she first tasted, then
gave to her guest. Raven was delighted, not only with a good meal, but
with learning a new method of procuring food. As is customary, he
carried away the dish in which his meal had been given him.

In a few days, when Seal came to his house to collect the pan, Raven
invited her to stay for a meal and she consented to do so. Imitating her
procedure, Raven held one of his legs up to the fire; a little grease
dripped from it into the dish. He tasted this and found it pleasant so he

‘For another version of this story see Boas, p. 93.