500 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

him how unhappy he was, because people on earth called him a bastard.

“Never mind, my son,” said A/guntém. “Presently, I will let you do
my work and then you will be more powerful than anyone on earth.”

Next morning the father sent the lad off to act as sun, giving him the
usual supply of heat. But the boy was so angry with the people on earth
that he increased this supply, hoping to burn up the whole of them. Seeing
some children at play, he swooped down to slay them; it became so hot
that water boiled in the lakes and rivers and the whole race of mankind
was roasted to death. Most of the animals escaped by hiding in bur-
rows, but not the black bear, who at that time had a white coat. It
was burnt black and has remained that colour ever since, while the grizzly
was scorched to his present rustiness. The deer and the weasel failed to
hide their tails, both of which were burnt; that is why each has a black
tip to this day.

Atguntém, angry at his son for killing everybody, restored all to life,
and broke the malicious child into countless pieces which he threw down
to earth in the form of mosquitoes.

CATASTROPHIC STORIES

Disasters which occurred in the distant past provide themes
for stories of a non-ceremonial nature.

THE FAMINE

K@iain-a was a Kimsquit man who made a practice of watching the
sun; from its movements he was able to foretell the solstices and other
coming events. One winter, long ago, the sun, instead of stopping at its
usual place, continued far beyond its proper course. Kd’/in-a was much
worried and prophesied strange changes, with famine; he called on the
young men to weep, but instead they merely laughed at him. Next
summer, when there was plenty of fish, berries, and other foods, the
people jeered at the prophet. For four years there was the same plen-
tiful hunting and collecting, but in the fifth came a great change. It
failed to become warm in April; the berries flowered, but the constant
cold wind prevented their fruit from ripening. Few fish entered the river,
and even they could not be caught because the water remained so clear.
The same conditions prevailed for four years until the people were starv-
ing; their only food was porcupine and mountain goat, with a few trout
caught on hook and line. About this time a Kimsquit man, Tsaixlit,
went goat-hunting behind his village, and one night after setting his
snares, lay down in a cave. He could not sleep, and presently heard the