462 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

was so wily that no one could kill him, perhaps no one was reckless enough to try. Who knows?

THE ADVENTURES OF Altsiax (Second Version)

Long ago there were two men who had supernatural ability for killing mountain goats. A#sidx, who lived at Stax, had a miraculous chequer- work mat of cedar-bark which he used to spread on the ground near the base of a mountain when he went hunting; as soon as it was in position, numerous flies would come floating down from the upper slopes to settle on it. Though they appeared as insects, each was really the spirit of a mountain goat so that, when A#sidx squashed a fly, the goat of which it was a supernatural element would fall down dead not far from the place. Nusqwaxtin-i, of Tél-io, was the owner of a pair of miraculous shoes which made the mountain trails so easy for him that he could follow the goats to their resting places. The reputation of each as a hunter spread far and wide.

In course of time they decided to compete to find out who was the better. Such a competition between rivals was not uncommon and was termed a wina, the same as a war expedition. With this aim in view Nusqwaxtin-i went to Stu.x, whence the two hunters went out together into the mountains, each taking a number of friends to carry back the meat. They camped for the night and it was decided that Nusqwaxtini should go out alone the first day. As he set out he could see, having miraculous eye-sight, very many goats on the mountains so that he ex- pected a successful day’s hunting. But, as soon as his rival had left, Atisiéx painted with charcoal on his own face representations of mountain goat tracks; instantly all that Nusgwaxtin-i on the mountain could see were tracks of the animals, not one in the flesh. Though he hunted dili- gently all day, he succeeded in killing only one small goat. Much ashamed, he skinned this animal, cut up the flesh, toasted it, and gave it to A#/sidx, who meanwhile had washed his face.

“I don’t know what is the matter,” said Nusgwaxtin-i, “this is the first time that I have ever failed so miserably. I can give you only one goat.”

Atisiéx thanked his rival profusely, and said that the flesh was very fine, as sweet as salmon. It was, in fact, a tasty, kid.

“Please don’t go out hunting tomorrow,” said Afsiéx to Nusqwax- ?én-i, “let me try my fortune, and you try again the following day.”

So A#sidx set out alone early in the morning, telling his packers to meet him about noon. He spread his mat on which flies soon settled,