2. Dza’wadalalis (Always-living-at-Olachen-Place)
`Kaniki’lakw came to Olachen-Place to marry the princess of
Always-living-at-Olachen-Place. He went towards Da’kos and
someone from the tribe called to him “Where are you going?”
`Kaniki’lakw replied, “I come to marry the princess of Always-living-at-Olachen-Place.”
– “Oh, I wish you would die!” they replied. This
angered `Kaniki’lakw and he said, “I will go ashore, that I
may play with them.” When he went ashore, he raised his hand and
transformed the people into birds. Then he took the birds back and
transformed them into deer, “You will be the deer of later
generations of men.”
`Kaniki’lakw paddled on to G’iox. “Where are you
going?” the tribe asked. `Kaniki’lakw replied, “We are
going to marry the princess of Always-living-at-Olachen-Place.”
The tribe said, “Oh, my dear, take care! The bones of those who
try to marry the princess of Always-living-at-Olachen-Place are piled
up high.” Then `Kaniki’lakw said, “Go ashore
there!” and he put mussels and roasted salmon into the water,
and therefore there are many mussels and salmon at this place.
`Kaniki’lakw paddled on and arrived at A’xatbi’.
Someone called to him, Where are you going?” `Kaniki’lakw
replied, “We are going to marry the princess of
Always-living-at-the-Olachen-Place.” “Oh, my dear! Look at
my present condition. All my princess are dead who tried to marry
her.” `Kaniki’lakw went ashore and put into the water,
mussels and roasted salmon. Therefore there are many mussels and
salmon at A’xatbi’.
`Kaniki’lakw paddled on and arrived at Copper-Bottom. He saw a
lot of smoke on the other side so he went to the village where he saw
a Goose steaming clover roots. `Kaniki’lakw took the clover
roots that she was steaming, but she had already smelled the old man.
“What may `Kaniki’lakw be doing here? I smell
`Kaniki’lakw.” The woman felt around for her clover roots,
“Who has taken my roots?” she said, then `Kaniki’lakw
asked, “What! Are you blind?”- “I am blind,”
replied the Goose. `Kaniki’lakw took some gum and chewed it and
spit into the eye of the blind (woman). `Kaniki’lakw asked,
“Can you see now?” “Yes I can,” said the Goose.
Then she said, “Beware Q!a’neqe’lakw! Take care of yourself!”
`Kaniki’lakw started out again and came across the Duck, who was
also blind. `Kaniki’lakw spat into her eye, and she recovered
her eyesight as well. Then he came upon a woman making a canoe.
`Kaniki’lakw pinched the feet of the child in the cradle that
was near her. The child began to cry and the woman, whose name was
Carrying-on-Back, spoke, “Do not touch my child, that has never
cried before.” Then she cut a hole through the canoe that she
was making. `Kaniki’lakw said, “What!” Can’t you
see?”- “I can not see, my dear,” replied the woman.
`Kaniki’lakw spit into her eye and she recovered her sight.
The woman asked `Kaniki’lakw, “What are you about?”
– “I am going to marry the princess of
Always-living-at-Olachen-Place.” – “Take care, my
dear! The princess of Always-living-at-Olachen-Place has teeth in her
vagina, when you lie down with her for he first time.” Then she
rubbed his back with a stone and gave him the mask of the Wren, the
Deer, the Mountain goat and the Grizzly Bear.
`Kaniki’lakw started going to the princess of Always-living-at-Olachen-Place
and he borrowed the mask of the old man and put it on. He sat down
on the opposite side of the river. He hadn’t been sitting there
long where the princess of Always-living-at-Olachen-Place came.
“Oh, look! There is a little slave! Go that way, and let us take
him for our slave.” Then Death-bringing-Woman went to the slave
and took him. As soon as she did, he put the stones into her vagina
and ground down the teeth.
Then `Kaniki’lakw told Death-bringing-Woman, “I came to
marry you. I am `Kaniki’lakw”. Death-bringing-Woman and her
sister, Made-to-be-Heavy paddled the canoe homeward. As soon as they
arrived Death-bringing-Woman got out of the canoe with her slave and
went to her bedroom. Once there `Kaniki’lakw took of his old
man’s mask. That night Always-living-at-the-Oolachen-Place heard
them laughing and he got up at once and went to look.
Source: Adapted from F. Boaz, by William Wasden Jr.
