Coyote Was Going There by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780295803517
Publisher: University of Washington Press

The Man Who Lived with Thunderer

TILLAMOOK

ONCE UPON A TIME there was a man who lived at Slab Creek. One day he went up to spear salmon. When he started out the sun was shining, but soon dark clouds came up and it began to thunder and to rain. Then it cleared up again, but soon a new shower came on and the man was unable to spear a single fish. He became angry and said, “What is that great thing that always darkens the water and prevents me from seeing the fish?” He went on and came to a tall spruce tree in which a large hole had been burned out by lightning. He looked into it and discovered a little boy. When he looked closer he saw the boy coming out. As soon as he had stepped out of the hole the boy began to grow, and soon reached a height taller than the spruce tree; his skin was covered with feathers. Then he said, “Now you see how tall I am. Don't look at me; I am the one whom you have scolded!”

Then the giant, who was no other than Thunderer [nixi´xunu], took the man's salmon spear and blanket. He leaned the spear against the tree and hung the blanket on it. He took the man under his armpit and flew with him towards the sky. When they reached a considerable height the man almost fell from under the Thunderer's armpit, and they descended again so that the man could regain his strength. Thunderer thought, “Where shall I put him to keep him from falling off?” He said to the man, “When we get up high again, close your eyes, so that the strong wind up there will not harm you.” Then they flew up again and ascended in big circles.

Each flapping of Thunderer's wings was a peal of thunder, and when the noise stopped the man knew they had arrived, and he opened his eyes. On the next day Thunderbird told him to go and catch some salmon. The man went to the beach but did not see any salmon, although there were many whales swimming about. He went back to the house and said, “I do not see any salmon, but many whales are swimming about.”

“Those are the fish I was speaking of,” replied the Thunderer. “They are our salmon. Catch a few!” The man replied, “They are too large, and I cannot catch them.”

They went out and the man saw that the people of Thunderer's country were catching whales in the same way as he was accustomed to catch salmon. Thunderer told him to stand aside, as he himself was preparing to catch whales. He caught the largest one and carried it up to a large cave which was nearby, and when he had deposited it there the whale flapped its tail and jumped about, violently shaking the mountain, so that it was impossible to stand upon it.

One day the man went up the river and saw many fish swimming in it.

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