Îłdī′nī

[Told by Isaac, of the Łi′elᴀñ qē′awai family.]

Then he floated near to land. He remained floating there. He did not get off for his legs were bent together. During all that time they did not see him. Although he was very near where people lived they did not see him.

Then he saw a child playing about, one not grown but big enough to talk. And the child did not see him for his canoe was floating close to a rock. Then Îłdī′nī called to the child because he wished them to know about him. And, when he called, the child was afraid to go to him. After it had been afraid for some time [Îłdī′nī] said: “I am Îłdī′nī.” It was a male child. And it went out to him. And it came and stood near him. And he said to it: “My name is Îłdī′nī.” “Now you, too, say ‘Îłdī′nī,’ ” said he to it. And the child said “Îłdī′nī,” but said it wrong because it did not yet know how to talk very well. He pronounced his name again. And the child also pronounced his name. It said it right. And the child started away from him.

Then it turned away from him. It began saying, “Îłdī′nī, Îłdī′nī, Îłdī′nī, Îłdī′nī, Îłdī′nī, Îłdī′nī.” It was afraid of forgetting his [name]. And when it got some distance away it forgot his name again. Then it returned to him. And, when it came to him he again told it his name. “Say ‘Îłdī′nī’,” said Îłdī′nī to this child. And the child in turn said so. And again it said it right. Then, as it went away from him, it began repeating his name. “Îłdī′nī, Îłdī′nī, Îłdī′nī,” it began saying. While it was saying “Îłdī′nī” it entered the house. That time it did not forget the name.

And, even while opening the door, it kept repeating “Îłdī′nī.” The child said to its grandfather: “Grandfather, find Îłdī′nī; grandfather, find Îłdī′nī.” And it led its grandfather to the place from whence it had come. They came to where he floated. The wife was also with them. And, being at once much troubled at the sight of him, they quickly got into his canoe. They came in front of their house with him.

When they got out they wanted to take him up to the house quickly. Then he showed them his legs. He also showed them that he was unable to stand. He merely made signs with his fingers. He did not know their language. And the man ran up for his mat. And, when he brought it down, they placed him upon the mat. Then they carried him into the house. They placed him near the fire.

Then they put warm things upon him. And they also warmed him at the fire. They also put warm things on his head. They also warmed water for his legs. And, when the water became warmed a little, the woman began putting it upon his legs. At the same time the man also kept warm things on his head. And, as he sat there, he tried to straighten his legs a little. They became well. They stopped putting hot water on them.

And, when he asked for a stick, they gave it to him. And, after they gave it to him, he raised himself up. He tried to go outside. And, after he had sat outside for a while, he came back again with the help of his stick. They did not give him food because they saw that something was the matter with him. Although they had not seen him before they saw that he was a chief.

Then they warmed water for him. They also cooked food for him. And, when the water was warm, she put a great deal of grease into it, and they set it before him. She also gave him a spoon. This is how the ancient people did. And after he had drunk the broth she also set food before him. She let him eat grease with it. And after he was through eating she put another kind of food before him. When she saw that he ate his food as if he were well she gave him another kind of food.

And he (the husband) saw that he had become well, and he said to his wife: “When the wind is fair we will go with him to the town.” It was evening. And they did not sleep during the night because they wanted to go to the town with him. But the chief slept soundly. And while he slept they put their things on the beach. They also launched their canoe. And they put their things into the canoe. They did not live far from the town. And when he awoke they told him they were going away with him.

Then the woman went in their canoe. The man went with him in his canoe. They came to the town with him. And the people were astonished at them. Before that they had one canoe. And when [they saw] that they had two they were surprised at them. They were a great crowd waiting outside for them. Then they saw another person sitting in their [canoe].

And when they came ashore the whole town went to them, for they had never seen him before. They came with him to the Stikine town. They quickly took him into the house. And the house was full of Stikine people, men, women, and children. They were surprised to see him. Although they had never seen him before, they saw that he was a chief.

While they were telling about him the people observed that he was feeling of his skin with his teeth. And they told one another about what he did. Then the chiefs of the Stikine people said: “Taste the chief’s blood.” Then one felt of his skin with his teeth. And when he lifted his head he said: “The chief’s blood is salt.” Then the chiefs of the Stikine people were very much astonished. Then they knew that he had been blown about for a very long time. And the town people went outside. Then they knew what had happened to him, but they did not know whence he had come.

This is the end.

The almost complete absence of a mythic element in this story suggests that it may be founded on fact. At least it must have been used to explain a relationship supposed to exist between the Fish-eggs, a branch of the great Stᴀ′stas family of Masset, which belonged to the Eagle clan, and some family among the Stikine Indians.

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