Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/349

 Athabascan Myths. 17

As he continued his journey down the river he went so fast at one place that he created the " Sans Sault " Rapid. 1 As the beaver went on down the river he was discovered and pursued by a giant, to whom he said, " If you can clear all the rocks from the river, you may kill me, but if you cannot clear the river you will never kill me." In his efforts to clear the channel the giant overturned his canoe, which turned into stone, and to this day forms an island in the bed of the stream. 2 Failing to accomplish his task, the giant said, " I cannot kill you ; but never mind, there will soon be plenty of men here who will always hunt you and all your tribe." The beaver replied, " Since you cannot kill me, keep still a while, and I will paint your picture." Then the beaver painted the picture of the giant on one side of the ramparts, 3 where it may be seen to this day. After this the giant left the country.

V. ORIGIN OF THE PINE (TSE-Vl).

There were a number of Indians in a camp who went away one by one and were lost. At last only one remained, and he also de- cided to leave the camp. He soon encountered a wolverine, which said, " I know who you are ; you will have to go before me." As they went along they came out upon the river at a point where the bank was very steep. The wolverine said, " You must slide down." So the Indian slid down the bank, and the wolverine ran around through a ravine. When the man reached the bottom, he caused his nose to bleed, and put some of the blood on a spear, and then laid down and feigned death. When the wolverine reached the spot where the man lay, he took him up and carried him to his camp across the river. After placing him in the middle of the camp he began to sharpen his knife. The man soon opened his eyes and looked for a stick ; when he found a stick he sprang up and killed all the wolverines except one young one which ran up a tree. The man blew his nose and threw the phlegm at the tree, and it was transformed into a pine. The wolverine then said, " That will do for your arrows ; now you must leave me alone."

1 The only rapid in the Mackenzie River of any consequence, and one that is easily passed by the steamers in any but the lowest stages of water.

2 An island at the Sans Sault Rapid divides the stream into an eastern and a western channel, the latter being " the steamboat channel."

8 At the ramparts the Mackenzie, much contracted in width, flows between vertical cliffs of Devonian limestone varying from one hundred to two hundred and fifty feet in height. This gorge is but a few miles south of the Arctic circle, and is one of the most interesting features of the great river.

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