IV.
co:mparatr'e study of tsbishiax mythology
IXTRODUCTOEY
The present collection contains a series of tales all of which are
considered by the Tsimshian as myths, and I have used the term in
this sense.
The Tsimshian distinguish clearly between two types of
stories
the myth {ada'ox) and the tale {ma'lEslc). The latter is
—
from our point of view it
contain supernatural elements. The incidents narrated in tlie
former are beheved to have hapjiened during tlie time when animals
appeared in the foi-m of human beings. While ordinarily the disentirely liistorical in character, although
may
tinction between the
two ij^es
cases where' the interpretation
of tales
is
quite clear, there are
might be doubtful.
In the
some
myth
animals appear as actors, and vei}" often incidents are mentioned
which describe the origin of some feature of the present world; but
incidents of a similar character are not by any means absent from the
tales.
This is j^articularly true in those cases in wliich animals
appear as individual protectors and in which a supposed revelation
is used to explain certain customs of the people.
Nevertheless the
fact that incidents of such a tale are an individual experience relating
to the present period set it off clearly in the mind of the Tsimshian
from mythological tales. I presume, however, that in course of time
historical tales may have been embodied in the groups of myths.
made by all the other tribes of the North
mention here only the terms nu'yatn of the Kwakiutl,
ilclanam of the Cliinook, and spEfa'M of the Tliompson Indians, wliich
designate myths in the sense here given as opposed to tales belonging to the present period. It should be remembered that in the
Similar distinctions are
Pacific coast.
I
mind
of the Indian it is not the reUgious, ritualistic, or explanatory
character of a tale that makes it a myth, but the fact that it pertains to a period when the world was chfferent from what it is now.
It seems to
tion of
my
myth
mind advantageous to adopt this objective definiby the natives, rather than any of the many
as felt
on a subjective standpoint. If it should be obso I extend my inquiry over and beyond the
domain of myths, as defined l)y various groups of investigators, I
may point out that I am discussing tales which at the present time
form a unit in the mind of the Tsimshian, and that this justifies
their treatment as an objective unit.
In the present chapter I intend to present a comparative study of
the Tsimshian myths here recorded, based on the data heretofore
collected among other tribes of the North Pacific coast.
I have made
defuiitions based
jected that
by doing
565
TSIMSHIAN MYTHOLOGY
566
fETH. ANN. 31
a comparison more particularly with the Tlingit, Haida, and Kwawhose mytliologj^ has been studied and published in
kiutl tribes,
some
detail.
I
have not attempted
to carry
through the comparison
in detail over other parts of the continent.
The followang abbreviations have been used
Tribes
in this chapter:
;
:
COMPAflATIVE STUDY OF TSIMSHIAN
BOAS]
1.
MYTHOLOGY
567
THE RAVEN AND TRANSFORMER MYTHS OF THE NORTHWEST
COAST
The Raven Myth
composing the Raven myth have
The incidents
a very wide distribution on the North Pacific coast of America. They may be traced
from the Asiatic side of Bering Strait eastward and southward as far
as the southern part of Vancouver Island.
Among the Haida these
tales are comprised under the title "Raven Traveling."
Before entering into a discussion of the special forms of the tale, I
will give a list of the component incidents, begimiing %vith those
common to most of the tribes of the North
summary statement of these is given here
A
Pacific coast area.
ORIGIN TALES (NOS. 1-17)
1.
Tk
Origin of daylight Ts 60; Ts 5.276; Na 10; N6 21, 36;
3
T16 81, 82; Tl 4.261; Tl 5.311; Tit 117; Kai 238; Mb 308
Ska 116; Hai 6.25;
5.232;
ap 884; BC 63; BC 5.241
Ria5.20S; Ri& 5.209; Nu 5.105; Nuap888; Car 126; Chill4
Kodiak 85: Ten' a 304; Anvik 9; Esk Nelson 461 Ne 5.173
Ne 9.233; Ne 10.393; Cow 6.25; Na5.55; Squ Hill-Tout 3.545
Chehalis Boas 191; Puget Sound; Lil 300; Loucheux Fort
H
H
;
McPherson;Esk Boas 205; Esk Nelson 483
Chukchee
2.
3.
4.
5.
;
Asiatic
Esk 431;
155.
Raven threatens to let out the dayhght Ts 61; Ts 5.276; Na 15;
N6 23; Tla 5; Tlh 82; Tl 4.263; Tl 5.313; Hai 6.27; Ma 329;
M&310: Skall7; Hai Dawson 1.151 B; Hap 885; Nu ap 891.
Raven breaks up the moon and puts it in the skv Tl 5.313 Mb 311
Ska lis.
Origin of fresh water Nb 25; Tla 4; Tib 83; Tic 4.259; Tld 4.260;
Tl 5.313; Tl 6.27; Kai 235; Ma 318; Mb 293; Ska 115; Hai
Dawson 1.150 B; H 5.232; Ri 5.209;. Ne 5.174; Ne 9.225;
;
K
9.167;
K
10.322.
Nu
5.108;
Nu
ap 892.
Originof olachen Ts65; Ts6.29;
See also Ts 65, 69;
Na27; N&32; Tla
N6
17;
13; Tl 4.263;
Ska 117; Hai Dawson 1.151 B; H ap 888: Ne 9.2.35; Till 144.
See also Ts 63; Tl a 11; Tl & 93; Tl b 103; Kai 236; Ma 320;
Ma 326;
378: Sk 255; Sk 192.
Origm of the tides Ts 64; Tla 9; Tib 120; Tl 5.313; Mb 303; SkcZ
128; Hai 5.308. See also H 5.232; Ri 5.215; Ne 5.175; Ne
M
6.
7.
8.
9.229; K 5.158; K 9.493 ;K 10.278; K 11.88, 94; Nu Swan 65.
Raven makes war on Southeast Wind Ts 79; Ska 129; Skgr 143;
Ne 5.186; Ne 9.227; Ne 10.350; K 9.494; K 11.98; Nu 5.100;
Nu Swan 92.
lire Ts 63; Na 31; Tla 11; Tib 83; Tl 4.263; Tl 5.314;
315; Sk/1.35; Hai 6.31;
5.241 BC 62; Ri 5.214; RiMS;
5.187;
9.494; Nu 5.102 [2 versions]; Nu ap 894; Nu
Origin of
Ma
Ne
k
H
;
K
See also
5.158; Naa 5.54; Na6 5.54;
Sts 5.43; SquHilJ-Tout 3.544; Chil 15; Car 125; Lil 301.
Sproat 178; Co 5.80.