INDIAN LEGEND

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 36, 12 February 1936, Page 9

INDIAN LEGEND

A WORRIED FACTOR

VENTRILOQUIST AND BEAR

(From "The Post's" Representative.) .' VANCOUVER, January 16. Of the many stories connected with the Haidas, the most war-like Indian tribe in British Columbia, none i; so popular as the legend of Skai and Tahn. Skai was the son of a subchief of the Queen Charlotte Islands, and since his earliest childhood wan noted for his ventriloquial powers. He could mimic perfectly the Head Shaman as he cured a sick person, or the Chief when he addressed his braves at a potlatch. Skai was always accompanied by a large black bear, called Tahn, whom he had trained from its cub days. One day the chief of the village announced preparations for a great potr latch. Mr. Williams, Hudson Bay Company factor, suggested that he allow Skai and Tahn to do their tricks for, the amusement of the visitors. Skai visited the factor the day before the great poltach, for a last rehearsal, and found his friend in a melancholy mood. Mr. Williams kept casting anxious glances put over the water to the east of the town. Finally, when the. lad was completely dressed in his weird costume, Mr. Williams remarked to him that he was' of a sufficiently terrifying appearance to be mistaken for Kali Koustli. the most evil of all the evil spirits, and added that Skai's appearance would even scare old Sebassa, the most dreaded of all the sea raiders. It now became evident what was worrying the factor. The day before the potlach would be an excellent time for Sebassa to raid the village. All the men. were away hunting and fishing," arid: most of the women were in the' forest picking berries. Suddenly; the -factor came running out of the door of the post, and called to Skai. who ,was rehearsing: in the yard. Canoes were approaching the village from the east. They were war canoes! Sebassa the Raider! Thera was not enough time to summon the men from their hunting and fishing. Then the lad had an idea. He called to Tahn and he and his bear, started oft to the village. Knowing that Sebassa and his warriors would head for, the. chief's lodge, ;where the, most valuable treasures were stored, Skai sat down at the base of a huge totem pole in front of the house. As the warriors approached the village, Skai rose and commanded Tahn to dance arid started down.the. hill in the direction of Sebassa. As he neare-J the warriors he commenced to use his ventriloquism, calling out terrifying phrases in.the voices of the birds, in Tahn's voice, and in any one of a hundred different others. ■ When he announced that he;was Kali Koustli, the Spirit of the Pestilence, and that Tahn, the black bear, was his slave, the warriors turned around and beat a hasty retreat to their canoes. 'Soon they were paddling? furiously from the. island, never to return. ■ ■