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THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
WHERE SMOKE GOT ITS POWER
TO SUFFOCATE
The following interesting story by Wallace Hatch
shows that the smoke got its power from a recognized
source:
Once there were two brothers, Good Hunter and
Lazy Boy. All of their people had died from being
suffocated by the skunk. A chief in a neighboring
village knew the boys’ people and took them into his
home to rear. The chief knew they w’ould hunt for
the skunk until they found him and killed him. He
warned the boys to be careful when they went out, as
many Indians had been killed by the skunk.
Good Hunter went out one day and Lazy Boy would
go the next. Good Hunter hunted diligently for the
skunk, but Lazy Boy would go some place and sleep.
Once and awhile he would catch a grouse or quail that
he ran across.
One day Lazy Boy went to sleep while hunting and
he slept too long. While in slumber along came the
skunk and blew a breath on Lazy Boy that caused
him to continue sleeping.
That evening Good Hunter, expecting his brother’s
return, prepared a good meal. He waited for him by
a nice fire. Finally he fell asleep and dreamed of
killing the skunk and of the people rejoicing over his
death.
Morning came and Lazy Boy had not returned.
Good Hunter prepared for the search of his brother.
He took with him a companion to help in the search.
It was a beautiful day, a day that would be good
tor hunting. Good Hunter paid little attention to this,
for his heart was heavy with anxiety, (rood Hunter
tracked his brother but later saw other tracks than his
brother’s. He knew they were the tracks of the skunk.
His mind was full of hatred for the skunk and he of
ten muttered aloud, “You awful dirty thing.” He
made up his mind to be very alert for fear of meeting
the skunk.
He finally tracked Lazy Boy to the place where he
turned to the beach, and followed the trail along the
bank. When Good Hunter and his companion had
traveled some distance along the bank they saw the
skunk coming.
Near them leaned a tree out over the water. They
climbed up the trunk of the tree and hid in the branches.
Along passed the skunk, not seeing them, (rood
Hunter with his companion then went on tracking
Lazy Boy. They found him, but he was unable to
speak. Good Hunter and his friend carried him back
to the village. Lazy Boy was now dead. The people
all gathered, but not for the dead, but because they
were sorry for Good Hunter, who was the last one of
his people left. Good Hunter was so good and so kind
that it hurt hi» tribe for him to be left alone.
As the service of singing and mourning for the dead
was carried on word came that the skunk was approach
ing. All the people ran to the Polatch (meeting)
house. The door was barred and all cracks plugged
and all kept as still as death.
“Where is everybody?” asked the skunk, who had
seen them as he rounded the point. The skunk yelled
and was answered from the Polatch. The skunk then
went around looking for a place to get in, but he could
find none and so he climbed to the top and jumped
down through the hole left open for the smoke to
escape. He jumped right into the fire and burned to
death. All of his body was burned to ashes, but his
mouth and the most of his smell went up in smoke.
Today the skunk is a small animal and can not kill
people with his smell, but even today smoke causes
people to choke, gag, and tears come to their eyes
because the skunk’s deathly odors went up in smoke,
and if shut in with smoke it still has the old skunk’s
power to kill one.
THE BEAVER’S TAIL
Jacob Atkins tells how the beaver came to wiggle a
flat tail, as follows:
Under the western skies there lies a meadow and
within are two ponds a few’ hundred yards apart. One
was built by the beavers and kept nicely, and the other
one was formed by nature and there the muskrat made
its home.
One bright morning the muskrat was swimming
near the shore; a log fell on its tail and flattened it
and for many hours he suffered and almost gave up
hope for his life.
The good old beaver was having his little walk look
ing for food. On his trip he discovered the pond
and on the opposite side he saw water splashing near a
log. He hurried over by swimming across the pond
and as he got on the log he saw the poor muskrat
battling for life.
Mr. Beaver knew that his help was needed, so with
out delay he cut the log in two and saved the musk
rat’s life.
As the muskrat got out with his flat tail, the bea
ver wanted it because it was nice and flat, so the poor
old muskrat had to do what the beaver wanted because
the beaver had saved his life. So he gave the beaver
his tail. From that day to the present, the beaver
has had a flat tail.
Work on our new’ dining hall for students is pro
gressing nicely. Supervisor Bradley has a large force
of workmen on the job early and late, rain or shine,
and they are making their presence felt. This struc
ture when completed will be another monument to
the glory of Chemaw’a.