MYTHS OF THE COLUMBIA ItlVKIt INDIANS. 511
and are displeased at having tho waters In consequence of thin second warning,
troubled, and in consequence, cause the tho party broko np and left tho rnoun.
rain to pour down upon tho troubles tain, feeling sure that if they remained
This belief was formerly general, so that longer, some misfortune wuuU Mall
they often wero deterred from getting them.
wLter for cooking purposes, or for their Tho ludiana relate marvelous stories
ponies, from tho lakes, while camping in aUmt strange animals, that live in theso
tho mountains. W" Tho animals, they say come out
They have a fabled " snow plant" and at night and feed on tho banks. Homo
" rain plant," both of which grow in tho of tho lakes are Wlioved to bo the almdo
mountain?, in lonely, secluded places, so of tho spirits of monitor, or strango
they say, and whoever, by accident or ings, that exist! on earth in agon past
intentionally, plucks up or breaks off In Home of tho latai dwell the soul of
one of thego plants, will surely causo little children, who lived in tho long,
rain or snow to fall. long ngo. They toll of hearing their
An intelligent, educated half-breed cries in tho night, and finding tho prints
Indian assured rao that ho believed tho of their little natal feet in tho mud and
myth connected with tho lakes, and re- wet sand about tho margin of tho wat.r.
lated his experience, which ho regarded Deep in the solitudes of the mountain
as conclusive. Ueing up in tho raoun- forests, gathered about Ifoir camp fires,
tains with a crowd of Indians, after beneath tho shadows of Wty piw or
huckleberries, ho one day became warm, firs, while the cool mountain wind, made
and wanted to cool and refresh himself soft and mournful music in tho swaying
bv taking a bath. Tho weather was fine branches, tho wild, untutored savage
and clear. He, accordingly, stripped spell bound, limned 'f
himself, and plung.nl into a little lake tho wonderful events hat took p ace
and had a swim. Very soon, tho sky amid theno scenes in tho wat-tif-tash
was darkened with clouds, and tho rain times.
,oured down violently. This was in the Tho maj.tio roc along the lolum.
afternoon. When the company were bia wero no ess obts of won. rr to
gathered at camp in tho evening, inqui- tho Indians than to tho whit,, who lo
ry was made if any one had been dis- day glide up the river in
tubing the lake. Tho young man ac .fatnen, or go whirling along in he
knowledge the misdemeanor and was shadow of the Wty .nounUina, he
charged not to repent his indiscretion, railway curs. IMwu the White
The next morning the sun rom bright m nud Little Whito Balmoa rivers,
s lendid, with a .lr sky, giving ..nothing like two mil- .pari, on t o
promL of 1 1 beautiful day. Having hi. Muufo.to - f
curiosity nrous.l, he went out to the of rock, ly.ng-dwuo to th r A
lake again, and finding a large stone on reaching ou into t This t o In. ns
the hillside above the water, he detach,! havo ca M from time immemorial U
it and sent it crashing down through the by on the l-M In J M
brush when it plumped into a d,.p, times, when BHyai, the Indian kod.
which bubble rrTX Z
andlled for a long time, a,,, asH J
accmrd to liim, very trii(;My. Io Iwlociiih t .. . ,
.bort tim. th, hunt, won, lUek. J "k '"f 1 ' ' I
th. r.in poniftl ba in torrent, .gn. l-y. .h.ch . .W '"