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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 1890)
WEST SHORE. 287 In the distant North Pacific, near Alaska's rocky strand, Lie the islands of Queen Charlotte,1 like oases in the sand. Green those islands are in spring time, green in summer and in (all, Greener yet thro' the long winter, when night's shadow, like a pall, Hangs above them, and the rain clouds, hovering ceaseless night and day, Bathe the land of Haidah with the waters sweet from far Cathay.' Giant cedars crown the mountains, from whose trunks the Indian forms War canoes that ride the ocean and defy the fiercest storms ; Totem sticks that stand as witness to the crest that marks his line, And a hundred queer utensils, carved with many a rare design. With his line of strongest sinew and his hook of fashioned bone, Once he caught the dark-hued codfish,1 made the halibut his own ; With his arrow slew the griuly, lordly elk and timid deer ; Often met in deadly conflict foes the bravest well might fear. Years have run into the ages since the Haidah In his pride, Bravest scion of the Mongol,4 ruled this region far and wide; Now he numbers scarce a hundred, and when years shall count a score, Grassy vales of green Queen Charlotte shall his footsteps feel no more. In his war canoe of cedar, with its high and carved prow, Rides he yet upon the billows, twenty men from stern to bow j Twenty long, flat-bladed paddles perfect time to music keep, As the twenty Haidah voices roll the bear song o'er the deep. Weird that song Is, strange its words are,1 for no white man ever heard Language spoken like the bear song, tongue without a written word. Where It came from, what its meaning, ancient legend faintly tells ; Thus the tale, by one related who among the Haidahs dwells. Many years ago, so many that no language can convey, When the fierce and fearless griuly walked and talked In human way,' Lived a youth named Qulssam-quedus, strong and brave, before whose door Stood a carved pole of cedar,1 which a sombre raven bore. Near him lived sweet Kinda-wiss, a daughter of a mighty chief, O'er whose high, ancestral totem perched a ciooa in relief. Nan 1-Qomo Cbnrlottt Ulandt ar. thro, in numb, latins I Iwfth of 1M allaa, and at. the lr.m. northt.m portion of BritUh Columbia, bins a .oath of th. lomr utwmitr ot lluka. Th w dinoonml by Juan Font, a Hptninh nifif ntot. to 1771. bat w upland and ntmtd .ihtMn jut. lab br Optain 0rg. Vanooawr. the ""an WtppoMl to b. th. wndwtul land ot Catha,, .pok of b, Mw. PbtTrkMJatu ZZi. salht CM eh Bow. northward to tt. il.atU. U. iMltU-mlldwinttrallni.ufor-hiohlti.hu.oaa. Winttr in th. Q.o C-Ud. T. l of oontinaoa. wan. rain, makin, lnxoriant wUtlon, a woc-rful Playmates, they, from youngest childhood, scarce a day were they apart; When they grew to man and maiden, deep within each youthful heart Flamed the fire of love eternal, and their plighted vows were said, Though they knew paternal anger would descend upon their head. What cared they that Haidah custom said that c&oof and chooa' crest Wedded must be, and the raven with the raven ne'er ahould neat I Love to them was earth and heaven, and they roamed the (orest free, Where the birds sang sweetest music, or beside the restless sea Watched the sea gull's graceful dashes, and the leaping salmon play, On whose silver sides the sunlight shone like diamond's brightest ray- Sweet their love dream was, but transient, rude awak'nlng came too soon, Plunging them from highest heaven to abysmal depths of gloom. Time had come when Haidah custom made demand that they should wed; Each must choose a cJiool, an eagle. Many bitter tears were sited By the lovely Kinda-wiss, and fierce rebellion filled the heart Of her lover, Qulssam-quedus, who with lite would rather part Than to see his heart's bright jewel shine within an eagle's nest. So, one day, In desperation, holding love above the rest Of all earthly thoughts or duties, fled they to the forest drear, Far beyond the reach of kindred, where no human eye nor ear Could discover their retreat, or Haidah foot had ever been. Far upon a rugged mountain, In a lovely, grassy glen, By a crystal stream of water, 'neath a spruce tree's spreading boughs, Built they love's enchanted dwelling, pledged anew eternal vows. Such a life as fabled Eden saw before the tempter came Lived these truants, fanning gently love's bright, sacrificial flame. Mountains, valleys, far off ocean, lay within their sweeping gaae, k V " TWINTY WNU, fl.AT-m.ADID PADD1.M FEII-aCT TIMS TO MI'SIC SSIP." oontnM with th. .now and lot of Labrador, whloh ll in th. wm Utitnd. on th. AlUa tio eot. Mi to th. hnmld atmo.ph.it U forut. of wdu and Br at. utr.rn.li dwM.andth.UM.anof monitor proportion Mots t-OS th. Wand. nr. Wins tank. whor. it found a nth eomrwhnt similar to th. d, which ha. bMO si" UK nam. ot blaok eod," owmm of IU ulnm.lT dark tlMh It 1. a In. ub.titutt for th. tra. ood and il bans naiht and eund for mark!. Th. Hidahi nn nn akUlfal in tuhionini hooka, ipur. and oth tmplat of bona for .hlni and banting, and od thorn with gnu uiU antil th. ImplMMOtt and wup. o.f th. .hit. mu aupplanwd th. Thn m. eau,ht tt.poad halibut with th.ir bon. books. Coprrlfht WO,