IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I «: ™"- iiiiJj. - m \l\2A 1.8 Photographic Sciences Corporation 1.25 1.4 1.6 ^ 6" — ► #' ^ \ \ lv IV" «>. 70 Many years ago, on a drowsy Bunner afternoon, a caribou waded out into the Yukon River to escape the horde of flies which were tormenting him. He reached a depth where his entire body was submerged with the exception of his head and neck. The air was warm, but the water was cool and aoo thing to his heated body; and the soft wind from the south lulled him to aloep. As he slept he nodded* and with each succeeding nod his head lowered until his nose reached the water, k small grayling came swismlng along nearby, and feeling in a playful mood touched the caribou en the nose. At this the caribou awakened with a start, and he was very angry. To think that a mite of a fish should have the audacity to disturb the Bliuaber ef a mighty caribou*. He would dole out the proper punishment for so grave an offense. Ha would place the felon on the highest mountain peak where there wasnH a drap of water. That would show him what happened to anall fiah who moleatad big caribou. So he picked up the grayling on hie antlera and waded ashore. Locking around he spied a very high mountain. In fact it was the highest mountain In the world. That* he daeidai, would be the final resting place of this mischievous fish. It waB a long walk and a hard climb, but revenge was uppermost in the caribou's mind, aa ha plodded along to th« foothills of the mountain. When he reached them he picked out the bast trail and atarted the ascent. He climbed and climbed until he reached tha Tery tap. Than ha drapped the fiah and lay down to rest. The grayling, however, only landed, and told his captor that ha would have no trouble in getting back %i water. The caribau thought this was Just another ease of youthful boasting, and paid no attention to him. A fiah couldn't walk, he ceuldn't JuBQ), and ha couldn't fly, ao how could he aver hope to reach the river? lA hia eagarnass for revenge there was one point which the caribou hadn't even considered. He didn't know that this ^prayling had the powers of a Uedicine Man, and that there was no task which he could not acccmpliah. If he couldn't get to the water, then he would bring the water to him. As he lay there, the fish made big medicine. He ordered the clouds to send water, as his fathers had done on many occasions in the years gone by when the strenms were law. Instantly the heavens opened and the rain came down in torrents, The sl:3rm increased in volume until the caribou could see nothing but the small jtinaaaH on which he stood. Creeks overflowed their bonks, carrying trees and rocks in their mad rush down the hillsides. The Yukan rose higher and higher. The stnrm showed no signs of abating. Now the lower hills were submerged, and only the great mountain was visible above the surface of the water. Dswn pelted the rain with increasing fury. Through the din of the storm could be heard the taunting voice of the grayling. The caribou was terror stricken. He realized only too well that his great strength was of no avail against the powers of a Uedicine Man. He coaxed and pleaded, but the fieh only laixghed at him. The water had new reached the feet of the caribou. The fish was submerged, and bidding a hasty farewell to hia companieii, swam gaily away. Overjoyed at his deXiverapce, he forgot to stop the medicine, and the rain continued in torrents, until finally the caribou was submerged and drowned. Swionlng along near the surface of the water, the grayling noticed that the clouds were etilX sending rain aa he had comnanded them; so he again made medicine and ordered then to eease. No sooner had he done thie than the sky cleared and the sun ahone brightly. But the big flood i^ich the grayling had brougjit forth to aave himself had obliterated erery living sreatux* on the earth. No. 3. TK^ FIBST UBT&QBJiXS IN THJ YUKON (Concerning The Origin of the Big Slide back of Dawaon City, Yukon) Daring the latter part of the ei^teenth century the Itooeehide tribe of Indians, wh« lived near the mouth of the Tron Peg (Klondike) fiivf", had a princess of whom they were vezy preud. Like Snow White in the fairy tale, ahe waa the most beautiful girl living. And ehe waa exceptionally clever too. None of the other girls ae as well versed aa ahe in the art of tanning the mooae and caribou hidea and the furs which were brought in«e ceaqi by the men of the tribe; and the moccaaina and clethlng faahioned by her deft fingera were patterna which even the moat experienced of the aqoawa deapaired of copying. She waa the idol of her people. - .. The fame of her beauty and accompli ahment a reached a neighboring tribe who lived about a hundred milea to the aouth. The Chief of thie tribe heard about the prineees, and it aet him to thinking. If he could arrange a marriage between his son and thia royal lady, it would aerve a double purpoao. Not only would the old quarrela over hunting and trapping grounda be settled, but It would bring te his son a wifa befitting his station in the tribe. The old Chief pondered ever this for many daysi and eventually decided te have his son and a few of his braves accompany him en a atate visit to the Mooeehides. It was early in the month of June when they pushed their canoes Into the Yuken and started downstream on their journey te the mouth of the Tron Oeg River. Arriving at their destination they were met by the Chief of the Uoosehides. whe escorted them te the royal wigwam. After a feast of mooue and caribou, the Chief of the neighboring tribe explained the object of hia missicn. In glowing terms he extolled the virtuea of hia son. Never was a young man born who was such a wonder- ful hunter and tri^iper. No brave in the world possessed such courage. Wouldn't it be to their mutual advantage if hie host gave to the young suitor the hand of the princess in marriage? k, •• ,'). -JC .•Vf. The Mooscthidea wer* stunned. Such a thing as taking away their princoBB, the idol of every man, woman and child in the village, was unthinkable. Their Chief wan aeked by hia counaellora to forbid the match, or at least to delay proceedings until they had time te think it over. Pcsaibly something might happen to prevent their princeie being taken aitay from them. Th«y heped so, anyway. The vial tors were tired after their long Journey and, being assured that on the morrow they would be told whether the hand of the princeaa would be given to the young suiter, they lay down te aleap. By thia time the newa had apread through the Uoeaehide onqp Ilka wlldfira, and the Chief was beaeeehad by his aubjecta te ferbid tha wadding, faving them aalde ha called a council sf his advlsora in an adjoining wigwam, where th«y could discuss ways and ma*ns of retaining tha princess and still not offending their visitora. It finally was decided that a task too difficult for any bravs to perform was te be given to the young suitor, and if he failed, he lost tha hand of the princess. He would be aakad to show his prowess as a hunter, in order that he mi|^t prove him~ self worthy ef such a bride. He would agree te start out alone and return in one year with the ekina of fifty griisly beara, ene hundred black bears, one hundred moose, ene hundred caribou, and one thouaand fezes. The Moosehides were well pleaeed with the answer they had prepared. No brave could take that amount of game in a year. They could sleep now without any fear that their princess would be taken from them. But t ^^.v reckoned without their suitor. Long before his father was awake, the young man %. a walking about the village when he spied tha princess in front ef her wigwam. Following tribal custom, nn werde were exchanged; but one glance assured him that the fame of her beauty wasn't exaggerated. In fact it hadn't been half told. Then and there he decided that no ebetacle should prevent his gaining the consent of her father to their marriage. During the meming another feast was prepared far the visitors, After par- taking of it, the Chief of the Moosehides gave his answer. Disappointment was plainly evident en the faces ef all the guests excepting the young suitor, who showed no surprise at all. With the impetuosity of youth he whispered ts his father to bind the bargain. Oame was plentiful, and he could easily take the required number ef skins in a year. After some discussion the father gave his consent, and the visitors left en their long voyage upriver. In five sleeps time they reached their village, and without delay the young man quietly made preparations for hia trip. On the fellewlng morning long before any of his people were stirring, he set out alone. Months went hy, and the Chief could get no information as to the whereabouts ef his son. Neighboring tribes had not seen him. The father despaired of finding his boy alive^ when during the following month of May there was great eulo in the village, A raft was seen floating down the river, piled hi(^ with skins and maimed by a solitary hunter* The exciteuent grew when the raft was skillfully poled into the eddy and the hunter proved to be the Chief's son. The raft was quickly unleaded, and the skins counted. The old Chief was greatly pleased when he saw that the young man had bagged the required number. There shovild be no further delay to the weddinc. It was arranged that only a few braves were to accompany the suitor on his visit te the Moosehides, and as the allotted year would e«.in be up, they started down river at once. When they arrived at the mou'wh of the Tron Deg, disappointment vas vory evident among the MooBehides. The suitor had brought the ekin«, and the only thing they could do waa t« part with the princese. They had no intention ef giving her up however, if there waa any nay to prevent it. ITiist they would have a feast and a sleep; then they would discuss the marriage, While the visitors were sleeping, the Chief of the Moesehides called his braves in council. He also sumnoned hie Medicine Man, and asked him tc find a way out ef their difficulty. The Medicine Man promised a solution if they would obey his instructions. They were to prepare a feast and have « big dance on the fellJwing a^ght. During the da&ee the braves were tc separate. The visitors were te line up &giJnst the hill, and the Uoosehldes opposite then. The Medicine Man then would worlc his chATB, and they would see what would happen. The directions war* carried out. The fa*st waa prspared, and after all the food was aaten, tha dance oomenoed. Teward the early part of the morning, the hraTsa separated. The rialtors were In line at the Tery base of the hill, when th» Hedioina Man mad* atrong medicina. Instantly thars was a loud grumbling heard in tha hillside, the earth began moring, and before tha startled Tisitors otuld escape, ths/ ware borisd in the slide. This was tha oocaslon for great rajoioinc. Tha princess remained with her peeple until tha end of her days. Tha eld sqaaws still caution the youngsters net to rsnture too near the slide after daxic. On moonlight nights, to the aocompaniuient 9f loud wails, the ghosts •f the buried braves can be seen treading he stapa ef the ancient dance en thab fateful ninht; and while the youngsters scoff at this and contend that the howls snanate frem a pack of malasutea in a voice-testing chorus, the old squaws, with many a wise nod, aay they know better. No. U. AN INDIAN MABRIAai IK THI EiHLY DAYS OF THB YOTON TgHRITOH Courtship and marriage in the early days of the Yukon Territory were very different institutione from the present iaeas of the yeung braves and squaws who de nest of their courting in the moving picture shows, and demand the services of a clergyman at their wedding. Frem the standpoint of legality, the Canadian Gevern- ment has alwaye recegnised the Indian marriage as perfectly binding. However, it is a questlssn whether married life was any happier before the advent of the whiteman or not. When the young brave of the early days saw the girl of his choice, he didn't go to call upon her. He didn't even epeak to her. For the peace of mind of his neighbors it would have been better if he had. But, perched on a log or a stump outside her wigwan, he would sign a doleful love song hour after hour. To the un- accustomed ear the tune wounded like a croas between the wail sf a husky and an asthmatic wheese. There was only one verse, a literal translation being: I am pitiful, You come to me. If you de come to me. It will be very good. After hours of this, if he was not shot at in the meantime, he left far his own wigwam. If the girl accepted his suit, she placed a pair of finely-worked moccasinu • » ■ ». - ^ w » V^ T^TJ' ?x. -i-" , ?i:«' on the Btump or log where he h&d been crooning. When he spied, them, he woixld pick them up and take them to his wigwam. That signified their engagement, provided there were no parental objections. The parents not only had the final say in the matter, but they made all arraxigements for the wedding. Iven after the engagement was sealed, the young brave did not speak to his fiance, nor did she over address him. Whenever they met, she would cover her face with her hands er with a piece $t moosehide, i When the parents had set the date fer the marriage, they moved their wigwams side by side. Preparations were made fer a feast of caribou and tea. At weddings after the coming of the first white men tobacco also was served, a« smoking was indulged in by young and old. Aa the hour approached for the 0«reiDOoy, the brldagroem and hia parents entered one of the wlg»ams« and aat down at one aide of the fire which waa built in the eantar. The brida and har parenta than entered, followed by all her relatives, and they sat on the eppoaita aide. Heat waa eaten, not a ward being apoken. Afterwards tea waa given to each one praaant. Than pipaa ware ligjbted, and everybody smoked in alienee* In doe time the father ef the grooia aroae and gave a long talk, extolling the virtuea of hia boy« Aa a hunter and trapper, he could not be excelled. He was as handaome aa Adonia and he had the grace of Apollo, Hia bravery waa unqueaticned. Surely the bride waa fortunute to have aecured rich a husband. When he had finiahed, the bride* a father arase and gave a glowing account of hia dau^tar. He girl in all the world waa half aa beautiftd. In the art of tanning hidaa, she had no av^rior; and in faahioning garments she waa without doubt the laat word. The greom had made no miatake in ehooaing har. UeanvAiile the bride had been sitting with her hair plaited in braids and thrown over her face* After the ayoeehee were finished, the greom reached forward and graaping the breida, haolad her aeroaa tho tire to hia aide. If during the prelim- inariea, however, aha auddenly changed her mind about marrying him, a struggle ensued, durinf; which her parenta beat hia handa with sticks, and the match waa off. If aha raiaed no objectiona, ahe allowed herself to be hauled aeroaa the fire, and aha aat down beside the groom. His parents then threw a blanket over the couple. Thla eQBq>leted the marriage ceremony. * , Fora P-67 (IO-3U 100)