![]() ![]() There he saw one half of a fish swimming about. He took his spear and went down the river to catch another salmon. It had returned to the river from which he had taken it. When you awake you will be able to eat more." When the man awoke and wanted to continue to eat the fish it was gone. Then his grandfather laughed and said, "Put it aside and go to sleep. He roasted it and ate it, but was unable to eat all. He followed his commands and cut the fish, as the people of the Thunderer were accustomed to do. Then the Thunderer told him how to cut the fish. After the Thunderer had broken it again and the man had selected the smallest piece, he said, "It is still too large, but I think I must try to make use of it. ![]() Then the Thunderer broke it into still smaller pieces and said, "I fear I have spoilt it, for it has become dust so fine that I cannot take hold of it." The man went out, but even then the smallest piece was so large that he was unable to lift it. Then the Thunderer split a rock, as he thought, into very small pieces, but the smallest of these was so large that the man was unable to lift it. He was going to split it, but was unable to find knife small enough for cutting the fish. The man went out, caught one salmon, and brought it home. You may take four of five.""I cannot even eat one." Then the grandfather laughed and said, "If I should eat one hundred I should not have enough." Before he went the old man said, "Don't catch more than you are able to eat. ![]() The man made a new spear and went fishing salmon. The man said, "How large are your nails! They are just like the crack of a log," and the old grandfather laughed. It slipped under his fingernail and he was unable to find it again. The latter looked at it, but found it so small that he was hardly able to feel it. He thought, "I am tired of whale meat and wish I could have some fish." He went back to the house and spoke to the Thunderer, "Grandfather, I have found many fish, and I want to catch them." He made a fish spear, which he showed to the Thunderer. One day the man went up the river and saw many fish swimming it it. He caught the largest one and carried it up to a large cave which was near by, and when he had deposited it there the whale flapped its tail and jumped about, violently shaking the mountain, so that it was impossible to stand upon it. The Thunderer told him to stand aside, as he himself was preparing to catch whales. They went out and the man saw that the people were catching whales in the same way as he was accustomed to catch salmon. Catch a few!" The man replied, "They are too large, and I cannot catch them." "Those are the fish I was speaking of," replied the Thunderer. Then he went back to the house and said, "I do not see any salmon, but many whales are swimming about." The man went to the beach but did not see any salmon, while many whales were swimming about. On the following day the Thunderer told him to go and catch salmon. Each flapping of his wings was a peal of thunder, and when the noise ceased the man knew that they had arrived at the Thunderer's home and he opened his eyes. He thought: "Where shall I put him in order to prevent his falling down?" He said, "When we reach a great height, close your eyes, so that the strong wind which prevails up there will do you no harm." Then he flew up again and ascended in large circles. When they reached a considerable height the man almost fell from under the Thunderer's armpits, and the latter descended again and allowed him to regain his strength. He took the man under his armpits and flew with him towards the sky. He leaned the spear against the tree and hung the blanket on to it. Then the speaker, who was no other than the Thunderer, took the man's salmon spear and blanket. Don't look at me I am the one whom you have scolded." Then he said, "Now you see how tall I am. As soon as he had stepped out of the hole he began to grow, and soon reached a height taller than the spruce tree his skin was covered with feathers. When he looked closer he saw the boy coming out. He looked into it and discovered a little boy. He became angry and said, "What is that great thing that always darkens the water and prevents me from seeing the fish?" He went on and came to a tall spruce tree in which a large hole had been burned by lightning. Then it cleared up again, but soon a new shower came on and he was unable to secure a single fish. When he started out the sun was shining, but soon dark clouds came up and it began to thunder and to rain. One day he went up the creek to spear salmon. Once upon a time there was a man who lived at Slab Creek. From Franz Boas, 1898, Traditions of the Tillamook Indians, Journal of American Folklore, V. ![]()
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