legends of vancouver-第2部分

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The　Lions〃　daily；　without　the　love　for　them　that　is　in　the　Indian　heart；　without　knowledge　of　the　secret　of　〃The　Two　Sisters。　The　legend　was　far　more　fascinating　as　it　left　his　lips　in　the　quaint　broken　English　that　is　never　so　dulcet　as　when　it　slips　from　an　Indian　tongue。　　His　inimitable　gestures；　strong；　graceful；　comprehensive；　were　like　a　perfectly　chosen　frame　embracing　a　delicate　painting；　and　his　brooding　eyes　were　as　the　light　in　which　the　picture　hung。　〃Many　thousands　of　years　ago；〃　he　began；　〃there　were　no　twin　peaks　like　sentinels　guarding　the　outposts　of　this　sunset　coast。　　They　were　placed　there　long　after　the　first　creation；　when　the　Sagalie　Tyee　moulded　the　mountains；　and　patterned　the　mighty　rivers　where　the　salmon　run；　because　of　His　love　for　His　Indian　children；　and　His　Wisdom　for　their　necessities。　　In　those　times　there　were　many　and　mighty　Indian　tribes　along　the　Pacific　in　the　mountain　ranges；　at　the　shores　and　sources　of　the　great　Fraser　River。　　Indian　law　ruled　the　land。　　Indian　customs　prevailed。　Indian　beliefs　were　regarded。　　Those　were　the　legend…making　ages　when　great　things　occurred　to　make　the　traditions　we　repeat　to　our　children　today。　　Perhaps　the　greatest　of　these　traditions　is　the　story　of　'The　Two　Sisters；'　for　they　are　known　to　us　as　'The　Chief's　Daughters；'　and　to　them　we　owe　the　Great　Peace　in　which　we　live；　and　have　lived　for　many　countless　moons。　　There　is　an　ancient　custom　amongst　the　Coast　tribes　that　when　our　daughters　step　from　childhood　into　the　great　world　of　womanhood　the　occasion　must　be　made　one　of　extreme　rejoicing。　The　being　who　possesses　the　possibility　of　someday　mothering　a　man　child；　a　warrior；　a　brave；　receives　much　consideration　in　most　nations；　but　to　us；　the　Sunset　Tribes；　she　is　honored　above　all　people。　　The　parents　usually　give　a　great　potlatch；　and　a　feast　that　lasts　many　days。　　The　entire　tribe　and　the　surrounding　tribes　are　bidden　to　this　festival。　More　than　that；　sometimes　when　a　great　Tyee　celebrates　for　his　daughter；　the　tribes　from　far　up　the　coast；　from　the　distant　north；　from　inland；　from　the　island；　from　the　Cariboo　country；　are　gathered　as　guests　to　the　feast。　　During　these　days　of　rejoicing；　the　girl　is　placed　in　a　high　seat；　an　exalted　position；　for　is　she　not　marriageable？　And　does　not　marriage　mean　motherhood？　　And　does　not　motherhood　mean　a　vaster　nation　of　brave　sons　and　of　gentle　daughters；　who；　in　their　turn；　will　give　us　sons　and　daughters　of　their　own？

〃But　it　was　many　thousands　of　years　ago　that　a　great　Tyee　had　two　daughters　that　grew　to　womanhood　at　the　same　springtime；　when　the　first　great　run　of　salmon　thronged　the　rivers；　and　the　ollallie　bushes　were　heavy　with　blossoms。　　These　two　daughters　were　young；　lovable；　and　oh！　very　beautiful。　　Their　father；　the　great　Tyee；　prepared　to　make　a　feast　such　as　the　Coast　had　never　seen。　　There　were　to　be　days　and　days　of　rejoicing；　the　people　were　to　come　for　many　leagues；　were　to　bring　gifts　to　the　girls　and　to　receive　gifts　of　great　value　from　the　Chief；　and　hospitality　was　to　reign　as　long　as　pleasuring　feet　could　dance；　and　enjoying　lips　could　laugh；　and　mouths　partake　of　the　excellence　of　the　Chief's　fish；　game　and　ollallies。

〃The　only　shadow　on　the　joy　of　it　all　was　war；　for　the　tribe　of　the　great　Tyee　was　at　war　with　the　Upper　Coast　Indians；　those　who　lived　north；　near　what　is　named　by　the　Paleface　as　the　port　of　Prince　Rupert。　　Giant　war　canoes　slipped　along　the　entire　coast；　war　parties　paddled　up　and　down；　war　songs　broke　the　silences　of　the　nights；　hatred；　vengeance；　strife；　horror　festered　everywhere　like　sores　on　the　surface　of　the　earth。　　But　the　great　Tyee；　after　warring　for　weeks；　turned　and　laughed　at　the　battle　and　the　bloodshed；　for　he　had　been　victor　in　every　encounter；　and　he　could　well　afford　to　leave　the　strife　for　a　brief　week　and　feast　in　his　daughters'　honor；　nor　permit　any　mere　enemy　to　come　between　him　and　the　traditions　of　his　race　and　household。　So　he　turned　insultingly　deaf　ears　to　their　war　cries；　he　ignored　with　arrogant　indifference　their　paddle　dips　that　encroached　within　his　own　coast　waters；　and　he　prepared　as　a　great　Tyee　should；　to　royally　entertain　his　tribesmen　in　honor　of　his　daughters。

〃But　seven　suns　before　the　great　feast　these　two　maidens　came　before　him；　hand　clasped　in　hand。

〃'Oh！　our　father；'　they　said；　'may　we　speak？'

〃'Speak；　my　daughters；　my　girls　with　the　eyes　of　April；　the　hearts　of　June'〃　（early　spring　and　early　summer　would　be　the　more　accurate　Indian　phrasing）。

〃'Some　day；　Oh！　our　father；　we　may　mother　a　man　child；　who　may　grow　to　be　just　such　a　powerful　Tyee　as　you　are；　and　for　this　honor　that　may　some　day　be　ours　we　have　come　to　crave　a　favor　of　youyou；　Oh！　our　father。'

〃'It　is　your　privilege　at　this　celebration　to　receive　any　favor　your　hearts　may　wish；'　he　replied　graciously；　placing　his　fingers　beneath　their　girlish　chins。　　'The　favor　is　yours　before　you　ask　it；　my　daughters。'

〃'Will　you；　for　our　sakes；　invite　the　great　northern　hostile　tribesthe　tribe　you　war　uponto　this；　our　feast？'　they　asked　fearlessly。

〃'To　a　peaceful　feast；　a　feast　in　the　honor　of　women？'　he　exclaimed　incredulously。

〃'So　we　would　desire　it；'　they　answered。

〃'And　so　shall　it　be；'　he　declared。　　'I　can　deny　you　nothing　this　day；　and　some　time　you　may　bear　sons　to　bless　this　peace　you　have　asked；　and　to　bless　their　mother's　sire　for　granting　it。'　　Then　he　turned　to　all　the　young　men　of　the　tribe　and　commanded；　'Build　fires　at　sunset　on　all　the　coast　headlandsfires　of　welcome。　　Man　your　canoes　and　face　the　north；　greet　the　enemy；　and　tell　them　that　I；　the　Tyee　of　the　Capilanos；　askno；　command　that　they　join　me　for　a　great　feast　in　honor　of　my　two　daughters。'　　And　when　the　northern　tribes　got　this　invitation　they　flocked　down　the　coast　to　this　feast　of　a　Great　Peace。　　They　brought　their　women　and　their　children：　they　brought　game　and　fish；　gold　and　white　stone　beads；　baskets　and　carven　ladles；　and　wonderful　woven　blankets　to　lay　at　the　feet　of　their　now　acknowledged　ruler；　the　great　Tyee。　　And　he；　in　turn；　gave　such　a　potlatch　that　nothing　but　tradition　can　vie　with　it。　　There　were　long；　glad　days　of　joyousness；　long　pleasurable　nights　of　dancing　and　camp　fires；　and　vast　quantities　of　food。　　The　war　canoes　were　emptied　of　their　deadly　weapons　and　filled　with　the　daily　catch　of　salmon。　　The　hostile　war　songs　ceased；　and　in　their　place　were　heard　the　soft　shuffle　of　dancing　feet；　the　singing　voices　of　women；　the　play…games　of　the　children　of　two　powerful　tribes　which　had　been　until　now　ancient　enemies；　for　a　great　and　lasting　brotherhood　was　sealed　between　themtheir　war　songs　were　ended　forever。

〃Then　the　Sagalie　Tyee　smiled　on　His　Indian　children：　'I　will　make　these　young…eyed　maidens　immortal；'　He　said。　　In　the　cup　of　His　hands　He　lifted　the　Chief's　two　daughters　and　set　them　forever　in　a　high　place；　for　they　had　borne　two　offspringPeace　and　Brotherhood　each　of　which　is　now　a　great　Tyee　ruling　this　land。

〃And　on　the　mountain　crest　the　Chief's　daughters　can　be　seen　wrapped　in　the　suns；　the　snows；　the　stars　of　all　seasons；　for　they　have　stood　in　this　high　place　for　thousands　of　years；　and　will　stand　for　thousands　of　years　to　come；　guarding　the　peace　of　the　Pacific　Coast　and　the　quiet　of　the　Capilano　Canyon。〃

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This　is　the　Indian　legend　of　〃The　Lions　of　Vancouver〃　as　I　had　it　from　one　who　will　tell　me　no　more　the　traditions　of　his　people。





The　Siwash　Rock

Unique　and　so　distinct　from　its　surroundings　as　to　suggest　rather　the　handicraft　of　man　than　a　whim　of　Nature；　it　looms　up　at　the　entrance　to　the　Narrows；　a　symmetrical　column　of　solid　grey　stone。　　There　are　no　similar　formations　within　the　range　of　vision；　or　indeed　within　many　a　day's　paddle　up　and　down　the　coast。　　Amongst　all　the　wonders；　the　natural　beauties　that　encircle　Vancouver；　the　marvels　of　mountains　shaped　into　crouching　lions　and　brooding　beavers；　the　yawning　canyons；　the　stupendous　forest　firs　and　cedars；　Siwash　Rock　stands　as　distinct；　as　individual；　as　if　dropped　from　another　sphere。

I　saw　it　first　in　the　slanting　light　of　a　redly　setting　August　sun；　the　little　tuft　of　green　shrubbery　that　crests　its　summit　was　black　against　the　crimson　of　sea　and　sky；　and　its　colossal　base　of　grey　stone　gleamed　like　flaming　polished　granite。

My　old　tillicum　lifted　his　paddle　blade　to　point　towards　it。　　〃You　know　the　story？〃　he　asked。　　I　shook　my　head　（experience　had　taught　me　his　love　of　silent　replies；　his　moods　of　legend…telling）。　　For　a　time　we　paddled　slowly；　the　rock　detached　itself　from　its　background　of　forest　and　shore；　and　it　stood　forth　like　a　sentinelerect；　enduring；　eternal。

〃Do　you　think　it　stands　straightlike　a　man？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；　like　some　noble…spirited；　upright　warrior；〃　I　replied。

〃It　is　a　man；〃　he　said；　〃and　a　warrior　man；　too；　a　man　who　fought　for　everything　that　was　noble　and　upright。〃

〃What　do　you　regard　as　everything　that　is　noble　and　upright；　Chief？〃　I　asked；　curious　as　to　his　ideas。　　I　shall　not　forget　the　reply：　it　was　but　two　wordsastounding；　amazing　words。　　He　said　simply：

〃Clean　fatherhood。〃

Through　my　mind　raced　tumultuous　recollections　of　numberless　articles　in　yet　numberless　magazines；　all　dealing　with　the　recent　〃fad〃　of　motherhood；　but　I　had　to　hear　from　the　lips　of　a　Squamish　Indian　Chief　the　only　treatise　on　the　nobility　of　〃clean　fatherhood〃　that　I　have　yet　unearthed。　　And　this　treatise　has　been　an　Indian　legend　for　centuries；　and　lest　they　forget　how　all…important　those　two　little　words　must　ever　be；　Siwash　Rock　stands　to　remind　them；　set　there　by　the　Deity　as　a　monument　to　one　who　kept　his　own　life　clean；　that　cleanliness　might　be　the　heritage　of　the　generations　to　come。

It　was　〃thousands　of　years　ago〃　（all　Indian　legends　begin　in　extremely　remote　times）　that　a　handsome　boy　chief　journeyed　in　his　canoe　to　the　upper　coast　for　the　shy　little　northern　girl　whom　he　brought　home　as　his　wife。　　Boy　though　he　was；　the　young　chief　had　proved　himself　to　be　an　excellent　warrior；　a　fearless　hunter；　and　an　upright；　courageous　man　among　men。　　His　tribe　loved　him；　his　enemies　respected　him；　and　the　base　and　mean　and　cowardly　feared　him。

The　customs　and　traditions　of　his　ancestors　were　a　positive　religion