The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-12-10
A LEGEND OF ALASKA.
The Natives Story Of the Origin Of the
Devil

It would seem to be the cheerful duty of
some good citizen to go to Annette island,
Alaska, and learn the Tsimshean Ian
guage, for, according to Mr.. Duncan, mis-
sionary to that place, Golconda of an
Gent songs and stories, as well as of abo-
rieinal theology, there awaits student
and TRANSPORTER. Mr.. Duncan once under
took to put certain things on paper
Choosing one of the patriarchs OF the set
Element, a man whose memory abounds IN
antique savage lore, he launched him as a
beginning on sataniana Three days or
narration continued without change OF top
ic. Three days the writer wrote and then
rebelled.
"Ob. but I've not half finished" expos
tulated the hoary ex-cannlpal- we
Tsimsneans know all about the deyll-ao-
solutely all. .
Throughout the old Tsimshean creed
and legends the devil appears as an IDLE,
vicious imbecile, whose sole passion IS the
desire for food and whose every crime is
committed from that motive. He murders,
lies, steals, only to crafty his unsuitable
appetite, and is, moreover, forever bounded
on to fresh villainies by the fact that under
no circumstances can he get food honestly.
x
upon the chief A son was born to him
who as years heightened acquired no
growth and would take no sustenance-
This affection caused great grief not only
in the chiefs house, but in all the tribe
besides. Sages held council over it, medi-
cine men prayed over it without avail.
Never a morsel passed the boys lips, and
never an inch was added to his stature.
One day the watchers of the ocean saw
mysterious shape emerge from the most
distant water and move in toward shore.
Nearing, it showed as very aged man,
gray and bent, who, unquestioned as I'M
questioning, made straight for the chiefs
door When he was seated by the fireside,
the chiefs wife, as is the custom of the
Tsimsheans, offered food
II hear that you have a son who will
not eat, said the old man. Bring him
here !"
The thing. was done, and the stranger,
removing bit of the skin of his own arm,
rolled it in little ball with some of the
food before him and put the ball into the
child's mouth.
Eat, z he commanded Then he arose
and departed as he had come, never to reap
pear.
The boy not only swallowed what had
been given him. but turning to the dish
abandoned by the ancient one ate that also.
bring morei'' he cried.
More food was fetched by the rejoicing
mother, to be consumed with unabated
zest The happy news flew through the
village The chiefs son ate at last. A
crowd of witnesses gathered and still the
marvel grew. Dish after dish disappeared,
and as the boy devoured he grew apace.
Finally, the edible stores of the household
utterly exhausted, he arose and strobe
away, and with each stride he SPAWNED a
valley, using the peaks as stepping stones.
SO monstrous had he grown.
The sea teemed with fish and the forest
with game, but whatever his need the
devil flor this was he) might not put out
his hand to take the smallest living thing
from either one. Creative power he had,
but only for the creation of evil, or rather
of futilities--of meaningless trash. From
the bark of a tree he once modelled man
of the normal size Of man, gave it life and
made it his attendant slave. The creature
possessed some low cunning, but was
quite faithless, SO that the two ran togeth-
er In folly and were mutual thorns in the
side
Once upon time the devil, furnishing,
ment. Therefore he said to his slave, Il
will hang cockleshells in my ears and
walk before the village, and do you go in
among tho houses and cry out loudly, SO
that all the women hear, See where the
great chief walks. with mother of pearl
in his earsp I"
For great chief does not enter a vii
1age unannounced or without special So
nj fhn owl nc raj ia
neither honest nor wise. He wished to
dazzle the women with magnifcence, but
his pinchbeck nature contented itself and
thought to impose upon others with iIni
tation flnery-with cookies for the much
priced mother of pearl. So he strutted up
and down before the settlement while the
little slave in among the houses called out,
"See where the great chief walks, with
cockleshells in his earsl"
Say mother of pearl, knaye'' growls
the devil, furious.
But the slave only cries the louder, See
where the great chief walks, with cockle-
shells in his ears!' Because, being the
DEVILS invention and an idle, shallow
thing, he will do nothing, not even lie
for the good of another than himself. At
last woman comes to her door and bids
the slave ask his master in. The devil en-
tiers, seating himself by the fireside in 81.
lence, for his dignity as great chief for
bids him to speak except through the
mouth of his slave. The woman, as ETH
quette demands, brings food.
'sDoes the great chief like smoked sal
monp' she inquired of the slave.
'Tell her do" the hungry devil
prompts in an eager whisper.
But the slave, being the DEVILS creation
will do nothing, not even tell the truth
for the good of another than himself
1.-THE great chief does not like smoked
salmon" he responds, with all heraldio
pomp and deliberation, and then, still &C.
cording to etiquette, receives and deyours
the salmon himself.
Now the woman, following the law of
hospitality, that may not be transgressed,
offers second Wand.
"Does the great chief like herring roe?s
she respectfully asks
'sTell her do Kisses the devil, grown
rayenous in his tantalized fast.
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