Evening star., 1917-03-18
ALL ABOUT THE indian
WITH A WOODEN WIFE
Carved Image of Dead Spouse BE-
cause of His Love-But He
Married Again.

The bureau of American ethnology has
just issued as part of its thirty-frst an
nual report a comprehensive article on
the mythology of the Tsimshian Indians
Considerable information is recorded con-
cerning these Indians themselves, their
life. social orgariza tions, alphabet, music,
religious ideas and practices, and their
folklore, which is part of the mythology
of America In this connection the au-
thor DR. Franz Boas. honorary philologist
of the bureau of American ethnology,
shows the bearing of the Tsimshian myth
ology on general mythical concepts and
in relation TO the manner of dissemina-
ton in northwestern America
Among a number of these interesting
myths recorded in the volume is a pecu-
liar tale concerning a young Indian hunt
er who had a wooden wife.
II seems that once upon a time GER
tain Indian hunter, who was also an ex-
pert woodworker, had very capable
young wife, whom he loved dearly. She
was especially adept at weaving the ma
tive dancing garments ard blankets. then
much in vogue. from yarn spun from
the wool of mountain sheep killed by her
husband. Shortly after their marriage.
while they were on a hunting trip. the
wife was taken i'll in the midst of her
weaving, and soon died. Before she pass
cu away, however, Sne CallSQ ner nus
band TO her and said. My dear hus-
band. keep your love for me after l am
dead. Don't go home too soon.'
Carved Image of Wood.
The husband. deeply grieved, follow
ed her dying wish. He even kept the
dead body until he was forced to bury it,
and then he carved an image of his wife
out of red cedar, which he set before
the partly finished dancing raiInant. still
hanging where it was left by his late
wife So cunning was this wocdman-
artisan, tnat he arranged the wooden fin
gers OF his lay-fgure wife in the threads
of the unfinished garment, so that she
appeared to be busily engaged in it's
construction. Not only that. he even
contrived clever system of manipulating
the figure; when the door was opened
its head turned toward him, and he pre-
tended that his wife-image could speak,
Although this fact had been reported in
the village, the story never occurred to
two runaway Indian maidens who chanc-
ed to arrive at the hunters camp guarded
solely by his wooden wife. Peering
through knothole they beheld a woman
apparently weaving, ard, being very hun
cry, opened the door 20 ask for food AS
the door opened. the head of the figure
before the weaving frame turned to look
at them, SO hey asked for a little food,
but the figure paid no attention to their
inquiry. Only the 1nEerS, twisted in the
yarn. moved.
That is not living being" excIaim-
ed the older sister. II will go near and
look" So she approached the silent fig
ure. saying, will you give US a little
food. elder sister," at the same time
to be wood. The mystery was revealed
to them and they laughed-this was the
wooden figure of which they had heard.
The Mighty Hunter Returns.
Soon they heard the hunter return
ing to camp. and hid themselves in a
corner behind some dried meat, to await
developments. He whistled as he drew
near although his load was very heavy
and he was tired. Come out, my dear"
he called to his wooden wife, "and look
at this indicating his pack of meat
and fat. Then he replied to himself
initiating his wife, Not so, my dear l
cannot, because my yarn is twisted
about my fingers" After saying this.
the hunter ran in to his wife. embraced
and kissed her, telling her that she was
very handsome. Whereupon the two
young women laughed at him in secret.
but he heard them and called them out
from their hiding place.
Strangely enough, he was not angry,
but spread grizzly bear skin for them
TO sit on, and cooked them many things
10 eat Inc eluSr sister ate great
deal of everything that night. but the
younger sister, being afraid. ate very
sparingly, fortunately for her. as the
elder sister was disgustingly i'll in the
morning. and did not get up. This
amused the hunter, and he made fun of
her. calling to her to get up and par
take of the breakfast he had prepared.
The younger sister arose, but the elder
sister cried, she was so ashamed.
In the meantime, the hunter seems
TO have fallen in love with the younger
sister, for now he asked her to marry
him. This she agreed to do, if he
would promise to destroy his wooden
wife, and never to reveal the fact
that her sister was sick from overeat-
ing. The hunter promised. but extracted
her assurance that she would not tell
what he had done with the wooden fig
ure.
Then" continues the myth. publish
ed by the bureau of American ethnol-
ogy, "they were married" And. in fact.
II is readily assumed that they lived
"happily ever after" for. so the story
reveals: The young woman was wise
and kind, and proved a better wife than
the first esDecially in weaving. Even
house and finally became head chief of
tually growing verv rich. the hunter re-
turned to his native village. where he
pave a great feast built p large
his generation. That" concludes this
Indian tale "is the end"