The Coconino sun., 1920-05-28

cinity, pulling them up by the roots. And since then mo trees have ever grown on the site.
 At later date there was another terrible battle between whale and thunder bird on this same prairie. At this time an elk hunter was living at this prairie. Very early on the morning following this great battle he went out hunting, but soon came back, saying that he had seen a very big bird sitting in a tree little way above the ground. This bird was the thunder bird This man took one feather from thunderer's wing. It was just as long as canoe-paddle. He bent the feather and put it in his quiv- CT and brought'it home with him. Af- ter he had showed this feather to his people he said: I also saw a very, very large whale on the prairie. It had been carried there by the bird. The bird was resting because he had such big load
 "The man sent word to all the Quil- layute people at the mouth of the riv- CT at the place we now call LaPush, to come up and cut up the whale, be- cause it was so large that the bird could not carry it further. All the beach and river Indians, three to six in each whaling canoe, came at once to the prairie to cut up the whale. On reaching there they found the huge whale lying dead at the lower end of the prairie, as had been reported. They immediately commenced measuring off the parts they wanted; one family took the head, another the saddle, and so on. By evening they had it all cut up. They piled up the block-like sec tions of the blubber all over the ground. Night came on; and the clouds overhead became black. The thunder bird' had been robbed of his prey and now he was returning with vengeance in his wings. It commenced to lightning and shower little, not so much at first. Then it hailed large hail, hail larger than ones fist. The hail killed and mangled all the peo- pie on the prairie. The Indians had cooked and eaten whale meat that ev- ening; and it was. all right, it was good to eat But after the storm both the meat and the blubber were turned to stone; as were the people also. And today in great blocks of rocks, they form a ridge from one end of the prairie to the other One may even see the ribs of the whales carcass and its massive head"
 | Seeing that looked on his story as incredible, he sarcastically remark ed: "What man no believe; but I'll show him. We are at Beaver prairie now? There is the whales carcass extending completely across the prair- ie. Wonder are the blocks of blubber and the whales head"
 As walked over the blocks of rock, I assented to the credulous Indians belief by saving. "Yes, they are all lhere," bu. I did not obtruie upon his faith by telling him that what he took for the "stone" remains of whale and blubber slabs are the remains of boulder-train of lobe of the great western glacier of glacial times. When his people become more civilized it will be time enough to impa,t this to them. 'r -. .-s
 Reaching LaPush we found every thing in readiness for the ocean enter prise and on the following morning four ocean canoes of two-ton size each were dragged down to the wat CTS edge. These were followed by the women and men of the village, who danced to the landing with the whaling accouterments, spruce-root rope, ponderous harpOons, inverted hairseal skin buoys, eatables, fresh water. and so one. Soon then we were off as many of the populace who were left behind houndered about over the yeach sand in imitation of a dying whale in it's foundering, dying agon- ies, while others danced the whale dance.
 Each canoe contained twelve men There was man to steer the craft, a harpoon man at the prow, and five men on each side with oars.
 We had been out less than two hours when a female whale was sight. ed sleeping on the surface. With slow, easy strokes the foremost canoe was slid right up to her and the har' boomer drove his harpoon into hel body. He then withdrew the releas. able stalk, leaving the blade part dAply embedded and held there by its barbed points. To this blade was at. cached a line of inflated buoys which were hurled from the canoe, as the infuriated beast unexpectedly turned upon her enemy. In an instant she had smashed the canoe with her mon ster tail. She then dove to the depth! , taking the buoy line with her.
 A rescuing party picked up. tho , stranded whalers who heroically struggled in the water till succol , reached them. In few minutes ther the chase was on again. With buo. attached the whale could no , dive to a great depth or go far before , she must come to the surface for air , Hardly two miles of the ocean were ' skinned over when she was seer ! "blowingY in the distance to the north 5 wasd; and the battle was on again : This time two harpoons were hurlet into her body before she sank. More s over. this time she could not sink low
 onouub in submerpe all the buoys