all over the Giant Witch and stinging him till he roared with pain; but he sent "Humming-bird" to gather a quantity of birch-bark, which he set on fire, making a dense smoke which stifled all the bees.
After waiting some time, the "Big Snake" went into the cave to see if the Bees had killed his enemy; but he was speedily caught in a dead fall which the Giant Witch had prepared for him, and thus perished the third witch.
The great chief, Hassagwāhq', was now much distressed at having lost three of his mightiest magicians without accomplishing anything, but, however, seven more still remained.
The next witch to fight was "Quāgsis," the "Fox," his poohegan being "K'sīnochka," or "Disease," and ho commanded him to afflict the foe with all manner of evils. He was soon covered with boils and sores, and every part of his body was filled with aches and pains. But he dispatched his guardian spirit, the "Humming-bird," to "Quiliphirt," the God of Medicine, who gave him the plant "Kikaywīh-bisūn,"[1] and as soon as it was administered unto him he was immediately cured of all his ills.
The next to enter the list was "Agwem," the "Loon," whose poohegan was "T'kayon," or "Cold." Soon the mountain was covered with snow and ice, the cave was filled with cold blasts of wind, the frost split the trees and cracked asunder the huge rocks. The Giant Witch suffered horribly, but did not yield. He tried his magic-stone, and heated it red-hot, but so intense was the cold that it lost its power and could not help him.
Allumovset's wings were frozen and he could not fly on any more errands, but another of the master's spirits, "Lithustrāgan," or
- ↑ This plant is much used by a tribe of Indians in Lower California, who are said to live to a great age, 180 years being no uncommon term of life among them. Among our own Indians it is not now known to exist. It grew like green com, about two feet high, and was always in motion, even when boiling in the pot. It gave to him who drank it great length of life. Lewy Mitchell's mother received it from an Indian who wished to marry, and to whom she gave in return enough goods to set up housekeeping. She divided it with her four sisters, but on their death no trace of it was found.
