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In the Alberni District of Vancouver Island there are two tribes of Indians, the Seshaht and the Opitchesaht. During the winter season the Seshahts live in a village which occupies a beautiful and commanding site on the west bank of the Somass River.
Such is the story told by that weird painting, which could be seen some years ago adorning the dark walls of the great potlatch house of Shewish, Seshaht chief on Ho-moh-ah but better known as Village Island, Barkley Sound. Alberni, the valley at the head of the Alberni Canal, a wonderful cleft or fjord which almost splits Vancouver Island in two.
The Lone Indian On Jutting Rocks the Black Klap-Poose, the Shag in Silence Sits A West Coast Indian Wearing the Kut-sack A Pictographic Painting The Coat of Arms of Shewish, Seshaht Chief The Bark Gives Way and Comes in Strips from off the Trees We Dance Round our Fires and Sing Again Next Day E're Mid-day Came They Had Set Sail Brushing the Hemlock Boughs, he Walked Stealthily Ka-koop-et Stone Hammer Used by the Indians of Barkley Sound He Shot an Arrow Straight Above his Head Then Eut-le-ten Stood Within the Fire
Among my Indian acquaintances of those days was Ka-coop-et, better known in the district as Mr. Bill. Bill is a fine type of Seshaht, quite intelligent and with a fund of humour. Having made friends, he told me in a mixture of broken English and Chinook some of the old folk lore of his tribe.
Chehahs were Supernatural spirits or influences; there were good and bad chehahs. She-she-took-a-muck was a ferocious whale supposed to have lived at Hell's Gate, and to have swallowed Indians and their canoes. The whale was killed by the aid of Quawteaht. Kah-oots was supposed to be one of the deities of Seshaht mythology. U-ah-tee the north wind, Yuk-stees the south wind.
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