The quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society, Vol. 1, No. 2, June, 1900Oregon Historical Society
History
The quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society, Vol. 1, No. 2, June, 1900
Oregon Historical Society
Oregon -- History -- Periodicals
By this the wonderful boy was greatly affected, and thinking that he
could benefit his tribe no more, retired to the rocks above the falls,
and began weeping; and, indeed, wept so copiously that his tears
falling on each side of the falls wore two great holes in the solid
rock, which may be seen there to this day. Finally deciding that he
would no longer live as a man, the boy changed himself into a fish in
order that he might rest in the quiet waters. But he was disturbed by
the roaring of the river to such an extent that he swam upward as far
as the Tualatin. But neither here could he rest on account of the
roaring of the water. He proceeded thence to the mouth of the Molalla,
and of the Pudding River, and of the Yamhill, successively, but had
no resting place, until finally he reached the clear Santiam. Here he
found what he desired, and went to sleep in a still pool; but being
discovered by Tallapus, was changed into a rock, having the form of a
salmon. And this accounts, say the Indians, for the fact that no salmon
that ascend the falls at Oregon City ever turn aside into any of the
streams until they reach the Santiam; but there seeing the rock, they
take a circle and swim near, and then saluting it with a flip of their
tail proceed up the crystal clear river until they reach the pebbly
bars suitable for their spawning grounds.
THE HAUNTED LAKE.
In addition to the above, Labonte tells an Indian story of a haunted
lake in the hills to the northward of Newburg. The waters of this lake
are exceedingly deep and still, and it has the name of the skookum
water.
Long ago, said the Indians, there was one man who, although he knew
that this was a tomaniwus water, determined recklessly to reach it
in his canoe, and disturb its placid surface with the strokes of his
paddle. Making his way thither, in his little craft in which he also
had his dog as his sole companion, he at length came to the shadowy
lake. He directed his strokes toward the center, which he had scarcely
reached before the water grew darker and became greatly disturbed.
Finally, it began revolving round and round, and the man with his canoe
and dog were whirled along in the stream until a vortex was developed
and opened, into which all sank. Then the lake was pacified, and again
became serene. But even at the present time, upon a foggy morning, if
one gazes over the rocks upon Skookum Lake, he will see a white object
whirling round and round on the surface of the water, and may, perhaps,
hear whines and cries; this is the spirit of the dog, which thus
returns.
DR. ELLIOTT COUES.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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