Native American Legends
Origin of the .Sxo'exo'e mask
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
Once there was a man named Xwiämä'ta, who lived at Union
Bar. He had a sister called Swalsta't. He was sick with a loathsome
disease. His nose and eyes were swollen. He had been sick a long
time, and could not be cured. He became very sorrowful, and one
day wandered away to a small lake called Qo'eqoea, near the Coquahalla
River.
As he went along, he tore up his blanket, and tied the rags to
sticks. The people followed his track for some distance, and then
gave it up, saying, "There is no use following him. He has
no doubt gone very far, and then committed suicide."
He sat by the lake and spat into the water. The saliva descended
through the water, entered the lodge of the chief who lived at the
bottom of the lake, and fell on the stomach of his daughter, who
at once became sick. Xwiämä'ta said to himself, "There
is nothing to live for. I cannot get well. I will throw myself into
the lake."
He dived, and descended until he saw a ladder standing up, which
led into the chief's house. He entered, and found the chief's daughter
very sick. The chief told him that she was dying, and asked him
to try to cure her. He cured her by scraping off the spittle, and
at once she became well. In return the chief cured Xwiämä'ta's
sickness.
They were very grateful, and showed him the .sxo'exo'e mask. They
said it was of very great value, and told him how to use it. They
presented it to him. They promised to send it. Xwiämä'ta
returned home, and sent his sister Swalsta't to fish in the lake.
While she was fishing, the Water people attached the mask to her
hook. She thought she had caught a fish. When she landed it and
saw the feathers on it, she ran away in fright. Her brother sent
her back. She wrapped it in a blanket, and put it in a large basket
and carried it home. Then her brother showed it at dances.
The .sxo'exo'e mask had a feathered head, protruding eyes, feathered
hands, and feathered feet and knees. It could only be used by people
who inherited it. By intermarriage with people of Hope it was introduced
among the people of Hammond. The people on the North Arm (near the
mouth of the Fraser River) made war on the Hammond people, and stole
their mask. After this they used it, although it did not belong
to them; but they did not know the proper song and dance that belonged
to the mask, which always was used when it was exhibited.
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