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Just at the entrance to the harbour of Vancouver stands a solitary
pinnacle of rock, straight and upright. It is called the Siwash Rock.
A young chief had made himself renowned for his wonderful courage in
war and for his sense of duty to his tribe and to his religion, and
for his courtesy to women.
He had married a wife, and when she was about to give birth to a child
they did as laid down in the laws of the tribe, that is, they both
bathed in the sea to be so clean that no wild animal should be able to
scent them. This would ensure their child being clean in thought and
deed.
The woman returned to their tent, but the young chief went on swimming
to make sure that he should be clean and pure for the birth of his
son.
While he swam a canoe came along with four giants in it. These shouted
to him to get out of their way, but he only laughed back at them that
he was swimming on important business.
But they shouted to him that he must cease swimming in the channel, as
they were messengers of the great God, and that if he did not they
would turn him into a fish, or a tree, or a stone.
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