The Path on the Rainbow: Prayers of the Tsimshian

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The Path on the Rainbow, edited by George W. Cronyn, [1918], at sacred-texts.com

SONGS FROM THE NORTHWEST COAST

PRAYERS OF THE TSIMSHIAN TO NEXNÓA

Nexnóx, Nexnóx!
Chief, Chief!
    have pity upon us!
    else there will be nobody
    to smoke under you!
Nexnóx, have pity upon us!

FOR FAIR WEATHER

Nexnóx, Nexnóx!
Chief, Chief!
    have pity upon us!
Look down and see
    what those under you
    whom you made are doing!
Pull up your foot
    and sweep off your face! *

FOR CALM WEATHER

Hold in your breath, Chief,
that it may be calm.

Footnotes

135:* "pull up your foot" means "stop the rain"; "sweep off your face" means "take away the clouds."

Next: Three Songs from the Haida