As-ai-yahal, the god, lived far up in the country. A long time ago he
traveled all over the world. He came down the river and arrived at
Natahts. There he gathered clams and mussels. He made a fire and roasted
them. When he opened them; he found two animals in each shell. After he
had roasted them he began to eat and soon had enough. That made him angry
and he said, "Henceforth there shall be only one animal in each shell."

The god came to Tillamook Bay and then went up the river. He had to
cross it far up because he had no canoe and the river was deep. He met a
number of women who were digging roots. He asked, "What are you doing
there?" They replied, "We are digging roots." He said, "I do not like
that." He took the roots away and sent them to Clatsop. Ever since that
time there have been no roots at Tillamook while at Clatsop they are very
plentiful.

He went on and came to a river full of salmon which were clapping their
fins together. He caught one of them, threw it ashore, stepped on it,
flattening it. It became a flounder. Ever since then flounders have been
plentiful at Tillamook while there have been no salmon there.

As-ai-yahal traveled on and came to a house in which he saw people
lying around the fire. He asked, "What is the matter? Are you sick?" "No,"
they replied, "we are starving. East Wind wants to kill us. The river,
sea, and beach are frozen over and we cannot get any food."

Then he said, "Can't you make East Wind stop blowing so you can secure
food?" He went out of the house and far up the river, which was frozen
over. It was so slippery he could hardly stand. He went up the river to
meet East Wind and to conquer him. Before he came to the house of East
Wind, he took up some pieces of ice which he threw into the river,
saying, "Henceforth it shall not be as cold as it is now. Winter shall be a
little cold but not very much so. You shall become herring." The ice at
once became herring and swam down the river.

As-ai-yahal went on until he reached the house of East Wind. He entered
and whistled. He was trembling with cold, but did not go near the fire.
He said, "I am so warm I cannot go near the fire." Then he told East
Wind he came from a house where they were drying herring.

East Wind said, "Don't say so. It is winter now. There will be no
herring for a long time to come."

As-ai-yahal replied, "Don't you believe me? There are plenty of herring
outside." He took an icicle which he warmed at the fire. "Look how
quickly it boils," he said to East Wind as the ice melted. He made East
Wind believe that the melting ice was a herring.

Then East Wind ceased to blow, the ice began to melt, and the people
had plenty of food. Until then, it had been winter all the year; now we
have both summer and winter.