Brentwood College School - Brentonian Yearbook (Mill Bay, British Columbia Canada)

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Brentwood College Magazine The Raven LONG ago, before civilization reached the Saanich peninsula, there lived at the foot of Tod Inlet an Indian chief, Tzouhalem. His tribe was known to be the strongest on the whole island, but this unhappy man was not ambitious for power. The one thing uppermost in his mind was to leave to his followers an inheritance by which he should be remembered. So it happened that for many years the chief wandered about, always in deep silence, wondering and thinking what he could do, till at last his followers grew worried. A conference of the braves was called and the chief, ignorant of the meeting, happened upon it in session and told them his cares. Followers, my time draws soon to a close. For years I have been ruling and watching over you carefully ; but what am I to leave you ? Senanus, my son, now lies sleeping out on the island that bears his name, and on my death you will be without a chief, or even anything to look up to. Rut let us be happy, for the time has not yet come when my body shall be beside my son, and my soul depart for the Happy Hunting-Ground. Later in the year, when the sun was at the height of its orbit, the old chief embarked in his canoe and headed towards the mountain in the west. When he reached the western shore he pulled his dug-out high on the pebbly beach. Then, unarmed and with a single thought, he climbed the mountain towering high above the waters. By nightfall he had reached his objective, the top of the mountain, from where he could see the red path the sun had left as it sank into its western home beyond the Great Water. The brilliant sun of the morning awoke the old man from his deep sleep. Looking west, he surveyed the vast blue expanse of the Pacific. To the east he could see his own dominion ; a little to the left was the sacred island that held his warriors ; to the right lay his own village ; he could make out clearly the houses. What could he do for his people? If he could only build them a large temple in which he could leave them a replica of himself ! He gazed steadfastly into the depths of the blue heaven, his bent figure searching for help, till, near by, a jet black raven distracted his attention with its croaking. O Black Creature, he said, if you could but have a secret power to carry logs, I would have you carry logs such as grow only in the great forests of the North. Wearily the old warrior made his way back to the village. So deep was his brooding that he failed to notice huge logs, fully fifty feet in length and six feet in diameter, lying in an immense pile on the shore, shaded by dusk. But when the village aroused itself for the daily tasks, they were startled by the sight of the logs. An escort brought the chief to the scene ; he was amazed. The logs ! The raven ! He pieced his thoughts together and it all came back to him. The bird was really his benefactor, and raising both his hands above his head and stretching out his body to its full height he looked up into the sky and cried aloud praise of, the black bird. The wondering crowd gathered from his wild praise what had happened and they, too, joined in the song of thanksgiving. Page Twelve

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B r e n t w o o d College Magazine Sailing FTER the very successful season last year, great hopes were held for the present one, but owing to the greater interest in cricket and the addition of single sculling to the category of the summer recreations, these hopes were scarcely justified. Thanks to the great amount of time and trouble taken by Procter, the boats were placed in commission early in March. As there was little to do during the latter part of the Lent Term, great interest was shown in sailing, and the season opened very successfully. Owing to the comparatively narrow stretches of water and the presence of several mountains in the immediate neighbourhood, the winds are neces- sarily uncertain and inclined to come in a series of short gusts. The prevailing winds throughout the sum- mer term are very light, though occasionally a strong westerly wind springs up from the Malahat, when there is an excellent stretch of sailing water between Senanus Island and Willis Point. During the months of October and March these westerly winds occur quite frequently and during those months the boats are in great demand. To prevent accidents from the poor management of the boats no boy is allowed to take charge of a boat unless he has one of two certificates, the first entitling him to sail in a light wind, the second in any wind. To obtain them he has first to sail a boat with either Mr. Grant or Mr. Hope, in a light wind for his first certificate and then in a heavy wind for his full certificate. The master on duty decides whether those holding only a light wind certificate may sail or not. This required knowledge of sailing, coupled with the specified sailing bounds, precludes practically any chance of a serious accident, because the bounds are such that a launch can reach any part of them in ten minutes, while they allow freedom of the best sailing grounds. Captain Lane of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club has presented a challenge cup to be raced for over a course on Cowichan Bay. The first race for this cup was held on June 16th of this year. Mr. Beaumont very kindly towed the boats up with his yacht, the Discovery Isle , and we arrived ofT the Cowichan Bay Yacht Club at 12.15. The race commenced at 1.45, the kittens starting ofT first and the Shamrock and the Snookie at intervals of twelve minutes each. There was a good breeze at first, but just after the leading boats had rounded the windward buoy the wind dropped and a heavy shower of rain fell. Dollar, in the Snookie , was the boat to finish, while the Blue Streak led the boats which were picked up by a launch. After supper Captain Lane presented the cup and the flotilla left at 8.00, arriving back at school at 10.30. Page Eleven

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B r e 11 1 w o o d College Magazine At once the men set about the great task of building the temple. In the construction they took a year. The building was to be a lasting memorial of the chief, his son, and the bird who had made the work possible. Great carvings adorned the rough logs and tall totem poles were posted at the corners. Such a beautiful building had never before been built or seen on this picturesque western coast and in the following years it came to be a shrine for every tribe on the coast. Far from the North came warriors to see the shrine that had been built, and when they went back they took with them tales of how a bird had made the great work possible. They in turn found that the raven could help them and they also revered the bird. They placed its figure on top of their totem poles, sometimes in a peculiar shape ; it is that same creature that helped Chief Tzouhalem before white men came to this coast, and that is why, to this day, the raven is still carved on top of an Indian totem pole. D. Edwyn Nunn. The Gift of Spring To earth at last has come the spring, Brightening with flowers field and fen, Transforming with her golden light The very hearts and minds of men. The sun sends down his flashing rays From a vaulted arch of limpid blue, And warms the deep and sparkling sea. Whose waves reflect the dazzling hue. By grove and shady forest pool Where laughing Dryads live secure, Among the beauties of the woods Which often change but still endure ; There, where the angels plant the seeds Of wild flowers which soon will grow, There quietude and beauty make A paradise we all may know. Like Icarus, who sought the sun In a mad flight on waxen wings, So rage we after happiness, And pass it by, in littler things. J. Griffith. Page Thirteen