I found this legend while researching the legends of the Spokane Indians.It was found in a letter written in the mid 1800's by a Rev.Elkanah Walker from Fort Collville.He and his wife were missionaries to the Spokane Indians.In this letter he wrote; I suppose you will not like being bothered by what I am writing to you about.I thought I would tell you a little bit about their superstition,which has recently been brought to my attention".
"They believe in a race of giants which inhabit a certain mountain off to the west of us.This mountain is covered by perpetual snow.They inhabit its top.They maybe classed with Goldsmith's nocturnal class,as they cannot see in the daytime.They hunt and do all their work at night."
"They are referred to as man stealers.They come to the people's lodges in the night,when they are asleep,and carry them off to the place that they live.When they awake in the morning they are lost,not knowing in what direction their home is.The account the indians give of these giants will in some measure correspond with the Bible account of such a race of beings.They say their track is about a foot and a half long.they will carry two or three beams upon their back at once."
"They frequently come in the night,steal their salmon from the nets,and eat them raw.If the people are away they always know when they are coming very near by their strong smell,which is very strong and almost intolerable.It is not uncommon for them to come in the night and give three whistles.Then the stones will begin to hit the houses.The people are troubled by their nocturnal visits."
I ran across this letter while doing my research about the Sc'wen'ey'ti and found it to be very interesting.If you have noticed in most of these legends they speak of an odor,an almost sickening smell.I just think that it is very currious that in most sightings of the Bigfoot there is always mention of a foul odor.Just thought tht might give the skeptics something to think about.To be continued.