Thorne, A. (Ed.). (1992). “The Monster of Octopus Point”. In When the Rains Came (pp. 99–103)

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If you travel by boat from Maple Bay, on your right you will pass a large boulder called Paddy‘s Mile-stone. Carry on for another mile, and you will reach Octopus Point. It is here that the Sansum Narrows begin and where the supernatural being, Shuh-shu-cum (Open Mouth) used to lie at the tip of the Point with his snout out of the water. Should anyone try to pass, Shuh-shu-cum would open his mouth and suck in a huge gulp of water, the canoe, traveler, and all.

Those canoes that ventured too close to the Point were never seen again. This became a matter of great worry and concern to the villagers. The elders held meetings, asking questions and seeking advice as to what could be done. A few suggestions were forthcoming, but none seemed to be the solution to the problem.

At last the chief asked, “Is there no one who can rid us of this peril?”

All present shook their heads in bewilderment, except for the chief‘s eldest son, who said, “Let me try. I am not afraid. Who knows, perhaps I could make an end to this evil thing.”

The gathering answered as one, “No, not you—we have lost too many– not you.” The chief thanked the villagers for their concern for his son, adding, “I think that only a person of supernatural strength and wisdom could find a way to rid us of this demon.” The people listened in rapt attention as he continued, “I say let us send our best runners in all directions, from the rising to the setting sun, until one of them finds that person who shall rid us of this thing that swallows up our people.”

So the fastest runners took off, some heading up island, others to the south and west. The rest of the villagers waited. But one brave had another plan. He had heard of a man called Sum-ul-quatz who lived on the mainland, on the coast at a place now called Point Roberts. Sum-ul-quatz was said to have the strength of a thousand men. The young brave had decided that he, and only he, was the one to put an end to the monster and make the waters safe again.

Placing some food and water in his canoe, he paddled away from Maple Bay, giving a wide berth to Octopus Point. He beached his canoe in Burgoyne Bay on Saltspring Island. From there he climbed up and over Mount Maxwell, and continued across the island until he reached the southernmost harbour. A friend who lived there lent him a canoe, and he set out for the Strait of Georgia. Making his way between the islands, the young brave continued without stopping until he reached the mainland and made his way to Point Roberts. Although overtired, the young brave at once began his search for Sum-ul-quatz. This did not take long, for the man he sought was well known to everyone. Having found him, the young brave explained how the monster Shuh-shu-cum had become such a great menace to his people. He told of how they could not pass through Sansum Narrows to reach Cowichan Bay. He ended his story by saying, “My village is loud with the sound of wailing from the many wives and mothers who have lost their men.”

When the young man had finished speaking, Sum-ul-quatz replied, “This is a very sad thing you tell me.” He watched as the young messenger bowed his head low with exhaustion, unable to continue.

Sensing the deep anguish within the young man, Sum-ul-quatz took him by the arm, saying, “Come with me. I think I may be able to help you.”

Leading the way to a long, shallow beach on which there were many large boulders, Sum-ul-quatz unwound the sash from his body, and without apparent effort picked up a boulder and placed it in the center of the cloth. Then, using the sash as a sling, and much to the young man‘s astonishment, he swung it around his head several times and let fly.

The boulder soared up high into the sky, and was lost to sight. That one landed in Ladysmith, where it remains to this day.

Sum-ul-quatz chose another large stone and re-loaded his huge sling. On the second try, the boulder landed near Mayne Island, just inside Active Pass. If you come from Vancouver on the ferry, you will see where it landed at the end of the first point after you enter the Pass.

The third shot went to Maple Bay and is still there at the end of Paddy‘s Point.

Having made these three unsuccessful attempts, Sum-ul-quatz explained, “I cannot aim properly; Mount Maxwell is too high and in the direct line of my shot. Wait a while and I shall ask him to crouch down.”

And so he called to the mountain‘s spirit, asking him to hunch down and so give him a clear shot at Shuh-shu-cum. The spirit of the mountain was only too happy to do as he was asked, for he had seen so many good men sucked to their death by Shuh-shu-cum.

And so the top of Mount Maxwell lay down on its belly, its shoulders humped up and its head drawn in. Sum-ul-quatz picked up another boulder, aimed again, and this one passed clean over Mount Maxwell and hit Shuh-shu-cum right on his snout, shattering it and so putting an end to the ability of the monster to control the waterway of Sansum Narrows.

But Shuh-shu-cum was not completely destroyed. A part of him still lurks in those deep waters, but without his snout he can no longer suck people in. He can still make his presence felt, however. When he does, you will know he is nearby because of the great whirlpools which plague these waters.

Although the monster is no longer a direct threat to human lives, caution is still needed to avoid the swirls and eddies that occur when he shows his resentment by churning up the waters where he used to reign supreme.

But with care, canoes can now travel through the Sansum Narrows and return to their homes in safety.

If you should travel to Maple Bay, stand on the shore and look across the water. There you will see the great boulder that rests on a bed of shattered rock, now known as Paddy‘s Milestone. Octopus Point cannot be seen from here, but raise your eyes, and you will see that Mount Maxwell is still hunkered down in the position it assumed at Sum-ul-quatz‘s request.

The boulder that crushed the Monster‘s snout levelled Octopus Point before rolling away into the deep water, leaving the point looking as it does today.