American Indian Trickster Tales (Myths and Legends) Read Free Page B

out. Coyote looked closely at its nails. At last he found a grain of earth. Then he and the eagle took this and laid it down. From it they made the earth as large as it is. From the earth they also made six men and six women. They sent these out in pairs in different directions and the people separated. After a time the eagle sent Coyote to see what the people were doing. Coyote came back and said: “They are doing something bad. They are eating the earth. One side is already gone.” The eagle said: “That is bad. Let us make something for them to eat. Let us send the dove to find something.” The dove went out. It found a single grain of meal. The eagle and Coyote put this down on the ground. Then the earth became covered with seeds and fruit. Now they told the people to eat these. When the seeds were dry and ripe the people gathered them. Then the people increased and spread all over. But the water is still under the world.

SUN AND MOON IN A BOX
    {Zuni}

    Here Coyote plays a kindof Pandorarole.
     
    Coyote and Eagle were hunting. Eagle caught rabbits. Coyote caught nothing but grasshoppers. Coyote said: “Friend Eagle, my chief, we make a great hunting pair.”
    “Good, let us stay together,” said Eagle.
    They went toward the west. They came to a deep canyon. “Let us fly over it,” said Eagle.
    “My chief, I cannot fly,” said Coyote. “You must carry me across.”
    “Yes, I see that I have to,” said Eagle. He took Coyote on his back and flew across the canyon. They came to a river. “Well,” said Eagle, “you cannot fly, but you certainly can swim. This time I do not have to carry you.”
    Eagle flew over the stream, and Coyote swam across. He was a bad swimmer. He almost drowned. He coughed up a lot of water. “My chief,” he said, “when we come to another river, you must carry me.” Eagle regretted to have Coyote for a companion.
    They came to Kachina Pueblo. The Kachinas were dancing. Now, at this time, the earth was still soft and new. There was as yet no sun and no moon. Eagle and Coyote sat down and watched the dance. They saw that the Kachinas had a square box. In it they kept the sun and the moon. Whenever they wanted light they opened the lid and let the sun peek out. Then it was day. When they wanted less light, they opened the box just a little for the moon to look out.

    “This is something wonderful,” Coyote whispered to Eagle.
    “This must be the sun and the moon they are keeping in that box,” said Eagle. “I have heard about these two wonderful beings.”
    “Let us steal the box,” said Coyote.
    “No, that would be wrong,” said Eagle. “Let us just borrow it.”
    When the Kachinas were not looking, Eagle grabbed the box and flew ofl: Coyote ran after him on the ground. After a while Coyote called Eagle: “My chief, let me have the box. I am ashamed to let you do all the carrying.”
    “No,” said Eagle, “you are not reliable. You might be curious and open the box and then we could lose the wonderful things we borrowed.”
    For some time they went on as before—Eagle flying above with the box, Coyote running below, trying to keep up. Then once again Coyote called Eagle: “My chief, I am ashamed to let you carry the box. I should do this for you. People will talk badly about me, letting you carry this burden.”
    “No, I don’t trust you,” Eagle repeated. “You won’t be able to refrain from opening the box. Curiosity will get the better of you.”
    “No,” cried Coyote, “do not fear, my chief, I won’t even think of opening the box.” Still, Eagle would not give it to him, continuing to fly above, holding the box in his talons. But Coyote went on pestering Eagle: “My chief, I am really embarrassed. People will say: ‘That lazy, disrespectful Coyote lets his chief do all the carrying.’ ”
    “No, I won’t give this box to you,” Eagle objected. “It is too precious to entrust to somebody like you.”
    They continued as before, Eagle flying,