The Sia / by Matilda Coxe Stevenson.

  • Matilda Coxe Stevenson
Date:
1894
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Sia / by Matilda Coxe Stevenson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    to be straight and had no belty, but the coyote did not change in appearance, and the sixth night the cougar began to suspect that the coyote was not making his offerings to Ko'plshtaia. The coyote told the cougar each night that he was contented and was not hungry. “I think you are a little sad,’’ the cougar replied. “No, I am not sad; my stomach is strong,” said the coyote, “I can fast eight days; I won- der that I am not a little sad. Why am I not hungry? I feel strong- all the time that I am passing about.” On the seventh day the cougar and the coyote worked very hard all day making ha'chamoni, and when the work was completed the cougar taught the coyote the song which he would sing as ho'naaite of the Coyote Society. They sang all the eighth day and night and at the conclusion of the song the coyote was ordained a ho'naaite. Then said the cougar to the coyote, “Go now and kill a deer, and when you kill the deer bring the meat here and we will eat,” and the coyote said, “Jt is well;” and he went to hunt the deer. In the early morning the coyote saw a deer, but the deer ran fast, and, though he followed him all day, he could not get close enough to catch him; he did not carry arrows, but was to catch him with his hands, and at night the coyote returned worn out. While the coyote was absent the cougar thought, “I guess the coyote will be gone all day,” and when evening came and the coyote was still absent he thought, “The coyote has not a good head or thoughts for a ho'naaite.” When the coyote returned at night the cougar said, “ Why have you been gone all day and come back without a deer?” “I saw a deer,” said the coyote, “early this morn- ing, and I ran all day following him; I went very far and am tired.” “Well,” said the cougar, “ why is it your head and heart cared to be a ho'naaite? I gave you food for Ko'plshtaia and you, coyote, you ate the food that should have been given to Ko'plshtaia; this is why you did not catch the deer to-day. Had you given the food to Ko'plshtaia, instead of eating it, you would have caught the deer.” The coyote thought much, but did not say a word. He slept that night in the cougar’s house, and at dawn the cougar said to one of his own people, “you go and catch a'deer.” “Well, be it so,” said the companion, and he started for the deer before the sun was up. In a short time he saw one; it was very near him, and with one jump he sprang upon the game and caught it before the sun was yet up, and hurrying back to the house of his chief he said, “Here is the meat of the deer.” The chief was much pleased and contented, but the coyote was very sad. All the companions of the cougar were happy and rejoiced. “Good, my son!” said the cougar, “I am much contented; we will pay the Ko'plshtaia with plumes; now we will eat the liesh of the deer.” The chief ate first and the others after him; he would not give any of the meat to the coyote, because the coyote’s thoughts were not good. The chief enjoyed his food greatly, this being the ninth morning from the beginning of his fast. The cougar said to the coyote, “Your