Wishram texts / by Edward Sapir ; together with Wasco tales and myths, collected by Jeremiah Curtin and edited by Edward Sapir.

  • Edward Sapir
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Wishram texts / by Edward Sapir ; together with Wasco tales and myths, collected by Jeremiah Curtin and edited by Edward Sapir. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    V. MISCELLANEOUS MYTHS.^ I. Eagle defeats Eish-Hawk, and pities Skunk.^ I. Fish-Hawk was a great hunter and fisherman. He used to make holes in the ice, dive down, and catch fish all winter. He was married to Coyote’s daughter. Now Eagle came to The Dalles and got married. Coyote was proud of his son-in-law, and arranged for a race. He invited Eagle. Eagle said, “I don’t know anything about running; but if Coyote wants me to run with his son-in- law, he must come to me.” But Eagle began to practise. Every evening before daybreak he would go up the mountain and drive down a whole band of deer, and kill them all. Coyote and his party came to invite Eagle. It was now given out that a man would try before any one ran, just to show himself. A man came out with a quiver on his back and a spotted robe on; he danced around a while, and then, in the presence of all, he disappeared. Every one looked around for him. Eagle said, “ He is ^ Under this head have been included such myths as make up the larger part of many American Indian mythologies, — stories of powerful animal heroes, and tales of supernatural adventures; they are difficult to classify satisfactorily. Nos. 1-3 deal with the deeds of Eagle, one of the favorite characters of Wishram and Wasco mythology (cf. p. 264 and Wishram Texts, pp. 75-93, 107-117, 117-121, 133-139). Nos. 4 and 5 tell of the defeat of the dreaded Grizzlies. Nos. 6-8 may be considered as forming a group of Sky Stories; they contain such well-known myth elements as the star husbands, the ascent to the sky on an arrow-chain, the origin of sun and moon. No. 9 seems to be in a class by itself; its complete under- standing evidently requires a knowledge of the ceremonial side of Wasco life. 2 Here again two evidently distinct myths have been connected into one. The first part. Eagle’s successful contests with Fisk-Hawk, is paralleled in Wishram Texts, PP* I33“^^39i especially p. 135, of this volume, where a foot-race takes place be- tween Fish-Hawk and Jack-Rabbit, one of Eagle’s men. The second part deals with Eagle’s generous treatment of poor Skunk, who makes himself ridiculous in his attempt to imitate the dancing and hunting feats of Eagle. [287]