EarthBow
www.earthbow.com
.
.
Source: Frank Russell, Myths of the
Jicarilla Apaches, 1898
As soon as his life was restored, Fox went to the Buffalo head, and cut
off the long pendent hair, i-yûn-e-pi-ta-ga, beneath its under jaw.
Fox took this to a prairie-dog
village near at hand, and told the inhabitants that it was the hair of a
man, one of that race dreaded by the prairie-dogs because of its attacks
upon them, which he had killed.
He easily persuaded the prairie-dogs to celebrate his
victory with feasting and dancing. With a stone concealed in his hand,
he killed all the prairie-dogs as they circled around in the dance.
Fox then placed them in a pit, and built a huge fire over
them, leaving them to roast while he slept.
Free Download
Click here for info
Many more titles available from
EarthBow
eBooks
Nîn-ko-jîn, the Wildcat, came along, and stole all the
roasted
prairie-dogs while Fox slept, save one at the end of the pit,
leaving the tails, which were pulled off.
Fox awoke after some time, and flew into a great rage when
he found only the tails left; the solitary dog was thrown over his
shoulder in his fit of passion. The gnawing of hunger soon induced him
to search for the dog he had thrown away.
In the stream close by he thought he saw the roasted body;
taking off his clothes, he swam for it, but could not grhtml it. Again
and again he tried, and finally dove for it until he bumped his nose on
the stony bottom.
Tired out with his efforts, he laid down upon the bank to
rest, and, as he glanced upward, saw the body of the prairie-dog lying
among the branches which projected over the water. Fox recovered the
coveted morsel, ate it, and set off on the trail of the Wildcat.
He found Wildcat asleep under a tree, around which he set a
fire. With a few quick strokes he shortened the head, body, and tail of
Wildcat, and then pulled out the large intestine and roasted it.
Fox then awakened Wildcat, and invited him to eat his
(Wildcat's) flesh, but to be careful to save a small piece, and put it
back in its place, for he would need it. Fox then left him.
Wildcat followed Fox, intent upon revenge. He found Fox
asleep, but instead of shortening that animal's members he lengthened
them; the ears were only straightened, but the head, body, and tail were
elongated as we see them at the present day. The intestine scene was
repeated with the Fox as victim.
Click here to Return to the Native American Myth and Legend contents page
Book sales help EarthBow provide free content
If you find our site useful or interesting, please show your support by
buying a book today!
Shop with confidence, EarthBow is an amazon.com associate
Click one of the book links at the right to learn more about that specific title, or click the link below to see a list of all books about Native American Culture...
More Books About Native American Culture - click here
NEW!! EarthBow eBooks... Click here for more info
www.earthbow.com - Bringing Ancient Ideas to a New Age
Copyright 2004 EarthBow
Non-commercial use: Distribute freely
Commercial use: Prohibited