Post by Okwes on Mar 22, 2007 14:04:44 GMT -5
Coyote Misses Real Rabbit - Apache / Chiricahua
He was walking [along] a road. He again saw a Rabbit lying on the edge of the road. As he went along quite close to it, he spoke thus: "Who'd meddle with a rock Rabbit?" he said.
That one was a real Rabbit but he paid no attention to it. He passed on right by it.
A little further on, he looked back. He saw that Rabbit jumping up.
Then he cursed himself: "No good Coyote! Child of a Coyote! He goes about without a bit of sense!" he said.
He ran after the Rabbit who had jumped up. He had run from him into a dead tree that lay there. [Coyote] lay toward [the hole in the tree]. He tried again and again in vain to reach into the hole. [Then] he caught [hold of] the Rabbit.
Then the Rabbit spoke thus: "Oh my grandmother! Give me the knife! Right now I'm going to cut off his wrist!" he said, holding Coyote by the wrist.
Then Coyote also spoke thus: "Oh my grandmother! I beg of you, don't give him the knife!" he said. Then [Rabbit] got away from Coyote.
Chiricahua and Mescalero Apache Texts,1938, Harry Hoijer, principal author. Ethnological Notes by Morris Opler.
Told by Sam Kenoi
He was walking [along] a road. He again saw a Rabbit lying on the edge of the road. As he went along quite close to it, he spoke thus: "Who'd meddle with a rock Rabbit?" he said.
That one was a real Rabbit but he paid no attention to it. He passed on right by it.
A little further on, he looked back. He saw that Rabbit jumping up.
Then he cursed himself: "No good Coyote! Child of a Coyote! He goes about without a bit of sense!" he said.
He ran after the Rabbit who had jumped up. He had run from him into a dead tree that lay there. [Coyote] lay toward [the hole in the tree]. He tried again and again in vain to reach into the hole. [Then] he caught [hold of] the Rabbit.
Then the Rabbit spoke thus: "Oh my grandmother! Give me the knife! Right now I'm going to cut off his wrist!" he said, holding Coyote by the wrist.
Then Coyote also spoke thus: "Oh my grandmother! I beg of you, don't give him the knife!" he said. Then [Rabbit] got away from Coyote.
Chiricahua and Mescalero Apache Texts,1938, Harry Hoijer, principal author. Ethnological Notes by Morris Opler.
Told by Sam Kenoi