Post by Okwes on Feb 6, 2008 11:35:52 GMT -5
Flint Visits The Rabbit - Cherokee
In the old days Täwi'skälä (Flint) lived up in the mountains, and all the
animals hated him because he had helped to kill so many of them. They used
to get together to talk over means to put him out of the way, but everybody
was afraid to venture near his house until the Rabbit, who was the boldest
leader among them, offered to go after Flint and try to kill him. They told
him where to find him, and the Rabbit set out and at last came to Flint's
house.
Flint was standing at his door when the Rabbit came up and said, sneeringly,
"Siyu'! Hello! Are you the fellow they call Flint?" "Yes; that's what they
call me," answered Flint. "Is this where you live?" "Yes; this is where I
live." All this time the Rabbit was looking about the place trying to study
out some plan to take Flint off his guard. He had expected Flint to invite
him into the house, so he waited a little while, but when Flint made no
move, he said, "Well, my name is Rabbit; I've heard a good deal about you,
so I came to invite you to come and see me."
Flint wanted to know where the Rabbit's house was, and he told him it was
down in the broom-grass field near the river. So Flint promised to make him
a visit in a few days. "Why not come now and have supper with me?" said the
Rabbit, and after a little coaxing Flint agreed and the two started down the
mountain together.
When they came near the Rabbit's hole the Rabbit said, "There is my house,
but in summer I generally stay outside here where it is cooler." So he made
a fire, and they had their supper on the grass. When it was over, Flint
stretched out to rest and the Rabbit got some heavy sticks and his knife and
cut out a mallet and wedge. Flint looked up and asked what that was for.
"Oh," said the Rabbit, "I like to be doing something, and they may come
handy." So Flint lay down again, and pretty soon he was sound asleep. The
Rabbit spoke to him once or twice to make sure, but there was no answer.
Then he came over to Flint and with one good blow of the mallet he drove the
sharp stake into his body and ran with all his might for his own hole; but
before he reached it there was a loud explosion, and pieces of flint flew
all about. That is why we find flint in so many places now. One piece struck
the Rabbit from behind and cut him just as he dived into his hole. He sat
listening until everything seemed quiet again. Then he put his head out to
look around, but just at that moment another piece fell and struck him on
the lip and split it, as we still see it.
Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney. From the Nineteenth Annual Report of
the Bureau of American Ethnology 1897-98, Part I. [1900] and is now in the
public domain.
In the old days Täwi'skälä (Flint) lived up in the mountains, and all the
animals hated him because he had helped to kill so many of them. They used
to get together to talk over means to put him out of the way, but everybody
was afraid to venture near his house until the Rabbit, who was the boldest
leader among them, offered to go after Flint and try to kill him. They told
him where to find him, and the Rabbit set out and at last came to Flint's
house.
Flint was standing at his door when the Rabbit came up and said, sneeringly,
"Siyu'! Hello! Are you the fellow they call Flint?" "Yes; that's what they
call me," answered Flint. "Is this where you live?" "Yes; this is where I
live." All this time the Rabbit was looking about the place trying to study
out some plan to take Flint off his guard. He had expected Flint to invite
him into the house, so he waited a little while, but when Flint made no
move, he said, "Well, my name is Rabbit; I've heard a good deal about you,
so I came to invite you to come and see me."
Flint wanted to know where the Rabbit's house was, and he told him it was
down in the broom-grass field near the river. So Flint promised to make him
a visit in a few days. "Why not come now and have supper with me?" said the
Rabbit, and after a little coaxing Flint agreed and the two started down the
mountain together.
When they came near the Rabbit's hole the Rabbit said, "There is my house,
but in summer I generally stay outside here where it is cooler." So he made
a fire, and they had their supper on the grass. When it was over, Flint
stretched out to rest and the Rabbit got some heavy sticks and his knife and
cut out a mallet and wedge. Flint looked up and asked what that was for.
"Oh," said the Rabbit, "I like to be doing something, and they may come
handy." So Flint lay down again, and pretty soon he was sound asleep. The
Rabbit spoke to him once or twice to make sure, but there was no answer.
Then he came over to Flint and with one good blow of the mallet he drove the
sharp stake into his body and ran with all his might for his own hole; but
before he reached it there was a loud explosion, and pieces of flint flew
all about. That is why we find flint in so many places now. One piece struck
the Rabbit from behind and cut him just as he dived into his hole. He sat
listening until everything seemed quiet again. Then he put his head out to
look around, but just at that moment another piece fell and struck him on
the lip and split it, as we still see it.
Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney. From the Nineteenth Annual Report of
the Bureau of American Ethnology 1897-98, Part I. [1900] and is now in the
public domain.