Native American Legends
Coyote proves himself a Cannibal
An Apache Legend
Owl was the one who had arrows. He had a club also with which he
killed men whom he ate. "Up at the low gap I am watching for
men, wu hwu wo," he sang. Coyote came walking along in front
of him. " Wu hwu wo," sang Owl, " I am looking for
men in the low gap." The two came face to face there. "Now,"
said Owl, "the one who vomits human flesh will kill men."
"Very well," said Coyote, "shut your eyes."
Owl shut his eyes. When he vomited, Coyote put his hand under and
took the meat. The grasshoppers which Coyote vomited he put in Owl's
hand.
"Now open your eyes," said Coyote. Owl looked and saw
the grasshoppers lying in his hand. Coyote showed him the meat.
"What did I tell you," said Coyote, "this is the
meat I threw up." "Where did I drink in the grasshoppers?"
said Owl.
Coyote ran all around Owl. "Because I run fast like this I
eat people," said Coyote. "These legs of yours are too
large, I will fix them for you. Shut your eyes." Coyote cut
Owl's leg, trimming away the meat. He broke his leg with a stone
and took the arrows away leaving him only the club.
Coyote ran around Owl who threw his club at him. He would say,
"Come back, my club," and it would come back to him. He
threw it again. "Come here, my club," he called. He hit
him with it. Coyote said, "Wherever a stick falls when one
throws it there it will lie." The club did not return to Owl.
"Now you will live right here in the canyon where many arrows
will be in front of you. Somebody might kill you," Coyote told
him. Owl hitched himself along into the canyon. "Arrows painted
black may kill you," said Coyote. Coyote went around in front
of him and shot him with his own (Owl's) arrows.
After that everybody was afraid of Coyote, who went around killing
off the people.
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