Native American Legends
The bird that turned the meat bitter
A Mandan Legend
Looking about the lodges in the village, Coyote saw strings of
jerked meat, but the people were lean. He asked why this was. The
people said, "When we go hunting, only the fastest butchers
can get their meat home in good condition. There is a Raven which
flies over calling "Get bitter! Get bitter!" (gi-ba in
Mandan) and the meat turns bitter." Coyote asked for a sample.
He chewed but could not swallow the meat, it was so bitter. He said,
"I must have this thing righted." He sent the young girl
after firewood and had it piled ready to light, first laying down
manure because it keeps the flame a long time. Then he had the men
get timber rope and make a snare. He filled up his pipe and asked
help of his fellow creatures. The big Spider came to his aid, and
he lighted the pipe for the Spider to smoke. Now the Raven lived
in a hollow tree out of which it flew when the men were butchering.
Big Spider said, "It is easy to snare that bird. Be ready to
snare him into the fire and let him burn. Some of his feathers will
fly into the air and turn into birds. When you see a white Raven
fly out a cry 'At the end of the world there shall be seen a white
Raven as a sign that the world is coming to an end' that will be
the last of it."
They sent out young men into the hills scouting. These reported
Buffalo. They made ready for the hunt. The fastest runners went
ahead to encircle the herd. Buffalo always run towards the wind,
but the runners drove them towards the other hunters. These formed
a corral where they slaughtered the whole herd. The men with large
families packed meat home; others followed behind. Meanwhile, some
watched by the hollow tree. When the bird came out, before it could
cry, Coyote caught it by the neck and pulled it to the ground. It
had the head of a man and the body of a bird. The face was human
but had no hair. The body had wings and a long neck. It was a frightful
thing to see. Coyote clubbed the bird and threw it into the flames.
Feathers flew up and turned into birds and flew away. The unburned
bones Coyote crushed with his club. Finally out flew a white Raven
and said, "When the world is about to end I will come to you
again!" So Coyote told the people that was to be a sign to
them.
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