SELISH MYTHS. 31 



THE COYOTE AND HIS NEIGHBORS. 



The Covote had five sons with his wife, and lived in a 

 lodge a great distance from any other habitation. One 

 morning he took his youngest son and started to visit the 

 Elk, who also had fivesons. When, after a long journey, they 

 arrived at the Elk's lodge, they found it empty and no signs 

 of anything to eat. Then the Coyote said to his son, "I 

 do not like this, not having anything to eat after such a 

 long walk." Soon the Elk returned and after welcoming 

 his visitors, stooped and picked up a sharp stick with which 

 he began to tear open his hips to dig out some Kamass 

 roots. The Elk then said " Eat some Kamass roots, they 

 are very good ; I always provide myself in this way when 

 I am away from home and get hungry." " What," said the 

 Coyote, "do you expect me to eat dung?" "That is not 

 dung," said the Elk, " but Kamass roots." Then the Coy- 

 ote picked up one of them, and after nibbling at it cau- 

 tiously, discovered it to be very good, whereupon he and 

 his son filled their bellies with Kamass. 

 . When the Coyote was about to depart, he said to the 

 Elk, "Come and see me to-morrow, and see how I live." 

 "Yes," responded the Elk, "I will come to see you to- 

 morrow." 



Next morning the Elk took his youngest son and set out 

 for the Coyote's lodge which he reached after a long jour- 

 ney. After the Elk was welcomed, the Coyote took a 

 sharpened stick, as he had seen the Elk do, and commenced 

 to tear his flesh in a painful manner, when the Elk cried, 

 " Stop ! stop ! do not tear yourself so ; I do not think you 

 ever tried that before. It is my practice always to do that 

 when I am away from home and get hungry, so let me 

 provide the Kamass roots this time." "That is just what 

 I wanted you to do for me," said the Coyote, and handing 

 the stick to the Elk, they soon had enough Kamass for all, 



