698 TSIMSHIAN MYTHOLOGY [eth. ann. 31 



Somewhat different is the group of tales in which the animal shoots an arrow, which 

 flies back and strikes its own body. Then the animal pulls out the arrow with some 

 meat and uses it for feasting the guest. We find various animals performing this act— 

 the Deer in Shoshoni, the Mountain Sheep in Ute, the Buffalo in Apache (Russell), 

 the Raven in Caddo. 



It is not so clear that a small group of tales from the North Pacific coast belong to 

 this group. Thus in Co 5 a bird, A'n'an, pulls mountain-goat fat out of his anus 

 by means of a hook; and in Ne 9 Thrush pulls out berries in the same way with a 

 feather. In Ne 5 Thrush slaps his own back, and berries come out. In H 5.233 

 Squirrel defecates berries. These three stories, as well as the Chilcotin story, rather 

 center Ln the idea that the imitating Raven fills the dish with excrement (except in 

 the Comox version). 



(/) Wood Transformed into Meat 



(15 versions: Quin 88; Chin ISO; Sh G27, 739; Ute 264; Shoshoni 265; Pawnee 245, 



267; Apache [Russell] 265; Navaho 87; Mescalero Apache [2 forms]; Jiearilla 



Apache [Goddard] 231; Crow; Arapaho 113) 



The idea that the host gathers bark or meat, which is eaten by the guest, is a promi- 

 nent feature of the southeastern group of tales. The Beaver gathers sprouts and mud 

 [willows Chin], and places them before his guest Quin, Chin. Beaver gathers sapof a 

 tree, which he gives to his guest Sh G28, 739. In Ute the Snowbird obtains wood for 

 the same purpose. In Shoshoni the Jack Rabbitperformsthesametrick. The Beaver 

 transforms driftwood into meat in Pawnee 245, 267. A Prairie Dog roasts sticks which 

 become meat in Apache (Russell), and in the Navaho version Wolf roasts the wooden 

 points of reed arrows (Navaho). Among the Mescalero Apache the Prairie Dog roasts 

 whittled sticks. Here may belong also the tale (Jicarillla Apache, Goddard) of Elk 

 pulling meat from under his blanket, while Coyote pulls out bark. 



Among the Crow, in one version of the Owl story, it is said that Owl's wife pounds 

 bark, on which grease from her eye trickles, making fine meat. In another incident 

 of the same tale, Condor and then Crow has his wife bring bark, which he changes into 

 fresh meat. In this version Coyote succeeds in repeating Condor's and Crow's tricks. 



Among the Mescalero Apache, Coyote visits Black-Tailed Deer, who pounds bark 

 of a tree and causes grease to run out of his nose. When he returns the visit, Coyote 

 ties pieces of brush to the sides of his head, pretending that they are antlers, pounds 

 meat for him, and pushes a stick up his nose, so that blood runs out. 



A peculiar combination of the transformation of bark into meat and of the self- 

 mutilation is found in Arapaho, where a man roasts bark, which is transformed into 

 meat. Then he combs his wife's hair, paints the parting, splits her skull and takes 

 out the brain, which becomes food. 



(g) The Host Obtains Food by Killing His Children 



(8 versions: Nuap897; Quin 90; Chin 181; Shoshoni 265; Fox 229, 235; Kickapoo7; 

 Ponca 557) 



Another group of stories tell how food is obtained by the host, who strikes his chil- 

 dren while in animal form, and uses one of them for food. They recover when their 

 bones are thrown into the water. Thus the Seal kills his children in the Quinault 

 and < liinook versions; the Red Cod, in the Nootka version; the Beaver, in the Sho- 

 shoni, Fox (Jones) 229, 235, Kickapoo, and Ponca versions. 



Related to this group is the type of stories in which the children are sent to go 

 bathing and come back bringing fish. Sawbill-Duck Woman performed this trick in 

 Quin 86; the Duck's children, in Chin 179; Land Otter's children, in Quin 88. 



This element occurs also frequently in other connections (see pp. 672, 773) Ts 194; 

 T1313; Kai243; Sk8; Hap8S7; ChU24; Ri5.210; Nel0.346; Sts 5.27; Quin 112;— 

 Nu 5.104; K 9.173; Squ Hill-Tout 3.520; Nu ap 928. 



