52 MYTHOLOGY OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 
TA-VWOTS' HAS A FIGHT WITH THE SUN. 
Ta-vwots’, the little rabbit, was wont to lie with his back to the sun 
when he slept. One day he thus slept in camp while his children played 
around him. After a time they saw that his back was smoking, and 
they cried out ‘ What is the matter with your back, father?” Startled 
from his sleep, he demanded to know the cause of the uproar. “ Your 
back is covered with sores and full of holes,” they replied. Then Ta- 
vwots’ was very angry, for he knew that Ya/-vi, the sun, had burned 
him; and he sat down by the fire for a long time in solemn mood, pon- 
dering on the injury and insult he had received. At last rising to his 
feet, he said, ‘“‘ My children I must go and make war upon Ta/-vi.” And 
straightway he departed. 
Now his camp was in the valley of the Mo-a-pa.* On his journey he 
came to a hill, and standing on its summit he saw in a valley to the east 
a beautiful stretch of verdure,and he greatly marveled at the sight 
and desired to know what it was. On going down to the valley he 
found a corn-field, something he had never before seen, and the ears 
were ready for roasting. When he examined them, he saw that they 
were covered with beautiful hair, and he was much astonished. Then he 
opened the husk and found within soft white grains of corn, which he 
tasted. Then he knew that it was corn and good to eat. Plucking 
his arms full he carried them away, roasted them on a fire, and ate until 
he was filled. 
Now, when he had done all this, he reflected that he had been steal- 
ing, and he was afraid; so he dug a hole in which to hide himself. 
Cin-au'-div was the owner of this field, and when he walked through 
and saw that his corn had been stolen, he was exceedingly wroth, and . 
said, “I will slay this thief Ta-vwots’; I will killhim, I will killhim.” And 
straightway he called his warriors to him and made search for the thief, 
but could not find him, for he was hidin the ground. After.a long time 
they discovered the hole and tried to shoot Ta-vwots’ as he was stand- 
ing in the entrance, but he blew their arrows back. This made Cin- 
au'-tiwv’s people very angry and they shot many arrows, but Ta-vwots” 
breath as a warder against them all. Then, with one accord, they ran to 
snatch him up with their hands, but, all in confusion, they only caught 
each others fists, for with agile steps Ta-vwots’ dodged into his retreat, 
Then they began to dig, and said they would drag him out. And they 
labored with great energy, all the time taunting him with shouts and 
jeers. But Ta-vwots’ had a secret passage from the main chamber of 
his retreat which opened by a hole above the rock overhanging the en- 
trance where they were at work. 
*A stream in Southeastern Nevada. 
