FEACHTENBERG] ALSEA TEXTS AND MYTHS 41 



be very strong. As soon as the day will break you shaU constantly 

 practice (among) yourselves. You shall do all sorts of things. And 

 then, when the people will assemble, you will simply watch yourselves 

 carefully. Your spirits shall not be low when the people wiU arrive. 

 They are a different people. You do not know what manner of people 

 they are. For that reason you will have to watch yourselves care- 

 fully. You shall not be (even) a little downhearted after the people 

 wiU arrive. For reasons (I mentioned before) your hearts shall habit- 

 ually be strong. I know everything. No one is ever going to beat me 

 by cleverness. It is for that that I am not afraid, because I usually 

 know everything." (Thus Coyote kept on advising his people. And 

 they answered): "Verily, now we loiow thee. For that very reason 

 will our hearts be strong once more, because we know thee. 

 Tiiou knowest everything. Even our last property are we going to 

 put at stake when the people wiU arrive, because we know thee. Thy 

 name is Mo'luptsini'sla. No one has ever overcome thee, because 

 'Unconquerable' is thy name. Thou knowest everything. We are 

 going to stake (even) our (very) last property." (And Coyote kept 

 on saying): "Just keep o'n practicing (among) yourselves. (There 

 is) only one tribe of Indians, and they are very strong, because I 

 know them. No one has ever prevailed over them. Their hearts 

 are very, very strong." All sorts of things were being made 

 ready; arrows were being made. Not long (afterwards) and the 

 counting sticks were going to come to an end. (But) Coyote 

 never remained motionless. He just moved about everywhere 

 (telling the people): "As soon as they arrive you will (have 

 to) watch yourselves all the time carefully. (There is) only 

 one tribe (whom) I do not know (very well). Their hearts are 



