STEVENSON.) THE COYOTE AND THE COUGAR. 155 



to be straight aud had no belly, but the coyote did not change in 

 appearance, and the sixth night the cougar began to suspect that the 

 coyote was not making his oft'eriugs to Ko'pishtaia. The coyote told 

 the cougar each night that he was contented and was not hungry. "I 

 think you are a little sad," the cougar replied. "No, I am not sad; 

 my stomach is strong," said the coyote, "I can fast eight days; I won- 

 der that I am not a little sad. Why am I not hungry! I feel strong- 

 all the time that I am jiassing about." 



On the seventh day the cougar aud the coyote worked very hard all 

 day making ha'chamoni, and when the work was comjileted the cougar 

 taught the coyote the song which he would sing as ho'naaite of the 

 Coyote Society. They sang all the eighth day and night aud at the 

 conclusion of the song the coyote was ordained a ho'naaite. Then said 

 the cougar to the coyote, "Go now aud kill a deer, aud when you kill 

 the deer bi'ing the meat here and we will eat," and the coyote said, "It 

 is well;" and he went to hunt the deer. In the early morning the 

 coyote saw a deer, but the deer ran fast, and, though he followed him 

 all day, he could not get close enough to catch him ; he did not carry 

 arrows, but was to catch him with his hands, and at night the coyote 

 returned worn out. While the coyote was absent the cougar thought, 

 "I guess the coyote will be gone all day," and when evening came and 

 the coyote was still absent he thought, "The coyote has not a good 

 head or thoughts for a ho'naaite." When the coyote returned at night 

 the cougar said, " Why Lave you been gone all day and come back 

 without a deer?" "I saw a deer," said the coyote, "early this morn- 

 ing, and I ran all day following him; I went very far and am tired." 

 "Well," said the cougar, " why is it your head and heart cared to be a 

 ho'naaite? I gave you food for Ko'pishtaia and you, coyote, you ate 

 the food that should have been given to Ko'pishtaia ; this is why you 

 did not catch the deer to-day. Had you given the food to Ko'pishtaiS", 

 instead of eating it, you woiild have caught the deer." The coyote 

 thought much, but did not say a word. He slept that night in the 

 cougar's house, and at dawn the cougar said to one of his own people, 

 "you go and catch a deer." "Well, be it so," said the companion, 

 aud he started for the deer before the sun was up. In a short time 

 he saw one; it was very near him, and with one jump he sprang upon 

 the game and caught it before the sun was yet up, and hurrying back 

 to the house of his chief he said, "Here is the meat of the deer." 



The chief was much pleased and contented, but the coyote was very 

 sad. All the companions of the cougar were happy and rejoiced. 

 "Good, my son!" said the cougar, "I am much contented; we will pay 

 the Ko'pishtaia with plumes; now we will eat the flesh of the deer." 

 The chief ate first aud the others after him; he would not give any of 

 the meat to the coyote, because the coyote's thoughts were not good. 

 The chief enjoyed his food greatly, this being the ninth morning from 

 the beginning of his fast. The cougar said to the coyote, "Tour 



