294 MYTHS OF THE L'HEKOKKK [cth.ann.I'J 



Wiird they learnod I'roni tin- eao'lo killi'i- tliat it was tlic hrotlior of the 

 eagle .sh(jt ))v ihv hunter. 



48. THE HUNTER AND THE BUZZARD 



A hunter bad been all day looking for deer in the mountains without 

 success until he was completely tired out and sat down on a log to rest 

 and wonder what he should do. when a buzzard — a bird which always 

 has magic powers — came flying ovei-head and spoke to him, asking him 

 what was his trouble. When tiie hunter had told his story the buzzard 

 said there were plenty of deer on tlie ridges beyond if <jrdy the hunter 

 were high up in the air where lie could see them, and proposed that 

 they exchange forms for a while, when the buzzard would go home to 

 the hunter's wife while the hunter would go to look for deer. The 

 hunter agreed, and the buzzard became a man and w(>nt home to the 

 hunter's wife, who received him as her husband, while the hunter 

 })ecame a buzzard and flew oti' over the mountain to locate the deer. 

 After staying some time with the woman, who thought always it was 

 her real husband, the buzzard excused himself, saying he must go 

 again to look for game or they would have nothing to eat. He cam(> 

 to the place where he had first met th(> hunter, and found him alrinuly 

 there, still in buzzard form, awaiting him. He asked the hunter what 

 success he had had. and the hunter replied that he had found several 

 deer over the ridge, as the buzzard had said. Then the buzzard 

 restored the Inmter to human shape, and l)ecame himself a buzzaid 

 again and flew away. The hunter went where he had seen the deer 

 and killed several, and from that time he never returned empty-handed 

 from the woods. 



Snake, Fish, and Insect INIyths 

 49. the snake tribe 



The generic name for snakes is inildu'. They are all regarded as 

 r/nida'icehi, "supernaturals." having an intimate coimection with the 

 rain and thunder gods, and possessing a certain influence over the other 

 animal and plant tribes. It is said that the snakes, the deer, and the 

 ginseng act as allies, so that an injury to one is avenged by all. T1h> 

 feeling toward snakes is one of mingled fear and reverence, and eveiy 

 precaution is taken to avoid killing or offending one, especially tin- 

 rattlesnake. He who kills a snake will soon see others; and should he 

 kill a second one, so many will come around him whichever way he 

 may turn that he will become dazed at the sight of their glisteiung 

 eyes and darting tongues and will go wandering about like a crazy man, 

 unable to find his way out of the woods. To guard against this mis- 

 fortune there are certain prayers which the initiated say in order that 

 a snake mav not cross their path, and on meeting the tirst on(> of the 



