SELISH MYTHS. 31 



THE COYOTE AND HIS NEIGHBORS. 



The Coyote had five sons with his wife, aud lived in a 

 lodsfe a ffreat distance from any other habitatioii. One 



CO •' 



morning he took his youngcst son and started to visit the 

 Elk,whoalso had five sons. When,afteralongjourney,they 

 arrived at the Elk's lodge, they found it empty and no signs 

 of anything to eat. Then the Coyote said to his son, "I 

 do not like this, not having anything to eat after such a 

 Ions: walk." Soon the Elk returned and after welcominof 

 his visitors, stooped and picked up a sharp stick with which 

 he began to tear open his hips to dig out some Kamass 

 roots. The Elk then said " Eat some Kamass roots, they 

 are very good ; I always provide myself in this way when 

 I am away from home and get hungry." " What," said the 

 Coyote, " do you expect nie to eat düng?" "That is not 

 düng," said the Elk, " but Kamass roots." Then the Coy- 

 ote picked up one of them, and after' nibbling at it cau- 

 tiously, discovered it to be very good, whereupon he and 

 his son filled their bellies with Kamass. 



When the Coyote was about to depart, he said to the 

 Elk, "Come and see me to-morrow, and see how I live." 

 "Yes," responded the Elk, "I will come to see you to- 

 morrow." 



Next morning the Elk took his youngest son and set out 

 for the Coyote's lodge which he reached after a long jour- 

 ney. Afler the Elk was welcomed, the Coyote took a 

 sharpened stick, as he had seen the Elk do, and commenceii 

 to tear his flesh in a painful manner, when the Elk cried, 

 " Stop ! stop ! do not tear yourself so ; I do not think you 

 ever tried that before. It is my practice always to do that 

 when I am away from home and get hungry, so let me 

 provide the Kamass roots this time." "That is just what 

 I wanted you to dofor me," said the Coyote, and handing 

 the stick to the Elk, they soon had enough Kamass for all, 



