IV. COYOTE TALES. 
The tales of this division may be related at any time and upon any 
occasion except during the summer, at which time it is said that the 
star known as Fool’s-Coyote would inform the Snake-Star, who in turn 
would inform the snakes, who would bite the teller. These stories are not 
true. Some of them, as may be noticed, are unquestionably episodes 
of longer tales. They teach especially the ethics of tribal customs and 
beliefs; ina word, they form a code of living. They are generally told at 
night in the winter, the special object, other than that noted, being to 
furnish amusement and to pass away the time. Many of the stories are 
accompanied by songs, during the singing of which the children dance 
to the time of the singing. Thus the tales are supposed to free the 
children of bashfulness and shyness. 
Many of the tales have certain elements of the culture hero, or at 
least in many of them there is some element which may serve to encour- 
age the poor boys and girls and to arouse in them ambition. 
The tales might be considered as forming two groups, Nos. 117 to 142 
forming the first group and referring to Coyote. The second group, Nos. 
143 to 148, consists of animal tales proper, but differ from the tales of 
the first group only in the fact that some animal, or other animals than 
coyotes, enters into the composition of the story. Notwithstanding the 
fact that the coyote individually plays no part in this second group, 
they also are known as ‘‘Coyote tales.” 
117. COYOTE AND THE SCALPED-WOMAN.* 
Coyote was traveling over the hills one day when he saw a Scalped- 
Woman sitting on a hillside. He saw that matter was running from her 
head. He commenced to make fun of her and said: ‘‘It looks as though 
mush were running over the top of the pot.’”’ The woman said: ‘“‘You 
Told by Thief, Kitkehahki. The story is told to teach the children about a 
certain class of people who lived on the earth and were human beings, but as they 
were scalped they did not live with the people. They had animal power and could 
teach many mysteries to the people. 
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