94 TRADITIONS OF THE CADDO. 
for he was very hungry. When he had finished he thanked Bear and 
said that he must be going, but before he went he insisted that Bear 
come to see him, and Bear promised to come soon. 
Coyote wandered all about looking for a persimmon tree. He could 
not find one with any fruit on it, and so he decided to take one without 
fruit. He cut the tree down and carried it to his home, where he set 
it up; then he went out to look for persimmons. He had stolen some 
from Bear’s home, but he had not stolenenough. When he found more 
persimmons he took them home, and climbing the tree he placed the 
persimmons all over the tree, so that they looked as though they had 
grown there. 
Black-Mountain-Bear was out hunting one day, and as he was near 
Coyote’s home he remembered his promise tovisit him, and so he ran over 
to see him. Coyote was glad to see him and asked himin. ‘‘I am so 
sorry I have no meat for you,’’ he said, ‘‘ but if you will wait I will try 
to get you something to eat.’’ Coyote began to bump against the tree 
with his head. He hit harder and harder, but the persimmons would 
not fall. Finally he arose and shook the tree with his hands, though it 
embarrassed him to havetodo this. He gave the tree a big shake and 
over it fell, hitting him onthe head. He pretended that it did not hurt 
and went about gathering up the fruit for Bear, though hecould hardly 
see for pain. Bear ate, though he could hardly swallow for laughing, 
for Coyote’s head kept getting bigger and bigger. After a little while 
Bear said that he must be going, for he was afraid to stay longer for 
fear Coyote would see him laugh. After he had gone Coyote sat down 
and held his sore head, but he felt happy notwithstanding, for he had 
furnished food for Bear. 
58. COYOTE IMITATES HIS HOST.* 
One morning while Coyote was out looking for something to eat he 
came to a grass lodge. Thinking that there might be food inside, he 
decided to go in and pay his respects to its owner if he should be there; 
if not, help himself to food. He entered and sawa man walking about 
with a light on his head. At once Coyote called out: ‘‘Say, friend, 
your head is on fire, and you and your house will burn up if you don’t 
look out.’’ ‘The man smiled and replied in a calm voice: ‘‘I have 
always worn this light on my head. It was given to me in the begin-" 
ning. It will not burn anything.’’ ‘Then the man, who was Wood- 
pecker, gave Coyote something to eat. After Coyote had eaten all he 
could, he arose and said that he must go. He asked Woodpecker to- 
* Told by Wing. 
