COYOTE BECOMES A BUFFALO. 101 
64. COYOTE BECOMES A BUFFALO;* 
While Coyote was out hunting something to eat he met Buffalo, who 
was very powerful among his tribe. He was eating grass and looked 
fat and well fed. Coyote asked him if he would give him power to 
turn into a Buffalo and eat grassas he did. Buffalosaid: ‘‘ Yes, I will 
give you the power which was given to me by the Great-Father- Above, 
but when I give you the power you must not use it every chance you 
get, but only when very necessary.’’ He told Coyote tostand facing the 
other way and not to move, but to be brave as he was. Coyote stood 
still, wondering what was going to happen to him. Buffalo began to 
throw up dirt with his hoofs and to act very angrily. He told Coyote 
to keep his eyes closed. ‘Then he made a plunge toward him, and 
when he was about to strike him with his horns, Coyote jumped out 
of the way, and Buffalo passed him without touching him. He did 
this the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth times, but the seventh 
time he stood there without moving. He could hear Buffalo coming at 
him, but he stood there awaiting what would happen to him. Buffalo 
struck him and rolled him under his stomach with his horns and threw 
him up into the air. When he came down on his feet he was turned 
into a very young Buffalo. He began to eat green grass at once. 
Then the old Buffalo told him that if he wanted to turn into a Coyote 
again, he must find a Buffalo wallow, roll himself over two or three 
times, and then he would arise a Coyote. Again Buffalo cautioned 
him not to use his power too often, telling him that the power was 
good for only seven times, and he also told him that he must not give 
the power to any one else, especially to any of his own race. Before 
they parted the real Buffalo told Coyote to change back into a Coyote, 
and he did so, and then they both went on their way. Before Coyote 
had gone far from Buffalo, he wanted to try his power to see if he 
could use it alone. He did, and became a Buffalo. During that 
same day he tried his power three or four times, and before he had 
met any one he had tried it six times, and had turned himself into a 
Buffalo for the seventh time. While he was a Buffalo he met one of 
his own people, a famous Coyote, and so he went up to him and said : 
‘Do not you want me to give you some of my power, so that you can 
eat grass as I do? You look as though you were very hungry.”’ 
‘‘Ves,’’ said Coyote. ‘‘ Well, all right,’’ said Coyote-Buffalo. ‘‘Go 
off a short distance from me and stand there and face the other way. 
Do not run, but be brave as I am. Close your eyes. Now, I am 
IN ft O08) 0 Pcl ees Ot ae ee ee eee 
* Told by White-Bread. 
