Page:The Pima Indians.pdf/235

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230
THE PIMA INDIANS
[ETH. ANN. 26

returning to their homes, After this event the people moved southward as far as Santa Rosa. There Kâʼkânyĭp's son was born. He was named Patʼ Aʼ-anukam, and under his mother's care became a brave and noted man. While yet a boy he one day accompanied the people on a hunting expedition. Some of the hunters asked him many questions to learn if his mother thought about marrying them. He told his mother about these inquiries, which caused her to weep bitterly. She told him how his father had been killed. After hearing this sad story he went into the council house and told the people that he wished to see the springs and other places where the Apaches obtained drinking water, and also to see the trails they used. His further adventures are related in the texts, page 353.

COYOTE

At the time of the destruction of the earth, Coyote was saved in the manner already described, and he again appeared at the emergence of the underworld Pimas that Elder Brother brought up to fight his own battles. Then it was that Coyote looked down the opening to see the humans struggling upward like a long line of ants ascending a tree, and the sight provoked him to laughter, an act that caused the earth to close up and prevent many people from reaching Pima Land. After that Coyote disappeared again. Now we are to hear the story of his subsequent life.

Coyote wandered about alone somewhere in the West after we last heard of him, until one day he made two other coyotes from his image, which he saw reflected from the water; one he called the elder brother or Sandy Coyote, and the other. younger brother or Yellow Coyote. He told each to fetch a log. When they brought the logs he told them to embark upon the sea and seek for land beyond it. They followed his directions and sailed for days and nights across the water, the younger always behind the other. One day the elder said:

"Younger brother, why are you always behind? Why don't you come faster?"

"My log will not go any faster, that is why I am not with you," replied Yellow Coyote.

"How are you traveling, with your eyes wide open or with them closed?"

"My eyes are closed," answered Yellow Coyote.

"Oh, that is why you are so slow. Look up and open your eyes and your log will travel fast."

Yellow Coyote opened his eyes, but when he looked upon the water the wind blew the foam into his face and blinded him. "I am blind," he cried.

Sandy Coyote stopped and tried to restore his sight, but without success, finally concluding that they had better return to their father