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Coyote and the White Man
Nov. 9th, 2007 07:50 am( Yesterday, Ursula Vernon mentioned finding a favorite anthropological essay online, "Shakespeare in the Bush". Being the curious soul I am, I went wandering round in the site to see what else was there.
This man collects the most interesting tidbits! :D As an example, I bring you...)
Coyote and Waischu
A story from the Brule Sioux
From American Indian Myths and Legends, compiled by Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz, 1984, Pantheon Books, New York.ISBN 0-394-74018-1 (Pbk.)
-------oOo-------
There was a white man who was such a sharp trader that nobody ever got the better of him. Or so the people said, until one day a man told this wasichu: "There's someone who can outcheat you anytime, anywhere."
"That's not possible," said the wasichu. "I've had a trading post for many years and I've cheated all the Indians around here."
"Even so, Coyote can beat you in any deal."
"Let's see whether he can. Where is Coyote?"
"Over there, that tricky-looking guy."
"Okay, all right, I'll try him."
The wasichu trader went over to Coyote. "Hey, let's see you outsmart me."
"I'm sorry," said Coyote, "I'd like to help you out, but I can't do it without my cheating medicine."
"Cheating medicine, hah! Go get it."
"I live miles from here and I'm on foot. But if you'd lend me your fast horse?"
"Well, all right, you can borrow it. Go on home and get your cheating medicine!"
"Well, friend, I'm a poor rider. Your horse is afraid of me, and I'm afraid of him. Lend me your clothes; then your horse will think that I am you."
"Well, all right. Here are my clothes; now you can ride him. Go get that medicine. I'm sure I can beat it!"
So Coyote rode off with the wasichu's fast horse and his fine clothes, while the wasichu stood there bare-assed.
-- Told at Grass Mountain, Rosebud Indian Reservation, South Dakota, 1974.
This man collects the most interesting tidbits! :D As an example, I bring you...)
Coyote and Waischu
A story from the Brule Sioux
From American Indian Myths and Legends, compiled by Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz, 1984, Pantheon Books, New York.ISBN 0-394-74018-1 (Pbk.)
-------oOo-------
There was a white man who was such a sharp trader that nobody ever got the better of him. Or so the people said, until one day a man told this wasichu: "There's someone who can outcheat you anytime, anywhere."
"That's not possible," said the wasichu. "I've had a trading post for many years and I've cheated all the Indians around here."
"Even so, Coyote can beat you in any deal."
"Let's see whether he can. Where is Coyote?"
"Over there, that tricky-looking guy."
"Okay, all right, I'll try him."
The wasichu trader went over to Coyote. "Hey, let's see you outsmart me."
"I'm sorry," said Coyote, "I'd like to help you out, but I can't do it without my cheating medicine."
"Cheating medicine, hah! Go get it."
"I live miles from here and I'm on foot. But if you'd lend me your fast horse?"
"Well, all right, you can borrow it. Go on home and get your cheating medicine!"
"Well, friend, I'm a poor rider. Your horse is afraid of me, and I'm afraid of him. Lend me your clothes; then your horse will think that I am you."
"Well, all right. Here are my clothes; now you can ride him. Go get that medicine. I'm sure I can beat it!"
So Coyote rode off with the wasichu's fast horse and his fine clothes, while the wasichu stood there bare-assed.
-- Told at Grass Mountain, Rosebud Indian Reservation, South Dakota, 1974.
