Coyote was jealous of his son To’rtôrsEmstEm, and wanted to get rid of him. He told him that he knew of an eagle's nest in a tree. He induced him to go there with him and climb for it, saying that he wanted the young eagles for their tail-feathers. When up quite high, the youth looked down and saw his father blinking his eyes. He said, "Why are you doing that, father?" Coyote answered, "I am afraid some dust may get into my eyes and blind me." By blinking his eyes Coyote made the tree grow tall. Each time he blinked, the tree grew. To'rtôrsEmstEm looked down again, and saw his father still looking up and blinking his eyes. The tree grew up until it reached the sky. Here To'rtôrsEmstEm found himself in a new country. He travelled about, and at last came to a lodge where he heard talking. There were two Spider people inside who were quarrelling about Indian hemp. One said it grew one way, and the other said it grew another way. One said it belonged to him, and the other said it belonged to him. He addressed them, saying, "Grandchildren, I want you to take me back to my country." They paid no attention. He spoke again, and offered them some beads, but they paid no heed. Then he offered them necklaces, but still they paid no heed. He thought to himself, "They are only interested in Indian hemp." Then he offered them each two fathoms of Indian hemp. At once they ceased their quarrelling and became attentive. They promised to let him down to his country by a rope. They put him into a basket, to which they fastened the end of the rope. They said, "You will stop four times on your way down. You must not rise, but turn over. Then the basket will proceed. When the basket stops the fourth time, you will be on the earth; and when you hear the grass, you will know that you are in your own country. Then step out of the basket and tug the rope, and we will pull it up." He did as directed, and they pulled it up. To'rtôrsEmstEm went home, found his father, and killed him.
The Sun had killed Coyote's children, and Coyote resolved to take revenge. He lay in wait; and when the Sun came down from the sky to drink, he killed him and cut out his heart. At once the earth became totally dark. Coyote tried to go home carrying Sun's heart; but each time he made a step, he trod on the Sun (or Sun's body). He could make no progress; and at last he was exhausted, and placed the heart on the Sun. The latter at once came to life, and there was light over the world, as before.
Four women who lived on the Columbia River had a dam which held the salmon from ascending to the interior. Whoever came near them was attacked and eaten by them. Coyote heard of them and their salmon, and resolved to go and break the dam. He changed himself into a board, and floated down the stream until he reached the dam. Then he changed himself into a baby. The women were out on the dam catching salmon. They saw him, and, thinking that he was a baby, said they would take him to their house, and rear him as their son. They were glad to have a child, for they had neither husbands nor children. After Coyote had been with them a while, he wanted to go out on the dam to have a drink. They gave their permission. He began to undermine and break up the dam, but did not stay very long for fear of arousing their suspicions. He did so on three days, and the dam was nearly broken through. On the fourth day he stayed longer than usual, and the women went to see what was the matter. When they came to the river bank and looked down, they saw Coyote tearing down their dam. They rushed at him and clubbed him over hands and arms; but they were protected by armor. Coyote tore out the last pieces. Now the water rushed through the break, and Coyote jumped to the opposite side. Most of the dam was carried away, and great numbers of salmon ascended the river. Coyote conducted them up the streams, introducing them in many places. Thus Coyote benefited his people. Before this the Indian tribes of the interior had no salmon.
There was a monster who used to go to the passes between hills, and place his head in the gap with his mouth wide open. People crossing the hills walked into his mouth, and on into his stomach, without noticing it. Thus he had swallowed and eaten many people. Coyote heard of this monster, and said, "Oh, he is nothing! I shall go and kill him." He took a long pole of tamarack, and went up the hills. As he neared a pass, he heard a voice saying, "Where are you going, Coyote?" He answered, "I am seeking the monster who eats men. I will find him, and learn if he eats men. I do, but he does not." Coyote went on. Again the voice said, "Don't kill him!" Coyote answered, "Well, if you promise not to eat people, I will spare you." The monster promised. Then Coyote transformed him into the wêwei'.tc-bird, saying, "You shall be a bird with a big mouth, but shall not be able to eat people any more."
1 The name seems to have the same meaning as the Thompson .ntll'kisEntEm, referring to his ascent. Another Thompson name is ToxtoxEmstem, referring to his being let down (from the frequentative form of to'xem, "to hang down," "to let down with a line," etc.). --Thompson JE 8: 205, 296; Boas, Sagen 17; BAAS 1899: 55; MAFLS 6 : 21 ; Shuswap JE 8 : 622, 737; Nez Perce, this volume, pp.135, 137; Uintah Ute JAFL 23 : 312: Lillooet JAFL 25 : 308; Wasco PAES 2 : 264; Klamath CNAE 94, 100. See also Blackfoot VKAWA 12 : 29; Crow FM 2 : 300; Ojibwa Baessler Archiv 26; Kiowa Ausland 90: No. 46; Takelma UPenn 2 : 83; Shasta JAFL 28 : 212; Hupa UCal 1 : 146. See also p. 158.
2 BBAE 59 : 301 (note 1).
3 See p. 115 (note 1); also pp. 17, 117, 148.
