52. Thunder and Mosquito.
(cont.)Now Thunder shot at Turtle, but his fiery arrows glanced off Turtle’s back, and did him no harm. Thus Mosquito saved the people, and never again visited Thunder, for he was afraid that the latter might kill him. Even now Thunder sometimes shoots at the trees and at turtles, trying to get blood.
53. Loon.
The Loon was a great Shaman, and used to kill and eat his friends He made his body spotted with white by touching it with his finger-tips during his period of training. Some of the Uta'mqt say the spots on his body were originally dentalia.
54. Sun and Moon.1
Sun and Moon were both chiefs who looked after and cared for the people. One day they quarrelled, and found fault with one another. Sun said to Moon, “You give too faint a light; the people cannot see properly. Besides, you do not warm them.” Moon retorted, “I am prettier than you. The people like to look at me because I am beautiful. You are ugly. They cannot look at you without feeling ashamed, and turning aside their faces. Besides, you are too hot for the people, and make them perspire and feel uncomfortable. I do not burn folks up as you do.” At last, however, the two came to an agreement to alternate in looking after the people, the Sun by day and the Moon by night, and they have continued to do this to the present day. Formerly, it is said, both shone at one time.
55.The Ants and the Fleas.
The Ants lived in a house on one side of a canyon through which ran a narrow river. They were very numerous. In another house, at the bottom of the river, lived the Tsokomu's fish, who had a large net. The Ants wished to migrate, and asked a loan of Tsokomu's' net. They spread it across the canyon, and all crossed on it. Then Tsokomu's took back his net, and transformed the Ants, saying, “Henceforth you will be ordinary ants with small waists. You will cover the earth in the warm season, and you will shift your camps all the time.”
The Fleas were also very numerous, and wished to migrate. They took their large dog,2 and rode on him. As he went along, they jumped off here and there. After travelling same distance, it came the turn of the last flea to jump off.
1. Compare A. L. Kroeber, Cheyenne Tales, Journal of Americas Folk-Lore, XIII, 1900, No. vii, p. 164.
2. Some say a horse.
