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Coyote Holds Up the Sky, Chiricahua Apache Text

excerpted from Chiricahua Apache Texts, with Ethnological Notes

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16. Coyote Holds Up the Sky as told by Sam Kenoi

16.1.

Then he again went out on the very same road.

16.2.

He looked up at him.

16.3.

"Say, old man, don't be foolish! I am holding this [tree] which holds up the sky. If I let go of this, the sky will fall down on us."

16.4.

"Old man, I am very tired. You, you hold it. Don't let go of it! If you let it go, if the tree falls over, the sky will fall on us. Hold it with all your strength!"

16.5.

Then [Coyote] threw himself onto the tree.

16.6.

16.7.

Then the Rock Lizard ran away from him,

16.8.

He was very tired.

16.9.

Nearby, he saw a small arroyo.

16.10.

Panting and frightened, he looked upward.

Linguistic Notes by Harry Hoijer

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Coyote Holds Up the Sky, Chiricahua Apache Text

excerpted from Chiricahua Apache Texts, with Ethnological Notes

Hoijer, Harry

University of Chicago Press

Chicago

1938