Ethnological Notes
Morris Opler
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Ethnological Note 1
In telling the stories different tones of voice are used
in keeping with the characters of the birds or animals who are speaking. Owl,
who is a fearsome bird to the Mescalero, and who was a man-eating monster in the
mythological days, is always represented as having a deep, gruff voice.
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Ethnological Note 2
Coyote refers to Owl's ears as a hat. This device of
speaking of one thing in terms of something else which it may remotely resemble,
is a common one in these tales, and causes great merriment when it is used.
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Ethnological Note 3
The ceremonial procedure and motions described here are
an accurate account of elements found in many curing ceremonies.
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Ethnological Note 4
The conspicuous part which food and feeding play in these
tales is a faithful reflection of the seriousness of the food-quest for these
roving, hunting and gathering Apache.
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Ethnological Note 5
This passage is somewhat obscure. The meaning to be
conveyed is that Owl is asking Coyote to make hats [or ears] for his people
similar to those possessed by Coyote's people.
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Ethnological Note 6
That is, he put one feather into each ear of both the Owl
people.
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Ethnological Note 7
That is, with feathers in their ears.
