YASHPEH
International Folktales Collection
Jack-Rabbit and Cottontail |
Zuñi Folk Tales |
Tradition: Zuni, American Indian |
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Anciently the Jack-rabbit lived in a sage plain, and the Cottontail rabbit lived in a cliff hard by. They saw the clouds gather, so they went out to sing. The long-legged Jack-rabbit sang for snow, thus: "U pi na wi sho, U pi na wi sho, U kuk uku u kuk!" But the short-legged Cottontail sang for rain, like this: "Hatchi ethla ho na an saia." That 's what they sung – one asking for snow, the other for rain; hence to this day the Pók'ia (Jack-rabbit) runs when it snows, the Â'kshiko (Cottontail) when it rains. Thus shortens my story. |
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