Myths and Tales of the Southeastern Indians: Title Page

43. RABBIT GETS MAN-EATER OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE OCEAN (65, 67)
(FOURTH VERSION)
A big Lion (Man-eater) was destroying people, therefore Rabbit was employed to deceive him and get him across to the other side of the
waters. All were gathered at the square ground, some saying they believed he could not do it, but others maintaining that he could because
he was so clever. These last said to him, "If you can overcome him and get him across the waters it will be a good thing for you. Some say
that you can't do it, but we are wagering that you can." Rabbit replied that he thought he could succeed, and at least he would try.
After that Rabbit began traveling about and finally he met the Lion. He said to the Lion, "People hate me so much that I am going to
Jumping Creek (Tota'skita håtci)." "They hate me a lot more than they do you," said the Lion, "I think I will go with you." They hated him,
he said, because they claimed he had eaten a lot of children. Rabbit said, "When I get ready to travel I will let you know," so presently
they set out.
After they had started Rabbit said, "There is a pretty bad creek beyond which they call Sprinkling Creek (Tofogaga håtci)." They
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reached it late in the evening, built a fire there, and prepared to sleep on opposite sides of it. "What noise do you make when you are
asleep?" said Rabbit. "When I say 'aw' I am asleep," was the reply. Rabbit answered, "When I am asleep I say 'tcu.'" Then Rabbit Jay
awake and listened and when he heard the Lion say "aw" he gathered a lot of hot embers and threw them over him. Then he sprinkled
some over himself, jumped up, ran about and came back. "That is just what they say happens. It is a bad place," he exclaimed. In this way
he kept the Lion awake all night.
Afterwards Rabbit said, "Let us sit down side by side and defecate to see who has been eating children." They did so, and the Lion grunted
and groaned terribly. But Rabbit changed the position of the excrements and when the Lion saw only a few little balls beneath himself he
said, "Let us try it again." This time bones came from him and he was satisfied.
They went on from that place and in the middle of the afternoon reached Jumping Creek. The country on the other side looked good and
Rabbit said he knew it was a fine country and he was going across. The Lion said to him, "When you are prepared to jump say 'Ready, '"
and he fixed his belt and his ornaments ready to make the leap. Rabbit said, "We must sit side by side to jump." They did so, and when he
said "Ready" both sprang over to the other bank. Rabbit, however, jumped back immediately and at once the river began expanding. The
Lion said, "My friend, you are leaving me." "I will make a foot log for you," said Rabbit, but his ax broke and he said he could not do it.
Then the river continued to widen until the Lion disappeared from sight, while Rabbit went home.
Some time after this two persons went to see Rabbit to learn what he had done. After he had told them they said, "We are going to have a
stomp dance and you must come and be our leader." Then they went back. Fire was at that time very valuable. It was made with a fire drill
(totka boli). Rabbit determined to carry off some of this, so he covered his hands with tar and started for the stomp ground. He seated
himself at the end of one of the beds and remained there until it was nearly day. Finally someone said, "Rabbit is a good stomp dance
leader. You ought to invite him to lead." Accordingly they asked him to lead the dance and he accepted. Just as he was through dancing,
however, he reached a place close to the fire, seized some fire and ran off into the thicket. It blazed as he went along. "Rabbit has stolen
the fire," they shouted. "Make it rain," they said, and a rain was brought on, but Rabbit escaped into a hollow tree. When they thought they
had put the fire, out and the rain ceased, he came out and set the woods afire, and that is why the woods still burn off.
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Myths and Tales of the Southeastern Indians: Title Page
44. RABBIT STEALS FIRE (67)
(Tuggle collection)
All the people came together and said: "How shall we obtain fire?" It was agreed that Rabbit should try to obtain fire for the people.
He went across the great water to the east. He was received gladly, and a great dance was arranged. Then Rabbit entered the dancing
circle, gaily dressed, and wearing a peculiar cap on his head into which he had stuck four sticks of rosin.
As the people danced they approached nearer and nearer the sacred fire in the center of the circle. The Rabbit also danced nearer and
nearer the fire. The dancers began to bow to the sacred fire, lower and lower. Rabbit also bowed to the fire, lower and lower. Suddenly, as
he bowed very low, the sticks of rosin caught fire and his head was a blaze of flame.
The people were amazed at the impious stranger who had dared to touch the sacred fire. They ran at him in anger, and away ran Rabbit,
the people pursuing him. He ran to the great water and plunged in, while the people stopped on the shore.
Rabbit swam across the great water, with the flames blazing from his cap. He returned to his people, who thus obtained fire from the east.
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