Coyote Teaches Man to Lie

( Best Buffalo Mule )

One day Coyote was going along when he came to a village where the people owned a beautiful buffalo

mule.   Coyote decided that he needed this mule, so he went into the village and said to the people,

"I will teach you people to lie in exchange for that beautiful buffalo mule."

the people had never heard of lying, so they quickly agreed to Coyotes request.

First, Coyote said he had to try the mule out first.   He jumped on the mule, and as he settled

himself on his back, he poked the mule with his claws, making the mule jump.   "Hey!   This mule

needs a blanket to be ridden!"  he exclaimed.

So the people went off to get Coyote their best blanket for the mule.  When they returned, Coyote

again said that he must test the mule.   He leaped onto the mule, and again poked him making him

buck.

"This mule needs a saddle before I can teach you to lie'"   Coyote told the people, who were already

searching for their best saddle.   When they returned, Coyote again jumped on the mule, poking him

and making him jump.   "Oh!"   Coyote exclaimed, "This mule needs a bridle, too."

So the people ran off to get a bridle.   When they came back, Coyote jumped on the mule, kicked him

and went galloping off, shouting over his shoulder to the people, "Hey!  That is how you lie!"

-Apache

This reduction linocut was hand pulled in an edition of 36 by the artist, Susi Nagoda Bergquist.