by Alan Nafzger & Lilly Tabbytite (Comanche)
Coyote was out hunting rabbits one day when he noticed a very tall woman off in the distance who was naked. "Well, I've never seen one like this before," he admitted. "I think I should go see her."
Coyote approached the woman and began following her, but he was unable to catch up with her. They walked for a long time, passing through many mountains. They eventually arrived at White Mountain. Coyote was thirsty by this point. When he noticed the woman carrying a small water basket, he approached her and asked for a drink. She presented him with the basket jug. He drank for a long time, but when he was done, there was still water in the small jug.
They continued walking.
They eventually arrived at a large lake. "My home is over there," the woman said as she started across the lake. "I can't do it," Coyote said. "I'll have to go around," the woman said, but then she turned around and gave Coyote new legs. He followed her over, running on top of the water, after she gave him the legs of a water bug.
The woman lived with her mother, Ocean Old Woman. The old woman had never met a man.
The next morning, Ocean Old Woman awoke early and began weaving a large water jug.
Coyote hung out with them for a while. He had some difficulties sleeping with them at first because they were unaware. They didn't think it was any good when he explained it to them, but when he showed it to them, they liked it. As a result, he slept with both of them.
While Coyote was out hunting, the two women gave birth to a large number of very small children. They all went into the water jug that the old woman had made.
"Perhaps your brother Wolf is missing you," they said when Coyote returned. "You should go back to your home," Coyote replied. The Ocean Old Woman spoke to the children in the jug while he was gathering his belongings. "You have to go with Coyote," she advised. "This isn't your house."
They placed the children's basket on Coyote's back. It was heavy, but Coyote said it didn't bother him. He'd brought deer down from the mountains numerous times.
"Now, when you come to Saline Valley, pull the stopper out of the bottle just a little bit," Ocean Old Woman said. When you arrive in Death Valley, reopen it slightly more. When you reach Tin Mountain, reopen it about halfway. When you arrive in Moapa, fully open it. "
Coyote stated that he would do so. He opened the stopper slightly in Saline Valley. Tall, dark, and attractive people exited and fled. They were the most attractive people in the room. This scared Coyote, but he continued. He opened it again in Death Valley. More attractive people emerged and fled. The women all had long, dark hair and were stunning. When he arrived at Ash Meadows, where we are, he opened it up again, and the Shoshone and Paiute people emerged. These people were also very attractive. Coyote let some others out at Tin Mountain, but they weren't particularly attractive. Then, at Moapa, he opened the jug all the way and short, ugly, poor people came out. The girls' hair was short and they had lice. They were all suffering from sore eyes. People in that country are still like that today.
Old Woman and Young Woman had their first children in this manner. Everyone's father was a Coyote.