Pomo Indian Myths and Some of their Sacred Meanings by Cora Clark Texa Bowen Williams

Author:Cora Clark, Texa Bowen Williams [Cora Clark, Texa Bowen Williams]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Biography & Autobiography, Criminals & Outlaws, Rich & Famous, Social Science, Ethnic Studies, Native American Studies, History, United States, 19th Century
ISBN: 9781789122619
Google: Db5sDwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
Published: 2018-09-03T02:40:12+00:00

HOW BUZZARD LOST HIS VOICE

BUZZARD was not always the voiceless creature he is today. Once he had a language of his own and he sang more beautifully than any other bird in the world.

One night Buzzard was in the forest with his three friends, Chicken Hawk, Meadow Lark, and Ground Squirrel. They were all talking at once, and not one of them could make himself heard.

Finally Chicken Hawk said, “Let’s choose sides and see who can keep silent the longest.”

“Let’s do!” exclaimed Buzzard, and laughed in his clear beautiful voice.

“I choose Ground Squirrel for my partner,” said Meadow Lark. “All right,” said Ground Squirrel. “You and I will stand against Buzzard and Meadow Lark.”

“We’ll win, too!” cried Chicken Hawk. “What’s the prize?”

After much loud-voiced chatter, they agreed that the side which held out longest without laughing or speaking would be able to speak and sing in the languages and voices of all four of them.

“What’s the forfeit?” asked Ground Squirrel.

After more chatter, they all agreed that the side which spoke or laughed first would remain silent forever.

The birds and small animals of the forest gathered to watch the contest. They began asking the four friends foolish questions to make them laugh. They made up funny songs about them, and told jokes. The contest went on and on and the forest rang with merriment. But the four friends sat as silent as stones.

At last Ku-all the Night Owl made a remark which sent the great audience into gales of laughter. But still the four friends remained silent.

Buzzard was having a hard time as the sounds of mirth were dying down. Laughter was rolling about inside of him until he couldn’t sit still. He closed his beak firmly. He hid his head under his wing, but it was no use. He couldn’t hold his laughter a second longer. He raised his head and opened his beak to laugh. But when no sound came out, he remembered what the forfeit was to have been. The beautiful voice of Buzzard was gone.

The great crowd of birds and small animals laughed and cried, “Ground Squirrel and Meadow Lark won!”

“Chicken Hawk and Buzzard lost!” cried Ku-all.

Chicken Hawk flapped his wings and thought, “I didn’t laugh and I’m not going to give up my voice!” He spread his wings and flew into the air. Then he opened his beak to cry out but no sound came, except a kind of whistle. His voice, too, was gone.

Ground Squirrel cried, “We won! We won! We won!” But he was too excited to try to use more than a few sounds in the language of Buzzard.

Meadow Lark opened his beak and began to sing. The birds and small animals sat speechless while he sang in his own voice and in the voices and languages of his three friends. And to this day Meadow Lark has four languages and four voices. But Buzzard, who was once the most beautiful singer in the world, has no voice at all.

Solbat

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