Anonymous
The Universal Change I
One day while at a certain place Coyote said, "I want to have fun."
So then he sent messengers to gather the people together, telling each
messenger, "I want you to go to all the tribes and tell them: 'I want all the
people to come together."'
So each man left for a certain tribe. "You should carefully watch everything.
You must correctly announce my message: 'I want that people should assemble from
everywhere,"' said Coyote.
Then another messenger prepared to leave to another place, while another was
about to start for a different place. "You must constantly watch everything
carefully. You must correctly tell them what I want. I want the people to come
together from everywhere. You must tell them exactly why I want the people to
come together."
And then another messenger was ready to go in a differont direction. "You
must go. I want the people to assemble from everywhere."
And finally another prepared himself to go to a different people.
Then they separated; they went separately into all directions. Soon each
messenger came to a village and the noise of the people resounded everywhere,
because all sorts of things were being done in the village. The first messenger
arrived at his destination. Everything was being done in that village; people
were playing shinny, some were shooting arrows at a target, some were playing
the guessing game, many were dancing. Then the first messenger announced, "I
come here as a messenger. Mo'luptsim'sla is inviting all the people to assemble
from all the regions of the world. For that reason I have come here."
Then the second messenger arrived at his destination; again the noise of the
people resounded everywhere. Many, indeed, were the people. They were shooting
at a target, they were playing shinny. The third messenger came to a village.
Everything was being done in the village: some were spinning tops, some were
playing with strings, some were spearing, some were walking on stilts, many were
making poles and some were fixing chisels. Then he announced: "I have come here
as a messenger. I am Coyote's messenger. He desires that all people should
assemble from all the regions of the world. I am Coyote's messenger. You should
take along with you all your various playing utensils. For that reason I have
come here."
Similar messages were then delivered at five other villages; in these
villages everything was being done. Then the last messenger delivered his
message: "You must keep good track of the days, for on the fifth day the
counting sticks will be made ready. You must carefully watch the days go by:
after ten counting sticks are gone then you should come."
In each village all sorts of games were being played and the messengers
almost forgot to go back. All sorts of preparations were being made everywhere.
Finally the messengers began to return to where their chief was living. On
the fifth day the counting sticks were made ready.
"Did you tell my message correctly?" asked Coyote.
"Yes! All sorts of preparations are being made and people are having joyful
times: they are playing shinny, they are shooting at targets, they are playing
the guessing game"
"These are the things I wanted; this is why I want the people to assemble."
And now food was brought from every region of the earth while many things
were done by others: they were having fun, some of them were playing shinny,
others were shooting at targets. And all sorts of things were being fixed:
shinny clubs were being made, arrows were being made, bows were being made,
spears were being fixed. Pretty soon the counting sticks began to fill up and
everybody was joyous. All sorts of preparations were made and the counting
sticks were being continually counted. Everything was being fixed: knives were
being made, shinny clubs were being made, bows were being made.
"I want the counting sticks to disappear." Coyote went here and there among
the inhabitants, continually advising his people: "Do you, please, carefully
watch yourselves when the people assemble! You must always guard yourselves
well. You know that the people I've invited are the strongest tribes, because
they know all sorts of stratagems. This is why I'm always reminding you, 'You
must guard yourselves carefully.' Your hearts must be very strong. As soon as
the dawn arrives you must practice, and practice constantly, among yourselves.
You must do all sorts of things. And then, when the people assemble, you must
watch yourselves carefully. Your spirits must not be low when the people will
arrive. They are a different people; you do not even know what manner of people
they are. Therefore, you will have to watch yourselves carefully. You must not
be even a little downhearted after the people arrive; your hearts must be strong
at all times. I know everything. No one can ever beat me through cleverness;
that is why I'm not afraid, because I know everything."
"Now we know you," they answered. "Therefore, our hearts will be strong
again, because we know you. You know everything. We will bet all our property
when the people arrive, because we know you. Your name is Motluptsim'sla. No one
has ever overcome you, because 'Unconquerable' is your name. You know
everything. We are going to bet all our property."
"Just keep on practicing among yourselves," Coyote answered. "There is only
one tribe of Indians, and they are very strong, because I know them. No one has
ever prevailed over them. Their hearts are very, very strong."
All sorts of things were being made ready; arrows were being made. Not long
afterwards the counting sticks were coming to an end. But Coyote never remained
motionless; he just moved here and there: "As soon as they arrive you will have
to watch yourselves carefully all the time. There is only one tribe I do not
know. Their hearts are very strong. They know everything. Therefore, you must
constantly keep good watch over them. No one has ever beaten them."
At last the counting sticks began to decrease. The hearts of the villagers
were very glad, because all sorts of games were going to be played.
"I know all those people; I know people from everywhere," were Coyote's
words. "Do you keep on practicing among yourselves every day."
All sorts of preparations were being made. "It will not be long before they
finally arrive. I know everything. I am not afraid. My name is 'Unconquerable.'"
And they made all sorts of preparations.
It will not be long before the counting sticks will come to an end.
All these people continually practiced among themselves; they practiced all
their future actions. Now, as the people were arriving, one man would come
first. The minds of the villagers were glad, for all sorts of things were going
to be done; therefore, the people felt glad in their own minds.
At last the people came. The counting sticks were all gone. All the people
prepared to assemble. First, one man came and announced that they were about to
arrive. Coyote constantly walked around here and there. The people were about to
arrive in large numbers. They were all glad in their own minds, because
everything was going to be done.
Now people came in large numbers; they were finally arriving. All the people
began to assemble; different people began to assemble, just all sorts of tribes.
At last people arrived in great numbers.
Then Coyote would continually say, "I want you to have all sorts of fun. For
that reason I desired that people should assemble from everywhere. We will play
for a long time; we will continually play various games."
At last the people had assembled in great numbers. "We will first play
shinny."
So the shinny ball was placed on the ground. "You must carefully watch over
my people, while we are playing shinny."
All sorts of things were being worn; all the shinny players had feathers on.
Finally the shinny ball was placed on the ground. In vain it would be hit by a
player for it did not go anywhere. So then a person from the other side would
hit it, but the ball would only move a little. The people would cheer and shout
from all sides whenever the shinny ball moved a little. Then another player
would strike at it again. It was hit, but he would be told: "You don't know how
to play shinny! You're a moron playing shinny! You don't play it right, and yet
you want to play shinny!"
Then the ball would be hit again by some player from on the other side.
Still, the ball goes a little ways. Then Coyote would say, "See? I've been
telling you you can't play shinny! There! Do it now."
Not long afterward they were about to stop playing ...
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