A Truhohi Yokut Legend
In the far south, there was a mountain that was the only land amidst endless water. The eagle was the chief, but the people faced dire circumstances; they had nothing to eat and were consuming the earth itself, which was nearly gone.
Coyote proposed, “Can we not obtain earth? Can we not create mountains?” The eagle replied, “I do not know how.” Coyote suggested, “There is a man we can ask,” and they brought the magpie. The eagle inquired, “Can we obtain earth?” The magpie responded, “Yes, right below us.”
The ducks then dived in an attempt to bring up earth. Some were submerged for half a day but could not reach the bottom and died, floating back to the surface. The eagle instructed, “When you reach the ground, take hold of it, bite it, and fill your nose and ears.” For six days they dived without success. Only one creature remained to try: the mudhen. The eagle said, “Now you go. Let’s see if you can find earth.” The mudhen agreed and dived, disappearing for a day and a night.
In the morning, it resurfaced, lifeless, but it bore earth in its nails, ears, and nose. Using this soil, they created the earth by mixing it with chiyu seeds. Six days later, the eagle instructed the wolf to patrol the area. The wolf traveled where the Sierra Nevada now lies and around to the west, returning along the Coast Range. The eagle cautioned, “Do not touch it for six days; let it dry first.” While the other creatures agreed, Coyote, unable to restrain himself, declared, “I will try it. It is getting hard now.” He traversed the Sierras, which is why they are rough and broken today; his running over the soft earth caused the distortion. Then, he turned west and followed the Coast Range, which is why mountains exist there as well—Coyote made it so.
The eagle then sent out the prairie falcon and the raven, known as Khotoi, instructing them, “Go around the world and see if the earth is hard now.” The prairie falcon traveled north along the Sierra Nevada, while Khotoi took a route along the Coast Range. Both returned as they had gone. Initially, the Sierra Nevada was not as high as the Coast Range. When they returned, the eagle asked, “Is the earth hard?” They confirmed it was.
Then the prairie falcon boasted, “Look at my mountains. They are the tallest!” Khotoi retorted, “No, mine are higher.” The prairie falcon insisted, “No, yours do not amount to anything; they are low.” Following this, the eagle and Coyote directed the people to settle in different areas, saying, “You go to that place with your people. You go to that spring.” Thus, the people dispersed to various locations, where they reside now. Though they were still animals at that time, they eventually became people.
After the people had departed, the eagle and Coyote remained for a while. Coyote asked, “Where will you go?” The eagle replied, “I am considering going up.” “Where shall I live?” Coyote inquired. The eagle said, “Here.” Coyote insisted, “No, I will go with you.” The eagle responded, “No, you must stay here. You need to look after this place.” They conversed for six days, and finally, the eagle prepared to leave. “Goodbye,” he said, “I am going.”
Coyote, looking up, declared, “I am going too.” The eagle pointed out, “You have no wings; you cannot.” Undeterred, Coyote insisted, “I will go,” and he followed. Now, they both reside together in the sky above.
