Bowing

The next morning the Bear party started early and followed the directions the Loon Woman had given them. After a long climb they arrived at the summit of a ridge. Down below they saw a wide valley -- the land of the Grass people. There were multitudes of them, thousands upon thousands.

"Goodness," cried Fox. "I didn't think there were so many people in the whole world and here they are, all packed in our valley!"

These were strange people, these Grass people. When the wind blew they went into a wild dance with much bowing and curtseying to each other. The dance grew more and more frenzied, the Grasses fought and stabbed and clubbed each other with frury, then when the wind abated, they resumed their normal occupations after a few more polite bowings to each other. There did not seem to be any dead or wounded. 

The Bear party descended into the valley gradually. Soon they began to meet with groups of Grass people, tall fellows, some of them armed with bows-and-arrows and others with spears and daggers. But all of them were thin -- very , very thin. That was the reason they never were hurt in their frenzied dances when the wind blew down the valley: the arrows, spears, and daggers never found their bodies. 

Finally the Bear party reached the floor of the valley. Just as they were going to pay their respects to the Grass chief, the wind started to blow, at first gently; and all the Grass people began to dance and sing and curtsey to each other. Fox and Oriole could not resist it, so they started swaying and bowing and curtseying to each other. Then Antelope caught it and she started swaying and curtseying to Bear and Grizzly. At that moment the Chief of the Grass people arrived, bowing and swaying and curtseying right and left. And now Coyote Old Man was swaying and curtseying to the Grass Chief. 

Now the Grass Chief made a speech of welcome:

"We are happy to see you go through our land, very happy indeed. But please do not build any campfires. We have a horror of fire, it reminds us too much of our traditional enemies, the Fire people, who live in the next valley. They are horrible people, quarrelsome, violent, treacherous. Indeed, I grieve to think you have to cross their land. Watch out for them. But after you are through their land, if they have not killed and burned you, you will arrive at the land of the Water people. Ah! they are wonderful people, generous and kind. But we so seldom see them. The dreadful Fire people are afraid of the Waters and won't let them go through the Fire valley. And the Waters, also, are not very brave, I must admit; kind people, generous people, but somewhat indolent and long on suffering. Well, go on your way, go on your way, and good luck to you. But Please do not make any campfires."

Now a gentle breeze swept down the valley and the Chief and all the Grass people started swaying and bowing gracefully. The Bears could do no less than return the compliment, so they started bowing and swaying to the right and the left and commenced to climb out of the valley.

Jaime de Angulo
Indian Tales

Jaime de Angulo is the American Ovid. 
    ~ Ezra Pound

One of the most outstanding writers I have ever encountered.
     ~ William Carlos Williams