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Miwok - A Legend of Creation
Long ago, the world was covered with water. The Coyote Man wanted to make people, but Frog said that a world covered with water would not make a good home for people.
The Coyote Man told the frog to go to the bottom of the water and bring up some soil to make land. Frog was gone four days. When he came back up, he said that there was no soil. Coyote Man said, "You did not go deep enough. Try again." This time, Frog was gone four months. Again he returned to Coyote Man empty handed. "You did not go deep enough." said Coyote Man. "This time, do not come up until you have found soil." Frog was gone four years. When he finally came up, Coyote Man said excitedly, "Did you get it? Did you get the soil?" Frog dejectedly explained that he could not find the soil. Coyote Man sat down to think. As he was thinking, some sunlight hit Frog's leg, and made it sparkle like the sun. There were a few small grains of sand stuck on Frog's leg! Coyote Man picked up the pieces of sand and threw them to and fro across the water. Each piece grew into a large piece of land . He put sticks on the ground where he wanted people to live and he gave each place a name. When all the sticks were placed and all the places named, he turned each stick into a person. And that is how people were created.
( As told by Scarlett)
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