# How the Turtle Out Hunting Duped the Coyote explained — Zuni Folktales

> Chapter companion for Zuni Folktales by Frank Hamilton Cushing.

## What happens

The old Turtle kills a deer but lacks a knife to skin it. He sings a magic song to find a flint, attracting a Coyote who helps skin the deer in exchange for the stomach and liver. The Coyote demands half, but the Turtle refuses, leading to a conflict. The Turtle outwits the Coyote and his family by hiding the meat in a tree, tricking them with a hot pudding filled with fire-ants, and ultimately causing the Coyotes' demise through clever deception.

## Themes in this chapter

### Folklore vs. Science

The Turtle's magic song to find a flint-knife and the Coyote's superstitious behavior contrast with the practical ingenuity of the Turtle's hunting and deception.

### Nature and the Supernatural

The story blends natural elements (deer, tree, ants) with supernatural elements (magic song, talking animals) in a traditional Zuni folktale.

## Character check-ins

### The Turtle

The old Turtle uses ingenuity to kill a deer, outwits the Coyote, and ultimately retains the meat through clever tricks.

### Coyote

The Coyote helps skin the deer, demands half, and later returns with his family to retrieve the meat, but is repeatedly duped by the Turtle.

### Coyotes

The Coyote's family, including cubs and the old woman, are tricked by the Turtle with a hot pudding filled with fire-ants and later crushed by falling ribs.

## Key lines

> In the times of the ancients, long, long ago, near the Highflowing River on the Zuni Mountains, there lived an old Turtle.

A long time ago, an old Turtle lived near the Highflowing River in the Zuni Mountains.

_Sets the setting of the folktale in ancient Zuni territory._

> He went out hunting, one day, and by means of his ingenuity killed a large, fine deer.

One day, he went hunting and cleverly killed a big, healthy deer.

_Highlights the Turtle's resourcefulness._

> Ingenuity enabled me to kill a deer. Ingenuity enabled me to retain the deer.

My cleverness allowed me to kill the deer and keep it.

_The Turtle's final reflection underscores the theme of wit over strength._

## Links

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