Man Is Stronger

Simeon Falconer, Santa Cruz Mountains.

The Lion and the Tiger were very good friends. Tiger says, “No one beat us in strength!” Lion said, “No, my friend, somebody that’s stronger than we. Tiger said no, no, he cannot believe that. Lion said there was a little something called “Man” that was stronger. So Tiger says he will have to find that something called “Man.”

And he go hunting the Man and he buck up Mr. Ram-goat and he ask him if him name “Man”. Goat says yes. And he asked him if the two things he had up here (horns) called “gun”. And he asked him if that long scar he have on belly, called “ram-rod.” And he asked him if that bag he had, called “shot-bag.” And Goat said yes. And Tiger walk up and lick him flat on the ground. Goat holla “Wi-i! wi-i-i!” And Tiger went back to Lion and say he find something called “Man” and single lick he lick him, fa’ dead. Lion say, “No, me friend! dat no ‘Man’, for Man have two feet an’ dat you tell me have four legs.” Tiger say will have to go back again find Man, for he bound to have that something called “Man”.

And he went out again seeking after “Man”, and a Hunter was out. And he saw the Hunter and he said, “Now this yeah mus’ Man!” And so him gwine up to de man, de Hunter aiming for him with the gun, and ask if him name “Man”. And the Hunter drive at him with the gun. And he run back to Lion and could only say, “I find ‘Man’ an’ him single answer him answer me, blood fly all t’ru me body!” and him dead. Lion says, “I tell you; you no believe me; but you believe me now!”