Beginning with Creek tales, this work presents a blend of Native American and African American folktales, organised according to the indigenous people who told them. These stories include the American Southeast’s most notorious trickster, Rabbit; his victims such as Alligator, Wildcat and Wolf; and other tricksters such as Buzzard, Pig and Possum.

Table of ContentsPrefacePurposeOrigins and Organization of the SelectionsIssues of Authentication and SovereigntyAdditional InformationAcknowledgmentsIntroduction to the TricksterA Ubiquitous CharacterKey AttributesGender IssuesConclusionCreek TalesThe Way of RabbitWhy Rabbit StealsThe People Discover Rabbit's WaysRabbit Gets Lion Across the OceanRabbit Plays Scratch with WildcatRabbit Challenges Two ­Tie-SnakesRabbit and the Buffaloes' ­Tug-o-WarRabbit Fools AlligatorTerrapin Fools RabbitRaccoon, Panther, and the DeerRabbit and the Woman's Only SonRabbit and WolfHow Rabbit Married the Widow's DaughterRabbit Tricks CoyoteRabbit Deceives the Other AnimalsRabbit Escapes from the BoxHow Rabbit Won a Second WifeThe Boy Who Outwitted the BuffaloesThe Boy and the LionHitchiti TalesThe Wolves Try to Trick the DogsRabbit Does the Old Man's BiddingRabbit, Wolf, and BuzzardRabbit, Wildcat, the Big Tree, and the NutsRabbit, Wildcat, and the BuffaloBear, Rabbit, and Buzzard (or, The Bungling Host)Rabbit and the MedicineRabbit and the Vegetable GardenRabbit's False TalkRabbit and the Old Man's DaughtersAlabama TalesBig ­Man-Eater's Wife Gets Fed UpRabbit Kills Big ­Man-EaterRabbit Frees the SunAn Orphan Outdoes RabbitSkunk Deceives the WolvesKoasati/Coushatta TalesRabbit Provides FireRabbit and Big ­Man-Eater Trade ShoesRabbit, Big ­Man-Eater, and the RiverRabbit Plays Pranks on ElephantRabbit's Grandmother Punishes BuzzardRabbit, the Turkeys, and Spunk SoupPossum and Panther Become PartnersNatchez TalesPerch Fools OwlWolf and Rabbit Cannot Get AlongRabbit Kills AlligatorThe Young Hunter's AdventuresWhy Possum Hangs by His TailFox and Crawfish Have a RaceTurkey Tricks WildcatThe Fawn, the Wolves, the Skunk, and the TerrapinSeminole TalesRabbit Brings Back FireRabbit Wants a WifeThe Thunder Boys Deceive and Kill an Old WomanCatawba TalesRabbit Steals Fire from BuzzardThe Woman Who Stole a Boy and Became a CometHow Possum Tricked Deer and WolfPig and WolfHow Fox Took Turtle's WaterHow Rooster Tricked FoxThe Cherokee Hunter OutwittedCherokee TalesHow Turkey Took Terrapin's ScalpTerrapin Outwits the WolvesHow Partridge Got His WhistleRabbit Steals Otter's CoatWhy Possum's Tail Has No HairRabbit Hunts DucksRabbit and Possum Try to Get a WifeRabbit Escapes from WolvesRabbit and Tar WolfRabbit Escapes from WildcatHow Rabbit Got a Split LipDeer Gets HornsWhy Deer Has Blunt TeethWhat Happened to RabbitAppendix A: Story Adaptations and Authentication of SourcesAppendix B: Sovereignty and AppropriationAppendix C: Social Climate and Swanton's Use of LatinAppendix D: Historical Sketches of Southeastern Native Groups and Commentary on Selected VariantsNotesBibliographyIndex