Reading Notes: The Race Between the Crane and the Hummingbird #2
In this story, the Hummingbird and the Crane were both in love with the same woman. She loved the Hummingbird more, who was handsome, and the Crane was awkward, but so persistent. In order to get rid of the Crane, she told him that he must challenge the Hummingbird to a race and that she would marry the winner. She knew that the Hummingbird was as fast as lightning and that the Crane was slow and heavy, so she felt sure of her decision.
They agreed to start flying from her house and go around the circle of the world to the beginning. Whoever came in first, she would marry. The Hummingbird darted off and was soon out of sight, leaving the Crane in the dust. He flew all day and stopped at night to rest, knowing he was far ahead. But the Crane continued throughout the night and didn't stop until sunrise, when he stopped at a creek to rest and eat some tadpoles. When the Hummingbird awoke and continued flying, he passed the creek and wondered how the Crane ever passed him but continued on and soon lost him again.
The Crane finished eating and continued on and the same thing happened as the last night - the Hummingbird slept though the night, and the Crane continued on and finished eating before he had even awoke. The next day he gained a little more, and the next day, and so on. On the seventh day, the Crane was a whole night's travel ahead. He took his time for breakfast and fixed himself up, knowing he'd be back at the woman's house soon.
When the Hummingbird arrived the next afternoon to find out he had lost the race, the woman had already declared she would never marry someone as ugly as the Crane. So she stayed single.
I chose to write notes over this story because it was about animals and I think I could change it up to fit my zoo theme well.
Hummingbird. Link here
Bibliography: The Race Between the Crane and the Hummingbird in Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney (1900).
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