In ancient times, a grotesquely ugly boy lived with his grandmother near Kʻiákime. His appearance was strikingly abnormal, with a blue body, a twisted nose, and a head adorned with red protrusions. The region experienced an abundance of natural resources, but an old Bear terrorized the area, preventing the villagers from gathering food. The Bear claimed the land and its bounty, causing fear and injury among the people. Despite his grandmother's warnings, the boy decided to confront the Bear and gather food. Upon reaching the Southeastern Mesa, he was immediately confronted by the Bear, who threatened to attack. The boy proposed a challenge: they would each attempt to frighten the other, and whoever could withstand the fright would claim the rights to the land's resources. The Bear accepted the challenge and attempted to scare the boy, but the boy remained unfazed. Impressed by the boy's bravery, the Bear conceded that he was indeed a man. The boy then suggested that he should try to frighten the Bear. He returned home to prepare, where his grandmother painted his face to make him look even more fearsome and provided him with a magical stone axe. Armed with the axe, the boy returned to the Bear, who was still foraging. The boy struck a tree with the axe, creating a thunderous noise that startled the Bear. The boy continued to strike trees, each time causing greater fear in the Bear, who eventually fled in terror, believing he was being pursued by a demon. With the Bear gone, the boy returned to his grandmother and informed her of his victory. She instructed him to announce to the villagers that they could safely gather food without fear. The boy climbed a high rock and proclaimed the news, though some villagers remained skeptical due to his appearance. Ultimately, the villagers began to gather food freely, while the Bear, convinced of the boy's power, stayed away from the mesas. The story concludes with a reflection on the enduring fear of the Bear and the newfound freedom of the villagers to collect resources, illustrating themes of courage, perception, and the impact of fear on community actions.
By Frank Hamilton Cushing · First published 1883 · Genre: Folklore, Children's Literature, Fantasy