Folklore Themes: Drowning

As much as women need rain and rivers, water also presents a deadly hazard. Fast water can knock a person off her feet, and even still water can drown someone who falls in and is unable to get out. Stories of such deaths are told as warnings to children to be careful around bodies of water.

From Finding Old Ancestor:

The tree turned aside. The wall of plant trash broke. Water moved through the opening, pulling Kick To Break along. I reached, reached, and finally touched and held the hide tied around his belly. With every breath I pulled and pulled and at last he was safe, safe out of the water. But he did not move, did not breathe.

Dead! After days, months, season after season of searching for water, we finally found it, and before he could even drink it it killed him!