Preface
InthebeginningoftheNew—making,theancientfatherslivedsuccessivelyinfourcavesintheFourfold—containing—earth。Thefirstwasofsootyblackness,blackasachimneyatnighttime;thesecond,darkasthenightinthestormyseason;thethird,likeavalleyinstarlight;thefourth,withalightlikethedawning。Thentheycameupinthenight—shineintotheWorldofKnowingandSeeing。
SorunstheZunimyth,andittypifieswellthementaldevelopment,insight,andbeautyofspeechoftheIndiantribesalongthePacificCoast,fromthoseofAlaskainthefar—awayNorthland,withhalfoflifespentinactualdarknessandmorethanhalfinthestruggleforexistenceagainstthecoldandthestormsloosedbyfatalcuriosityfromthebear’sbagofbitter,icywinds,totheexquisiteimageryoftheZunisandotherdeserttribes,ontheirsunnyplainsintheSouthland。
Itwasinthenight—shineofthissouthernland,withitsclear,dryairandbrilliantstars,thattheIndians,lookingupattheheavensabovethem,toldthestoryofthebagofstarsofUtset,theFirstMother,whogavetothescarabbeetle,whenthefloodscame,thebagofStarPeople,sendinghimfirstintotheworldabove。Itwasalongclimbtotheworldaboveandthetiredlittlefellow,oncesafe,satdownbythesack。
Afterawhilehecutatinyholeinthebag,justtoseewhatwasinit,buttheStarPeopleflewoutandfilledtheheavenseverywhere。Yethesavedafewstarsbygraspingtheneckofthesack,andsatthere,frightenedandsad,whenUtset,theFirstMother,askedwhathehaddonewiththebeautifulStarPeople。
TheSky—fatherhimself,inthoseearlyyearsoftheNew—making,spreadouthishandwiththepalmdownward,andintoallthewrinklesofhishandsetthesemblanceofshiningyellowcorn—grains,gleaminglikesparksoffireinthedarkoftheearlyWorld—dawn。"See,"saidSky—fathertoEarth—mother,"ourchildrenshallbeguidedbythesewhentheSun—fatherisnotnearandthymountainterracesareasdarknessitself。Thenshallourchildrenbeguidedbylight。"SoSky—fathercreatedthestars。Thenhesaid,"Andevenasthesegrainsgleamupwardfromthewater,soshallseedgrainlikethemspringupfromtheearthwhentouchedbywater,tonourishourchildren。"AndhecreatedthegoldenSeed—stuffofthecorn。
ItisaroundthebeautifulCornMaidensthatperhapsthemostdelicateofallimageryclings,Maidensoffendedwhenthedancerssoughttheirpresencealltoofreely,nolongerholdingthemsopreciousasintheoldentime,sothat,inwhitegarments,theybecameinvisibleinthethickeningwhitemists。Thensadlyandnoiselesslytheystoleinamongstthepeopleandlaidtheircornwandsdownamongstthetrays,andlaidtheirwhitebroideredgarmentsthereon,asmotherslaysoftkiltingovertheirbabes。Evenasthemistsbecamethey,andwiththemistsdrifting,fledaway,tothesouthSummer—land。
TheybeganthesearchfortheCornMaidens,foundatlastonlybyPaiyatuma,thegodofdawn,fromwhoseflutecamewonderfulmusic,asofliquidvoicesincaverns,ortheechoofwomen’slaughterinwatervases,heardonlybymenofnightsastheywanderedupanddowntherivertrail。
Whenhepausedtorestonhisjourney,playingonhispaintedflute,butterfliesandbirdssoughthim,andhesentthembeforetoseektheMaidens,evenbeforetheycouldhearthemusicofhissong—sound。AndtheMaidensfilledtheircoloredtrayswithseed—cornfromtheirfields,andoverallspreadbroideredmantles,broideredwiththebrightcolorsandthecreaturesignsoftheSummer—land,andthusfollowinghim,journeyedonlyatnightanddawn,asthedeaddo,andthestarsalso。
BacktotheSeedPeopletheycame,butonlytogivetotheancientsthepreciousseed,andthishavingbeengiven,thedarknessofnightfellaroundthem。Asshadowsindeepnight,sotheseMaidensoftheSeedofCorn,thebelovedandbeautiful,wereseennomoreofmen。ButShutsukawalkedbehindtheMaidens,whistlingshrillyastheyspedsouthward,evenasthefrostwindwhistleswhenthecornisgatheredaway,amongthelonecanesandthedryleavesofagleanedfield。
ThemythsofCalifornia,ingeneral,areofthesametypeasthosegiveninaprecedingvolumeonthemythsofthePacificNorthwest。IndeedmanyofthemythsofNorthernCaliforniantribesaresoobviouslythesameasthoseoftheModocsandKlamathIndiansthattheyhavenotbeenrepeated。CoyoteandFoxreignsupreme,astheydoalongtheentirecoast,thoughthebirdsoftheairtakeagreaterpartinthecreationofthings。Thesestoriesarequaintandwhimsical,buttheylackthebeautyofthemythsofthedeserttribes。ThereisnothinginallCalifornianmyths,sofarasIhavestudiedthem,whichinanywaycompareswiththeoneoftheCornMaidens,referredtoabove,ortheSiamythsoftheCloudPeople。Inthecompilationofthisvolume,thesameideahasgovernedasinthetwoprecedingvolumes?simplythepreparationofavolumeofthequainter,purermyths,suitableforgeneralreading,authentic,andwithillustrationsofthecountryportrayed,butwithnopretensionstobeingapurelyscientificpieceofwork。Scientificpeopleknowwellthegovernmentdocumentsandreportsoflearnedsocietieswhichcontainmythsofallkinds,good,bad,andindifferent。
Butthevolumesofthisseriesareintendedforpopularuse。Changeshavebeenmadeonlyinabridgmentsoflongconversationsandofceremonialdetailswhichdetractedfromthemythasamyth,eventhoughofgreatethnologicalimportance。
EspecialcreditisdueinthisvolumetotheworkoftheethnologistswhoseworkhasappearedinthepublicationsoftheSmithsonianInstitution,andtheU。S。GeographicalandGeologicalSurveysWestoftheRockyMountains:toMrs。MathildaCoxStevensonfortheSiamyths,andtothelateJamesStevensonfortheNavajomythsandsandpainting;
tothelateFrankHamiltonCushingfortheZunimyths,tothelateFrankRussellforthePimamyths,tothelateStephenPowersfortheCalifornianmyths,andalsotoJamesMooneyandCosmosMindeleff。TherecentpublicationsoftheUniversityofCaliforniaonthemythsofthetribesofthatStatehavenotbeenincluded。
ThanksarealsoduetotheSmithsonianInstitutionfortheillustrationsaccreditedtothem,totheCarnegieInstitutionofWashingtonforillustrationsfromtheDesertBotanicalLaboratoryatTucson,Arizona,andtoMr。FerdinardEllermanoftheMountWilsonObservatoryandtoothers。
K。B。J。
DepartmentofHistory,UniversityofWashington。
TableofContentsTheBeginningofNewness—Zuni(NewMexico)
TheMenoftheEarlyTimes—Zuni(NewMexico)
CreationandLongevity—Achomawi(PitRiver,Cal。)
OldMolesCreation—Shastika(Cal。)
TheCreationoftheWorld—Pima(Arizona)
Spider’sCreation—Sia(NewMexico)
TheGodsandtheSixRegionsHowOldManAboveCreatedtheWorld—Shastika(Cal。)
TheSearchfortheMiddleandtheHardeningoftheWorld—Zuni(NewMexico)
OriginofLight—Gallinomero(RussianRiver,Cal。)
Pokoh,theOldMan—PaiUte(nearKernRiver,Cal。)
ThunderandLightning—Maidu(nearSacramentoValley。Cal。)
CreationofMan—Miwok(SanJoaquinValley,Cal。)
TheFirstManandWoman—Nishinam(nearBearRiver,Cal。)
OldManAboveandtheGrizzlies—Shastika(Cal。)
TheCreationofMan—kindandtheFlood—Pima(Arizona)
TheBirdsandtheFlood—Pima(Arizona)
LegendoftheFlood—Ashochimi(CoastIndians,Cal。)
TheGreatFlood—Sia(NewMexico)
TheFloodandtheTheftofFire—Tolowa(DelNorteCo。,Cal。)
LegendoftheFloodinSacramentoMaiduValley—(nearSacramento,Cal。)
TheFableoftheAnimals—Karok(nearKlamathRiver,Cal。)
CoyoteandSun—PaiUte(nearKernRiver,Cal。)
TheCourseoftheSun—Sia(NewMexico)
TheFoxesandtheSun—Yurok(nearKlamathRiver,Cal。)
TheTheftofFire—Karok(nearKlamathRiver,Cal。)
TheTheftofFire—Sia(NewMexico)
TheEarth—hardeningaftertheFlood—Sia(NewMexico)
TheOriginsoftheTotemsandofNames—Zuni(NewMexico)
TraditionsofWanderings—Hopi(Arizona)
TheMigrationoftheWaterPeople—Walpi(Arizona)
CoyoteandtheMesquiteBeans—Pima(Arizona)
OriginoftheSierraNevadasandCoastRange—Yokuts(nearFresno,Cal。)
YosemiteValleyanditsIndianNamesLegendofTu—tok—a—nu’—la(ElCapitan)—YosemiteValleyLegendofTis—se’—yak(SouthDomeandNorthDome)YosemiteValleyHistoricTraditionoftheUpperTuolumne—YosemiteValleyCaliforniaBigTrees—PaiUte(nearKernRiver,Cal。)
TheChildrenofCloud—Pima(Arizona)
TheCloudPeople—Sia(NewMexico)
RainSong—Sia(NewMexico)
RainSongRainSong—Sia(NewMexico)
TheCornMaidens—Zuni(NewMexico)
TheSearchfortheCornMaidens—Zuni(NewMexico)
HasjeltiandHostjoghon—Navajo(NewMexico)
TheSong—hunter—Navajo(NewMexico)
SandPaintingoftheSong—hunter—NavajoTheGuidingDuckandtheLakeofDeath—Zuni(NewMexico)
TheBoywhoBecameaGod—Navajo(NewMexico)
OriginofClearLake—Patwin(SacramentoValley,Cal。)
TheGreatFire—Patwin(SacramentoValley,Cal。)
OriginoftheRavenandtheMacaw—Zuni(NewMexico)
CoyoteandtheHare—Sia(NewMexico)
CoyoteandtheQuails—Pima(Arizona)
CoyoteandtheFawns—Sia(NewMexico)
HowtheBluebirdGotitsColor—Pima(Arizona)
Coyote’sEyes—Pima(Arizona)
CoyoteandtheTortillas—Pima(Arizona)
CoyoteasaHunter—Sia(NewMexico)
HowtheRattlesnakeLearnedtoBite—Pima(Arizona)
CoyoteandtheRattlesnake—Sia(NewMexico)
OriginoftheSaguaroandPaloVerdeCacti—Pima(Arizona)
TheThirstyQuails—Pima(Arizona)
TheBoyandtheBeast—Pima(Arizona)
WhytheApachesareFierce—Pima(Arizona)
SpeechontheWarpath—Pima(Arizona)
TheSpiritLand—Gallinomero(RussianRiver,Cal。)
SongoftheGhostDance—PaiUte(KernRiver,Cal。)
TheBeginningofNewnessZuni(NewMexico)
BeforethebeginningoftheNew—making,theAll—fatherFatheralonehadbeing。Throughagestherewasnothingelseexceptblackdarkness。
InthebeginningoftheNew—making,theAll—fatherFatherthoughtoutwardinspace,andmistswerecreatedandup—lifted。ThusthroughhisknowledgehemadehimselftheSunwhowasthuscreatedandisthegreatFather。Thedarkspacesbrightenedwithlight。Thecloudmiststhickenedandbecamewater。
Fromhisflesh,theSun—fathercreatedtheSeed—stuffofworlds,andhehimselfresteduponthewaters。Andthesetwo,theFour—fold—containingEarth—motherandtheAll—coveringSky—father,thesurpassingbeings,withpowerofchangingtheirformsevenassmokechangesinthewind,werethefatherandmotherofthesoulbeings。
Thenasmanandwomanspokethesetwotogether。"Behold!"saidEarth—mother,asagreatterracedbowlappearedathand,andwithinitwater,"Thisshallbethehomeofmytinychildren。Ontherimofeachworld—countryinwhichtheywander,terracedmountainsshallstand,makinginoneregionmanymountainsbywhichonecountryshallbeknownfromanother。"
Thenshespatonthewaterandstruckitandstirreditwithherfingers。Foamgatheredabouttheterracedrim,mountinghigherandhigher。Thenwithherwarmbreathsheblewacrosstheterraces。Whiteflecksoffoambrokeawayandfloatedoverthewater。ButthecoldbreathofSky—fathershatteredthefoamanditfelldownwardinfinemistandspray。
ThenEarth—motherspoke:
"Evensoshallwhitecloudsfloatupfromthegreatwatersatthebordersoftheworld,andclusteringaboutthemountainterracesofthehorizon,shallbebrokenandhardenedbythycold。Thenwilltheysheddownward,inrain—spray,thewateroflife,evenintothehollowplacesofmylap。Forinmylapshallnestleourchildren,man—kindandcreature—kind,forwarmthinthycoldness。"
SoevennowthetreesonhighmountainsnearthecloudsandSky—father,crouchlowtowardEarthmotherforwarmthandprotection。WarmisEarth—mother,coldourSky—father。
ThenSky—fathersaid,"Evenso。YetI,too,willbehelpfultoourchildren。"Thenhespreadhishandoutwiththepalmdownwardandintoallthewrinklesofhishandhesetthesemblanceofshiningyellowcorn—grains;inthedarkoftheearlyworld—dawntheygleamedlikesparksoffire。
"See,"hesaid,pointingtothesevengrainsbetweenhisthumbandfourfingers,"ourchildrenshallbeguidedbythesewhentheSun—fatherisnotnearandthyterracesareasdarknessitself。Thenshallourchildrenbeguidedbylights。"SoSky—fathercreatedthestars。Thenhesaid,"Andevenasthesegrainsgleamupfromthewater,soshallseedgrainlikethemspringupfromtheearthwhentouchedbywater,tonourishourchildren。"Andthustheycreatedtheseed—corn。Andinmanyotherwaystheydevisedfortheirchildren,thesoul—beings。
Butthefirstchildren,inacaveoftheearth,wereunfinished。Thecavewasofsootyblackness,blackasachimneyatnighttime,andfoul。
Loudbecametheirmurmuringsandlamentations,untilmanysoughttoescape,growingwiserandmoreman—like。
Buttheearthwasnotthenaswenowseeit。ThenSun—fathersentdowntwosons(sonsalsooftheFoam—cap),theBelovedTwain,TwinBrothersofLight,yetElderandYounger,theRightandtheLeft,liketoquestionandanswerindecidinganddoing。TothemtheSun—fatherimpartedhisownwisdom。Hegavethemthegreatcloud—bow,andforarrowsthethunderboltsofthefourquarters。Forbuckler,theyhadthefog—makingshield,spunandwovenofthefloatingcloudsandspray。Theshieldsupportsitsbearer,ascloudsaresupportedbythewind,yethidesitsbeareralso。Andhegavetothemthefathershipandcontrolofmenandofallcreatures。ThentheBelovedTwain,withtheirgreatcloud—bowliftedtheSky—fatherintothevaultoftheskies,thattheearthmightbecomewarmandfitterformenandcreatures。Thenalongthesun—seekingtrail,theyspedtothemountainswestward。Withmagicknivestheyspreadopenthedepthsofthemountainanduncoveredthecaveinwhichdwelttheunfinishedmenandcreatures。Sotheydweltwithmen,learningtoknowthem,andseekingtoleadthemout。
Nowthereweregrowingthingsinthedepths,likegrassesandvines。SotheBelovedTwainbreathedonthestems,growingtalltowardthelightasgrassiswonttodo,makingthemstronger,andtwistingthemupwarduntiltheyformedagreatladderbywhichmenandcreaturesascendedtoasecondcave。
Uptheladderintothesecondcave—world,menandthebeingscrowded,followingcloselytheTwoLittlebutMightyOnes。Yetmanyfellbackandwerelostinthedarkness。Theypeopledtheunder—worldfromwhichtheyescapedinaftertime,amidterribleearthshakings。
Inthissecondcaveitwasasdarkasthenightofastormyseason,butlargerofspaceandhigher。Hereagainmenandthebeingsincreased,andtheircomplainingsgrewloud。SotheTwainagainincreasedthegrowthoftheladder,andagainledmenupward,notallatonce,butinsixbands,tobecomethefathersofthesixkindsofmen,theyellow,thetawnygray,thered,thewhite,theblack,andthemingled。Andthistimealsomanywerelostorleftbehind。
Nowthethirdgreatcavewaslargerandlighter,likeavalleyinstarlight。Andagaintheyincreasedinnumber。AndagaintheTwoledthemoutintoafourthcave。Hereitwaslightlikedawning,andmenbegantoperceiveandtolearnvariously,accordingtotheirnatures,whereforetheTwaintaughtthemfirsttoseektheSun—father。
Thenasthelastcavebecamefilledandmenlearnedtounderstand,theTwoledthemforthagainintothegreatupperworld,whichistheWorldofKnowingSeeing。
TheMenoftheEarlyTimesZuni(NewMexico)
Eightyearswasbutfourdaysandfournightswhentheworldwasnew。Itwaswhilesuchdaysandnightscontinuedthatmenwereledout,inthenight—shineoftheWorldofSeeing。Forevenwhentheysawthegreatstar,theythoughtittheSun—fatherhimself,itsoburnedtheireye—balls。
Menandcreaturesweremorealikethenthannow。Ourfatherswereblack,likethecavestheycamefrom;theirskinswerecoldandscalylikethoseofmudcreatures;theireyesweregoggledlikeanowl’s;theirearswerelikethoseofcavebats;theirfeetwerewebbedlikethoseofwalkersinwetandsoftplaces;theyhadtails,longorshort,astheywereoldoryoung。Mencrouchedwhentheywalked,orcrawledalongthegroundlikelizards。Theyfearedtowalkstraight,butcrouchedasbeforetimetheyhadintheircaveworlds,thattheymightnotstumbleorfallintheuncertainlight。
Whenthemorningstararose,theyblinkedexcessivelywhentheybehelditsbrightnessandcriedoutthatnowsurelytheFatherwascoming。ButitwasonlytheelderoftheBrightOnes,heraldingwithhisshieldofflametheapproachoftheSun—father。Andwhen,lowdownintheeast,theSun—fatherhimselfappeared,thoughshroudedinthemistoftheworld—waters,theywereblindedandheatedbyhislightandglory。Theyfelldownwallowingandcoveredtheireyeswiththeirhandsandarms,yeteverastheylookedtowardthelight,theystruggledtowardtheSunasmothsandothernightcreaturesseekthelightofacampfire。Thustheybecameusedtothelight。Butwhentheyroseandwalkedstraight,nolongerbending,andlookeduponeachother,theysoughttoclothethemselveswithgirdlesandgarmentsofbarkandrushes。Andwhenbywalkingonlyupontheirhinderfeettheywerebruisedbystoneandsand,theyplaitedsandalsofyuccafibre。
CreationandLongevityAchomawi(PitRiver,Cal。)
Coyotebeganthecreationoftheearth,butEaglecompletedit。Coyotescratcheditupwithhispawsoutofnothingness,butEaglecomplainedtherewerenomountainsforhimtoperchon。SoCoyotemadehills,buttheywerenothighenough。ThereforeEaglescratchedupgreatridges。
WhenEagleflewoverthem,hisfeathersdroppeddown,tookroot,andbecametrees。Thepinfeathersbecamebushesandplants。
CoyoteandFoxtogethercreatedman。Theyquarrelledastowhethertheyshouldletmenlivealwaysornot。Coyotesaid,"Iftheywanttodie,letthemdie。"Foxsaid,"Iftheywanttocomeback,letthemcomeback。"ButCoyote’smedicinewasstronger,andnobodyevercameback。
Coyotealsobroughtfireintotheworld,fortheIndianswerefreezing。
Hejourneyedfartothewest,toaplacewheretherewasfire,stolesomeofit,andbroughtithomeinhisears。Hekindledafireinthemountains,andtheIndianssawthesmokeofit,andwentupandgotfire。
OldMole’sCreationShastika(Cal。)
Long,longago,beforetherewasanyearth,OldMoleburrowedunderneathSomewhere,andthrewuptheearthwhichformstheworld。ThenGreatMancreatedthepeople。ButtheIndianswerecold。
NowinthecastgleamedthewhiteFireStone。ThereforeCoyotejourneyedeastward,andbroughtbacktheFireStonefortheIndians。Sopeoplehadfire。
Inthebeginning,Sunhadninebrothers,allflaminghotlikehimself。
ButCoyotekilledtheninebrothersandsosavedtheworldfromburningup。ButMoonalsohadninebrothersallmadeofice,likehimself,andtheNightPeoplealmostfrozetodeath。ThereforeCoyotewentawayoutontheeasternedgeoftheworldwithhisflint—stoneknife。Heheatedstonestokeephishandswarm,andastheMoonsarose,hekilledoneafteranotherwithhisflint—stoneknife,untilhehadslainnineofthem。Thusthepeopleweresavedfromfreezingatnight。
Whenitrains,someIndian,sickinheaven,isweeping。Long,longago,therewasagoodyoungIndianonearth。WhenhediedtheIndiansweptsothatafloodcameupontheearth,anddrownedallpeopleexceptonecouple。
TheCreationoftheWorldPima(Arizona)
Inthebeginningtherewasnothingatallexceptdarkness。Allwasdarknessandemptiness。Foralong,longwhile,thedarknessgathereduntilitbecameagreatmass。OverthisthespiritofEarthDoctordriftedtoandfrolikeafluffybitofcottoninthebreeze。ThenEarthDoctordecidedtomakeforhimselfanabidingplace。Sohethoughtwithinhimself,"Comeforth,somekindofplant,"andthereappearedthecreosotebush。Heplacedthisbeforehimandsetitupright。Butitatoncefellover。Hesetituprightagain;againitfell。Soitfelluntilthefourthtimeitremainedupright。ThenEarthDoctortookfromhisbreastalittledustandflatteneditintoacake。Whenthedustcakewasstill,hedanceduponit,singingamagicsong。
Nexthecreatedsomeblackinsectswhichmadeblackgumonthecreosotebush。Thenhemadeatermitewhichworkedwiththesmallearthcakeuntilitgrewverylarge。Ashesanganddanceduponit,theflatWorldstretchedoutonallsidesuntilitwasaslargeasitisnow。Thenhemadearoundsky—covertofitoverit,roundlikethehousesofthePimas。Buttheearthshookandstretched,sothatitwasunsafe。SoEarthDoctormadeagrayspiderwhichwastospinawebaroundtheedgesoftheearthandsky,fasteningthemtogether。Whenthiswasdone,theearthgrewfirmandsolid。
EarthDoctormadewater,mountains,trees,grass,andweeds—madeeverythingasweseeitnow。Butallwasstillinkyblackness。Thenhemadeadish,pouredwaterintoit,anditbecameice。Hethrewthisroundblockoficefartothenorth,anditfellattheplacewheretheearthandskywerewoventogether。Atoncetheicebegantogleamandshine。Wecallitnowthesun。Itrosefromthegroundinthenorthupintotheskyandthenfellback。EarthDoctortookitandthrewittothewestwheretheearthandskyweresewntogether。Itroseintotheskyandagainslidbacktotheearth。Thenhethrewittothefarsouth,butitslidbackagaintotheflatearth。Thenatlasthethrewittotheeast。Itrosehigherandhigherintheskyuntilitreachedthehighestpointintheroundbluecoverandbegantoslidedownontheotherside。Andsothesundoesevenyet。
ThenEarthDoctorpouredmorewaterintothedishanditbecameice。Hesangamagicsong,andthrewtheroundballoficetothenorthwheretheearthandskyarewoventogether。Itgleamedandshone,butnotsobrightlyasthesun。Itbecamethemoon,anditroseinthesky,butfellbackagain,justasthesunhaddone。Sohethrewtheballtothewest,andthentothesouth,butitslidbackeachtimetotheearth。
Thenhethrewittotheeast,anditrosetothehighestpointinthesky—coverandbegantoslidedownontheotherside。Andsoitdoesevento—day,followingthesun。
ButEarthDoctorsawthatwhenthesunandmoonwerenotinthesky,allwasinkydarkness。Sohesangamagicsong,andtooksomewaterintohismouthandblewitintothesky,inaspray,tomakelittlestars。Thenhetookhismagiccrystalandbrokeitintopiecesandthrewthemintothesky,tomakethelargerstars。Nexthetookhiswalkingstickandplacedashesontheendofit。ThenhedrewitacrosstheskytoformtheMilkyWay。SoEarthDoctormadeallthestars。
Spider’sCreationSia(NewMexico)
Inthebeginning,long,longago,therewasbutonebeinginthelowerworld。Thiswasthespider,Sussistinnako。Atthattimetherewerenootherinsects,nobirds,animals,oranyotherlivingcreature。
Thespiderdrewalineofmealfromnorthtosouthandthencrosseditwithanotherlinerunningeastandwest。Oneachsideofthefirstline,northofthesecond,heplacedtwosmallparcels。TheywerepreciousbutnooneknowswhatwasinthemexceptSpider。Thenhesatdownneartheparcelsandbegantosing。Themusicwaslowandsweetandthetwoparcelsaccompaniedhim,byshakinglikerattles。Thentwowomenappeared,onefromeachparcel。
Inashorttimepeopleappearedandbeganwalkingaround。Thenanimals,birds,andinsectsappeared,andthespidercontinuedtosinguntilhiscreationwascomplete。
Buttherewasnolight,andasthereweremanypeople,theydidnotpassaboutmuchforfearoftreadinguponeachother。Thetwowomenfirstcreatedwerethemothersofall。OnewasnamedUtsetandsheasthemotherofallIndians。TheotherwasNow—utset,andshewasthemotherofallothernations。Whileitwasstilldark,thespiderdividedthepeopleintoclans,sayingtosome,"YouareoftheCornclan,andyouarethefirstofall。"Toothershesaid,"YoubelongtotheCoyoteclan。"Sohedividedthemintotheirclans,theclansoftheBear,theEagle,andotherclans。
AfterSpiderhadnearlycreatedtheearth,Ha—arts,hethoughtitwouldbewelltohaveraintowaterit,sohecreatedtheCloudPeople,theLightningPeople,theThunderPeople,andtheRainbowPeople,toworkforthepeopleofHa—arts,theearth。Hedividedthiscreationintosixparts,andeachhaditshomeinaspringintheheartofagreatmountainuponwhosesummitwasagianttree。OnewasinthesprucetreeontheMountainoftheNorth;anotherinthepinetreeontheMountainoftheWest;anotherintheoaktreeontheMountainoftheSouth;andanotherintheaspentreeontheMountainoftheEast;thefifthwasonthecedartreeontheMountainoftheZenith;andthelastinanoakontheMountainoftheNadir。
Thespiderdividedtheworldintothreeparts:Ha—arts,theearth;
Tinia,themiddleplain;andHu—wa—ka,theupperplain。ThenthespidergavetothesePeopleoftheCloudsandtotherainbow,Tinia,themiddleplain。
Nowitwasstilldark,butthepeopleofHa—artsmadehousesforthemselvesbydiggingintherocksandtheearth。Theycouldnotbuildhousesastheydonow,becausetheycouldnotsee。InashorttimeUtsetandNow—utsettalkedmuchtoeachother,saying,"Wewillmakelight,thatourpeoplemaysee。Wecannottellthepeoplenow,butto—morrowwillbeagooddayandthedayafterto—morrowwillbeagoodday,"meaningthattheirthoughtsweregood。Sotheyspokewithonetongue。Theysaid,"Nowalliscoveredwithdarkness,butafterawhilewewillhavelight。"
Thenthesetwomothers,beinginspiredbySussistinnako,thespider,madethesunfromwhiteshell,turkis,redstone,andabaloneshell。
Aftermakingthesun,theycarriedhimtotheeastandcampedthere,sincetherewerenohouses。Thenextmorningtheyclimbedtothetopofahighmountainanddroppedthesundownbehindit。Afteratimehebegantoascend。Whenthepeoplesawthelighttheywerehappy。
Whenthesunwasfaroff,hisfacewasblue;ashecamenearer,thefacegrewbrighter。Yettheydidnotseethesunhimself,butonlyalargemaskwhichcoveredhiswholebody。
Thepeoplesawthattheworldwaslargeandthecountrybeautiful。Whenthetwomothersreturnedtothevillage,theysaidtothepeople,"Wearethemothersofall。"
Thesunlightedtheworldduringtheday,buttherewasnolightatnight。Sothetwomotherscreatedthemoonfromaslightlyblackstone,manykindsofyellowstone,turkis,andaredstone,thattheworldmightbelightedatnight。Butthemoontravelledslowlyanddidnotalwaysgivelight。ThenthetwomotherscreatedtheStarPeopleandmadetheireyesofsparklingwhitecrystalthattheymighttwinkleandbrightentheworldatnight。WhentheStarPeoplelivedinthelowerworldtheyweregatheredintobeautifulgroups;theywerenotscatteredaboutastheyareintheupperworld。
TheGodsandtheSixRegionsInancienttimes,Po—shai—an—ki—a,thefatherofthesacredbands,ortribes,livedwithhisfollowersintheCityofMists,theMiddlePlace,guardedbysixwarriors,thepreygods。TowardtheNorth,hewasguardedbyLongTail,themountainlion;WestbyClumsyFoot,thebear;SouthbyBlack—MarkFace,thebadger;EastbyHangTail,thewolf;abovebyWhiteCap,theeagle;belowbyMole。
Sowhenhewasabouttogoforthintotheworld,hedividedtheearthintosixregions:North,theDirectionoftheSweptorBarrenPlains;
West,theDirectionoftheHomeoftheWaters;South,thePlaceoftheBeautifulRed;East,theDirectionoftheHomeofDay;upperregions,theDirectionoftheHomeoftheHigh;lowerregions,theDirectionoftheHomeoftheLow。
HowOldManAboveCreatedtheWorldShastika(Cal。)
Long,longago,whentheworldwassonewthateventhestarsweredark,itwasvery,veryflat。Chareya,OldManAbove,couldnotseethroughthedarktothenew,flatearth。Neithercouldhestepdowntoitbecauseitwassofarbelowhim。Withalargestoneheboredaholeinthesky。Thenthroughtheholehepusheddownmassesoficeandsnow,untilagreatpyramidrosefromtheplain。OldManAboveclimbeddownthroughtheholehehadmadeinthesky,steppingfromcloudtocloud,untilhecouldputhisfootontopthemassoficeandsnow。Thenwithonelongstephereachedtheearth。
Thesunshonethroughtheholeintheskyandbegantomelttheiceandsnow。Itmadeholesintheiceandsnow。Whenitwassoft,Chareyaboredwithhisfingerintotheearth,hereandthere,andplantedthefirsttrees。Streamsfromthemeltingsnowwateredthenewtreesandmadethemgrow。Thenhegatheredtheleaveswhichfellfromthetreesandblewuponthem。Theybecamebirds。Hetookastickandbrokeitintopieces。
Outofthesmallendhemadefishesandplacedtheminthemountainstreams。Ofthemiddleofthestick,hemadealltheanimalsexceptthegrizzlybear。Fromthebigendofthestickcamethegrizzlybear,whowasmademasterofall。Grizzlywaslargeandstrongandcunning。Whentheearthwasnewhewalkedupontwofeetandcarriedalargeclub。SostrongwasGrizzlythatOldManAbovefearedthecreaturehehadmade。Therefore,sothathemightbesafe,Chareyahollowedoutthepyramidoficeandsnowasatepee。Therehelivedforthousandsofsnows。TheIndiansknewhelivedtherebecausetheycouldseethesmokecurlingfromthesmokeholeofhistepee。Whenthepale—facecame,OldManAbovewentaway。Thereisnolongeranysmokefromthesmokehole。WhitemencallthetepeeMountShasta。
TheSearchfortheMiddleandtheHardeningoftheWorldZuni(NewMexico)
Asitwaswiththefirstmenandcreatures,soitwaswiththeworld。Itwasyoungandunripe。Earthquakesshooktheworldandrentit。Demonsandmonstersoftheunder—worldfledforth。Creaturesbecamefierce,beastsofprey,andothersturnedtimid,becomingtheirquarry。
Wretchednessandhungeraboundedandblackmagic。Fearwaseverywhereamongthem,sothepeople,indreadoftheirpreciouspossessions,becamewanderers,livingontheseedsofgrass,eatersofdeadandslainthings。Yet,guidedbytheBelovedTwain,theysoughtinthelightandunderthepathwayoftheSun,theMiddleoftheworld,overwhichalonetheycouldfindtheearthatrest(1)。
Whenthetremblingsgrewstillforatime,thepeoplepausedattheFirstofSittingPlaces。Yettheywerestillpooranddefencelessandunskilled,andtheworldstillmoistandunstable。Demonsandmonstersfledfromtheearthintimesofshaking,andthreatenedwanderers。
ThentheTwotookcounselofeachother。TheEldersaidtheearthmustbemademorestableformenandthevalleyswheretheirchildrenrested。
Iftheysentdowntheirfireboltsofthunder,aimedtoallthefourregions,theearthwouldheaveupanddown,firewould,belchovertheworldandburnit,floodsofhotwaterwouldsweepoverit,smokewouldblackenthedaylight,buttheearthwouldatlastbesaferformen。
SotheBelovedTwainletflythethunderbolts。
Themountainsshookandtrembled,theplainscrackedandcrackledunderthefloodsandfires,andthehollowplaces,theonlyrefugeofmenandcreatures,grewblackandawful。Atlastthickrainfell,puttingoutthefires。Thenwaterfloodedtheworld,cuttingdeeptrailsthroughthemountains,andburyingoruncoveringthebodiesofthingsandbeings。
Wheretheyhuddledtogetherandwereblastedthus,theirbloodgushedforthandfloweddeeply,hereinrivers,thereinfloods,forgiganticwerethey。Butthebloodwascharredandblisteredandblackenedbythefiresintotheblackrocksofthelowermesas(2)。Therewerevastplainsofdust,ashes,andcinders,reddenedlikethemudofthehearthplace。
Yetmanyplacesbehindandbetweenthemountainterraceswereunharmedbythefires,andeventhengreengrewthetreesandgrassesandevenflowersbloomed。Thentheearthbecamemorestable,anddrier,anditsloneplaceslessfearsomesincemonstersofpreywerechangedtorock。
Buteverandagaintheearthtrembledandthepeopleweretroubled。
"LetusagainseektheMiddle,"theysaid。Sotheytravelledfareastwardtotheirsecondstoppingplace,thePlaceofBareMountains。
Againtheworldrumbled,andtheytravelledintoacountrytoaplacecalledWhere—tree—boles—stand—in—the—midst—of—waters。Theretheyremainedlong,saying,"ThisistheMiddle。"Theybuilthomesthere。Attimestheymetpeoplewhohadgonebefore,andthustheylearnedwar。
Andmanystrangethingshappenedthere,astoldinspeechesoftheancienttalk。
Thenwhentheearthgroanedagain,theTwainbadethemgoforth,andtheymurmured。Manyrefusedandperishedmiserablyintheirownhomes,asdoratsinfallingtrees,orfliesinforbiddenfood。
ButthegreaternumberwentforwarduntiltheycametoSteam—mist—in—the—midst—of—waters。Andtheysawthesmokeofmen’shearthfiresandmanyhousesscatteredoverthehillsbeforethem。Whentheycamenearer,theychallengedthepeoplerudely,demandingwhotheywereandwhythere,forintheirlaststanding—placetheyhadhadtouchofwar。
"WearethePeopleoftheSeed,"saidthemenofthehearth—fires,"bornelderbrothersofye,andledofthegods。"
"No,"saidourfathers,"weareledofthegodsandwearetheSeedPeople……"
LonglivedthepeopleinthetownonthesunriseslopeofthemountainsofKahluelawan,untiltheearthbegantogroanwarninglyagain。LoathweretheytoleavetheplaceoftheKakaandthelakeoftheirdead。ButtherumblinggrewlouderandtheTwainBelovedcalled,andalltogethertheyjourneyedeastward,seekingoncemorethePlaceoftheMiddle。Buttheygrumbledamongstthemselves,sowhentheycametoaplaceofgreatpromise,theysaid,"Letusstayhere。PerhapsitmaybethePlaceoftheMiddle。"
Sotheybuilthousesthere,largerandstrongerthaneverbefore,andmoreperfect,fortheywerestronginnumbersandwiser,thoughyetunperfectedasmen。Theycalledtheplace"ThePlaceofSacredStealing。"
Longtheydweltthere,happily,butgrowingwiserandstronger,sothat,withtheirtailsanddressedintheskinsofanimals,theysawtheywererudeandugly。
Inchaseorinwar,theywereatadisadvantage,fortheymetoldernationsofmenwithwhomtheyfought。Nolongertheyfearedthegodsandmonsters,butonlytheirownkind。Sothereforethegodscalledacouncil。
Changedshallyebe,ohourchildren,"criedtheTwain。"Yeshallwalkstraightinthepathways,clothedingarments,andwithouttails,thatyemaysitmorestraightincouncil,andwithoutwebstoyourfeet,ortalonsonyourhands。"
Sothepeoplewerearrangedinprocessionlikedancers。AndtheTwainwiththeirweaponsandfiresoflightningshoredofftheforelockshangingdownovertheirfaces,severedthetalons,andslittedthewebbedfingersandtoes。Sorewasthewoundingandloudcriedthefoolish,whenlastlythepeoplewerearrangedinprocessionfortherazingoftheirtails。
Butthosewhostoodattheendoftheline,shrinkingfartherandfarther,fledintheirterror,climbingtreesandhighplaces,withloudchatter。Wanderingfar,sleepingeverintreetops,inthefar—awaySummerland,theyaresometimesseenoffar—walkers,longoftailandlonghanded,likewizenedmen—children。
Butthepeoplegrewinstrength,andbecamemoreperfect,andmorethaneverwenttowar。Theygrewvain。TheyhadreachedthePlaceoftheMiddle。Theysaid,"LetusnotwearilywanderforthagaineventhoughtheearthtrembleandtheTwainbidusforth。"
Andevenastheyspoke,themountaintrembledandshook,thoughfar—sounding。
Butasthepeoplechanged,changedalsoweretheTwain,smallandmisshapen,hard—favoredandunyieldingofwill,strongofspirit,evilandbad。Theytaughtthepeopletowar,andledthemfartotheeastward。
Atlastthepeopleneared,inthemidstoftheplainstotheeastward,greattownsbuiltintheheights。Greatwerethefieldsandpossessionsofthispeople,fortheyknewhowtocommandandcarrythewaters,bringingnewsoil。Andthis,too,withouthailorrain。Soourancients,hungrywithlongwanderingfornewfood,werethemoregreedyandoftengavebattle。
ItwasherethattheAncientWomanoftheElderPeople,whocarriedherheartinherrattleandwasdeathlessofwoundsinthebody,ledtheenemy,cryingoutshrilly。Soitfelloutillforourfathers。For,moreover,thunderragedandconfusedtheirwarriors,raindescendedandblindedthem,stretchingtheirbowstringsofsinewandquenchingtheflightoftheirarrowsastheflightofbeesisquenchedbythesprinklingplumeofthehoney—hunter。ButtheydevisedbowstringsofyuccaandtheTwoLittleOnessoughtcounseloftheSun—fatherwhorevealedthelife—secretoftheAncientWomanandthemagicpowersovertheunder—firesofthedwellersofthemountains,sothatourenemyinthemountaintownwasovermastered。Andbecauseourpeoplefoundinthatgreattownsomehiddendeepinthecellars,andpulledthemoutasratsarepulledfromahollowcedar,andfoundthemblackenedbythefumesoftheirwarmagic,yetwiserthanthecommonpeople,theysparedthemandreceivedthemintotheirnextofkinoftheBlackCorn……
Butthetremblingsandwarningsstillsounded,andthepeoplesearchedforthestableMiddle。
Nowtheycalledagreatcouncilofmenandthebeasts,birds,andinsectsofallkinds。Afteralongcouncilitwassaid,"WhereisWater—skate?Hehassixlegs,allverylong。Perhapshecanfeelwiththemtotheuttermostofthesixregions,andpointouttheveryMiddle。"
SoWater—skatewassummoned。Butlo!ItwastheSun—fatherinhislikenesswhichappeared。Andheliftedhimselftothezenithandextendedhisfingerfeettoallthesixregions,sothattheytouchedthenorth,thegreatwaters;thewest,andthesouth,andtheeast,thegreatwaters;andtothenortheastthewatersabove。andtothesouthwestthewatersbelow。Buttothenorthhisfingerfootgrewcold,sohedrewitin。Thengraduallyhesettleddownupontheearthandsaid,"Wheremyheartrests,markaspot,andbuildatownoftheMid—most,forthereshallbetheMid—mostPlaceoftheEarth—mother。"
AndhisheartrestedoverthemiddleoftheplainandvalleyofZuni。
Andwhenhedrewinhisfinger—legs,lo!therewerethetrail—roadsleadingoutandinlikestaysofaspider’snest,intoandfromthemid—mostplacehehadcovered。
HerebecauseoftheirgoodfortuneinfindingthestableMiddle,thepriestfathercalledthetowntheAbiding—place—of—happy—fortune。
(1)Theearthwasflatandround,likeaplate。
(2)Lava。
OriginofLightGallinomero(RussianRiver,Cal。)
Intheearliestbeginning,thedarknesswasthickanddeep。Therewasnolight。Theanimalsranhereandthere,alwaysbumpingintoeachother。
Thebirdsflewhereandthere,butcontinuallyknockedagainsteachother。
HawkandCoyotethoughtalongtimeaboutthedarkness。ThenCoyotefelthiswayintoaswampandfoundalargenumberofdrytulereeds。Hemadeaballofthem。HegavetheballtoHawk,withsomeflints,andHawkflewupintothesky,wherehetouchedoffthetulereedsandsentthebundlewhirlingaroundtheworld。Butstillthenightsweredark,soCoyotemadeanotherbundleoftulereeds,andHawkflewintotheairwiththem,andtouchedthemoffwiththeflints。Butthesereedsweredampanddidnotburnsowell。Thatiswhythemoondoesnotgivesomuchlightasthesun。
Pokoh,theOldManPaiUte(nearKernRiver,Cal。)
Pokoh,OldMan,theysay,createdtheworld。Pokohhadmanythoughts。Hehadmanyblanketsinwhichhecarriedaroundgiftsformen。Hecreatedeverytribeoutofthesoilwheretheyusedtolive。ThatiswhyanIndianwantstoliveanddieinhisnativeplace。Hewasmadeofthesamesoil。Pokohdidnotwishmentowanderandtravel,buttoremainintheirbirthplace。
Longago,Sunwasaman,andwasbad。Moonwasgood。Sunhadaquiverfullofarrows,andtheyaredeadly。Sunwishestokillallthings。
Sunhastwodaughters(VenusandMercury)andtwentymenkillthem;butafterfiftydays,theyreturntolifeagain。
RainbowisthesisterofPokoh,andherbreastiscoveredwithflowers。
Lightningstrikesthegroundandfillstheflintwithfire。Thatistheoriginoffire。Somesaythebeaverbroughtfirefromtheeast,haulingitonhisbroad,flattail。Thatiswhythebeaver’stailhasnohaironit,eventothisday。Itwasburnedoff。
Therearemanyworlds。Somehavepassedandsomearestilltocome。InoneworldtheIndiansallcreep;inanothertheyallwalk;inanothertheyallfly。Perhapsinaworldtocome,Indiansmaywalkonfourlegs;
ortheymaycrawllikesnakes;ortheymayswiminthewaterlikefish。
ThunderandLightningMaidu(nearSacramentoValley,Cal。)
Great—Mancreatedtheworldandallthepeople。Atfirsttheearthwasveryhot,sohotitwasmelted,andthatiswhyevento—daythereisfireinthetrunkandbranchesoftrees,andinthestones。
LightningisGreat—Manhimselfcomingdownswiftlyfromhisworldabove,andtearingapartthetreeswithhisflamingarm。
ThunderandLightningaretwogreatspiritswhotrytodestroymankind。
ButRainbowisagoodspiritwhospeaksgentlytothem,andpersuadesthemtolettheIndianslivealittlelonger。
CreationofManMiwok(SanJoaquinValley,Cal。)
AfterCoyotehadcompletedmakingtheworld,hebegantothinkaboutcreatingman。Hecalledacouncilofalltheanimals。Theanimalssatinacircle,justastheIndiansdo,withLionatthehead,inanopenspaceintheforest。OnLion’srightwasGrizzlyBear;nextCinnamonBear;andsoontoMouse,whosatatLion’sleft。
Lionspokefirst。Lionsaidhewishedmantohaveaterriblevoice,likehimself,sothathecouldfrightenallanimals。Hewantedmanalsotobewellcoveredwithhair,withfangsinhisclaws,andverystrongteeth。
GrizzlyBearlaughed。HesaiditwasridiculousforanyonetohavesuchavoiceasLion,becausewhenheroaredhefrightenedawaytheverypreyforwhichhewassearching。Buthesaidmanshouldhaveverygreatstrength;thatheshouldmovesilently,butveryswiftly;andheshouldbeabletoseizehispreywithoutnoise。
Bucksaidmanwouldlookfoolishwithoutantlers。Andaterriblevoicewasabsurd,butmanshouldhaveearslikeaspider’sweb,andeyeslikefire。
MountainSheepsaidthebranchingantlerswouldbothermanifhegotcaughtinathicket。Ifmanhadhornsrolledup,sothattheywerelikeastoneoneachsideofhishead,itwouldgivehisheadweightenoughtobuttveryhard。
WhenitcameCoyote’sturn,hesaidtheotheranimalswerefoolishbecausetheyeachwantedmantobejustlikethemselves。CoyotewassurehecouldmakeamanwhowouldlookbetterthanCoyotehimself,oranyotheranimal。Ofcoursehewouldhavetohavefourlegs,withfivefingers。Manshouldhaveastrongvoice,butheneednotroarallthetimewithit。AndheshouldhavefeetnearlylikeGrizzlyBear’s,becausehecouldthenstanderectwhenheneededto。GrizzlyBearhadnotail,andmanshouldnothaveany。TheeyesandearsofBuckweregood,andperhapsmanshouldhavethose。ThentherewasFish,whichhadnohair,andhairwasaburdenmuchoftheyear。SoCoyotethoughtmanshouldnotwearfur。AndhisclawsshouldbeaslongastheEagle’s,sothathecouldholdthingsinthem。ButnoanimalwasascunningandcraftyasCoyote,somanshouldhavethewitofCoyote。
ThenBeavertalked。Beaversaidmanwouldhavetohaveatail,butitshouldbebroadandflat,sohecouldhaulmudandsandonit。Notafurrytail,becausetheyweretroublesomeonaccountoffleas。
Owlsaidmanwouldbeuselesswithoutwings。
ButMolesaidwingswouldbefolly。Manwouldbesuretobumpagainstthesky。Besides,ifhehadwingsandeyesboth,hewouldgethiseyesburnedoutbyflyingtoonearthesun。Butwithouteyes,hecouldburrowinthesoft,coolearthwherehecouldbehappy。
Mousesaidmanneededeyessohecouldseewhathewaseating。Andnobodywantedtoburrowinthedampearth。Sothecouncilbrokeupinaquarrel。
Theneveryanimalsettoworktomakeamanaccordingtohisownideas。
Eachonetookalumpofearthandmodelleditjustlikehimself。AllbutCoyote,forCoyotebegantomakethekindofmanhehadtalkedofinthecouncil。
Itwaslatewhentheanimalsstoppedworkandfellasleep。AllbutCoyote,forCoyotewasthecunningestofalltheanimals,andhestayedawakeuntilhehadfinishedhismodel。Heworkedhardallnight。Whentheotheranimalswerefastasleephethrewwateronthelumpsofearth,andsospoiledthemodelsoftheotheranimals。Butinthemorninghefinishedhisown,andgaveitlifelongbeforetheotherscouldfinishtheirs。ThusmanwasmadebyCoyote。
TheFirstManAndWomanNishinam(nearBearRiver,Cal。)
ThefirstmancreatedbyCoyotewascalledAikut。HiswifewasYototowi。
Butthewomangrewsickanddied。Aikutdugagraveforherclosebesidehiscampfire,fortheNishinamdidnotburntheirdeadthen。Allthelightwasgonefromhislife。Hewantedtodie,sothathecouldfollowYototowi,andhefellintoadeepsleep。
TherewasarumblingsoundandthespiritofYototowiarosefromtheearthandstoodbesidehim。Hewouldhavespokentoher,butsheforbadehim,forwhenanIndianspeakstoaghosthedies。Thensheturnedawayandsetoutforthedance—houseofghosts。Aikutfollowedher。Togethertheyjourneyedthroughagreat,darkcountry,untiltheycametoariverwhichseparatedthemfromtheGhost—land。Overtherivertherewasabridgeofbutonesmallrope,sosmallthathardlySpidercouldcrawlacrossit。Herethewomanstartedoffalone,butwhenAikutstretchedouthisarms,shereturned。Thenshestartedagainoverthebridgeofthread。AndAikutspoketoher,sothathedied。ThustogethertheyjourneyedtotheSpirit—land。
OldManAboveandtheGrizzliesShastika(Cal。)
Alongtimeago,whilesmokestillcurledfromthesmokeholeofthetepee,agreatstormarose。Thestormshookthetepee。Windblewthesmokedownthesmokehole。OldManAbovesaidtoLittleDaughter:"Climbuptothesmokehole。TellWindtobequiet。Stickyourarmoutofthesmokeholebeforeyoutellhim。"LittleDaughterclimbeduptothesmokeholeandputoutherarm。ButLittleDaughterputoutherheadalso。Shewantedtoseetheworld。LittleDaughterwantedtoseetheriversandtrees,andthewhitefoamontheBitterWaters。WindcaughtLittleDaughterbythehair。Windpulledheroutofthesmokeholeandblewherdownthemountain。WindblewLittleDaughteroverthesmoothiceandthegreatforests,downtothelandoftheGrizzlies。WindtangledherhairandthenlefthercoldandshiveringnearthetepeesoftheGrizzlies。
SoonGrizzlycamehome。InthosedaysGrizzlywalkedontwofeet,andcarriedabigstick。Grizzlycouldtalkaspeopledo。GrizzlylaiddowntheyoungelkhehadkilledandpickedupLittleDaughter。HetookLittleDaughtertohistepee。ThenMotherGrizzlywarmedherbythefire。MotherGrizzlygaveherfoodtoeat。
SoonLittleDaughtermarriedthesonofGrizzly。TheirchildrenwerenotGrizzlies。Theyweremen。SotheGrizzliesbuiltatepeeforLittleDaughterandherchildren。WhitemencallthetepeeLittleShasta。
AtlastMotherGrizzlysentasontoOldManAbove。MotherGrizzlyknewthatLittleDaughterwasthechildofOldManAbove,butshewasafraid。
Shesaid:"TellOldManAbovethatLittleDaughterisalive。"
OldManAboveclimbedoutofthesmokehole。HerandownthemountainsidetothelandoftheGrizzlies。OldManAboveranveryquickly。
Whereverhesethisfootthesnowmelted。Thesnowmeltedveryquicklyandmadestreamsofwater。NowGrizzliesstoodinlinetowelcomeOldManAbove。Theystoodontwofeetandcarriedclubs。ThenOldManAbovesawhisdaughterandherchildren。Hesawthenewraceofmen。ThenOldManAbovebecameveryangry。HesaidtoGrizzlies:
"Neverspeakagain。Besilent。Neithershallyestandupright。Yeshalluseyourhandsasfeet。Yeshalllookdownward。"
ThenOldManAboveputoutthefireinthetepee。Smokenolongercurlsfromthesmokehole。Hefastenedthedoorofthetepee。Thenewraceofmenhedroveout。ThenOldManAbovetookLittleDaughterbacktohistepee。
Thatiswhygrizzlieswalkonfourfeetandlookdownward。Onlywhenfightingtheystandontwofeetandusetheirfistslikemen。
TheCreationofMan—KindandtheFloodPima(Arizona)
Aftertheworldwasready,EarthDoctormadeallkindsofanimalsandcreepingthings。Thenhemadeimagesofclay,andtoldthemtobepeople。Afterawhilethereweresomanypeoplethattherewasnotfoodandwaterenoughforall。Theywereneversickandnonedied。Atlasttheregrewtobesomanytheywereobligedtoeateachother。ThenEarthDoctor,becausehecouldnotgivethemfoodandwaterenough,killedthemall。Hecaughtthehookofhisstaffintotheskyandpulleditdownsothatitcrushedallthepeopleandalltheanimals,untiltherewasnothinglivingontheearth。EarthDoctormadeaholethroughtheearthwithhisstick,andthroughthathewent,comingoutsafe,butalone,ontheotherside。
Hecalleduponthesunandmoontocomeoutofthewreckoftheworldandsky,andtheydidso。Buttherewasnoskyforthemtotravelthrough,nostars,andnoMilkyWay。SoEarthDoctormadethesealloveragain。Thenhecreatedanotherraceofmenandanimals。
ThenCoyotewasborn。Moonwashismother。WhenCoyotewaslargeandstronghecametothelandwherethePimaIndianslived。
ThenElderBrotherwasborn。Earthwashismother,andSkyhisfather。
HewassopowerfulthathespokeroughlytoEarthDoctor,whotrembledbeforehim。Thepeoplebegantoincreaseinnumbers,justastheyhaddonebefore,butElderBrothershortenedtheirlives,sotheearthdidnotbecomesocrowded。ButElderBrotherdidnotlikethepeoplecreatedbyEarthDoctor,soheplannedtodestroythemagain。SoElderBrotherplannedtocreateamagicbaby……
Thescreamsofthebabyshooktheearth。Theycouldbeheardforagreatdistance。ThenEarthDoctorcalledallthepeopletogether,andtoldthemtherewouldbeagreatflood。Hesangamagicsongandthenboredaholethroughtheflatearth—plainthroughtotheotherside。Someofthepeoplewentintotheholetoescapethefloodthatwascoming,butnotverymanygotthrough。SomeofthepeopleaskedElderBrothertohelpthem,buthedidnotanswer。OnlyCoyoteheanswered。HetoldCoyotetofindabiglogandsitonit,sothathewouldfloatonthesurfaceofthewaterwiththedriftwood。ElderBrothergotintoabigollawhichhehadmade,andclosedittight。Soherolledalongonthegroundundertheolla。Hesangamagicsongasheclimbedintohisolla。
Ayoungmanwenttotheplacewherethebabywasscreaming。Itstearswereagreattorrentwhichcutgorgesintheearthbeforeit。Thewaterwasrisingallovertheearth。Hebentoverthechildtopickitup,andimmediatelybothbecamebirdsandflewabovetheflood。Onlyfivebirdsweresavedfromtheflood。Onewasaflickerandoneavulture。Theyclungbytheirbeakstotheskytokeepthemselvesabovethewaters,butthetailoftheflickerwaswashedbythewavesandthatiswhyitisstifftothisday。Atlastagodtookpityonthemandgavethempowertomake"nestsofdown"fromtheirownbreastsonwhichtheyfloatedonthewater。Oneofthesebirdswasthevipisimal,andifanyoneinjuresittothisday,thefloodmaycomeagain。
NowSouthDoctorcalledhispeopletohimandtoldthemthatafloodwascoming。Hesangamagicsongandheboredaholeinthegroundwithacanesothatpeoplemightgothroughtotheotherside。OthershesenttoEarthDoctor,butEarthDoctortoldthemtheyweretoolate。SotheysentthepeopletothetopofahighmountaincalledCrookedMountain。
SouthDoctorsangamagicsongandtracedhiscanearoundthemountain,butthatheldbackthewatersonlyforashorttime。Fourtimeshesangandtracedalinearoundthemountain,yetthefloodroseagaineachtime。Therewasonlyonethingmoretodo。
Heheldhismagiccrystalsinhislefthandandsangasong。Thenhestruckitwithhiscane。Athunderpealrangthroughthemountains。Hethrewhisstaffintothewateranditcrackedwithaloudnoise。
Turning,hesawadognearhim。Hesaid,"Howhighisthetide?"Thedogsaid,"Itisverynearthetop。"Helookedatthepeopleashesaidit。
Whentheyheardhisvoicetheyallturnedtostone。Theystoodjustastheywere,andtheyaretheretothisdayingroups:someofthementalking,someofthewomencooking,andsomecrying。
ButEarthDoctorescapedbyenclosinghimselfinhisreedstaff,whichfloateduponthewater。ElderBrotherrolledalonginhisollauntilhecamenearthemouthoftheColoradoRiver。TheollaisnowcalledBlackMountain。Afterthefloodhecameoutandvisitedallpartsoftheland。
WhenhemetCoyoteandEarthDoctor,eachclaimedtohavebeenthefirsttoappearaftertheflood,butatlasttheyadmittedElderBrotherwasthefirst,sohebecameruleroftheworld。
TheBirdsandtheFloodPima(Arizona)
Onceuponatime,whenalltheearthwasflooded,twobirdswerehangingabovethewater。Theywereclingingtotheskywiththeirbeaks。Thelargerbirdwasgraywithalongtailandbeak,butthesmalleronewasthetinybirdthatbuildsanestshapedlikeanolla,withonlyaverysmallopeningatthetop。Thebirdsweretiredandfrightened。Thelargeronecriedandcried,butthelittlebirdheldontightandsaid,"Don’tcry。I’mlittlerthanyouare,butI’mverybrave。"
LegendoftheFloodAshochimi(CoastIndians,Cal。)
Longagotherewasagreatfloodwhichdestroyedallthepeopleintheworld。OnlyCoyotewassaved。Whenthewaterssubsided,theearthwasempty。Coyotethoughtaboutitalongtime。
ThenCoyotecollectedagreatbundleoftailfeathersfromowls,hawks,eagles,andbuzzards。HejourneyedoverthewholeearthandcarefullylocatedthesiteofeachIndianvillage。Wherethetepeeshadstood,heplantedafeatherinthegroundandscrapedupthedirtaroundit。Thefeatherssproutedliketrees,andgrewupandbranched。Atlasttheyturnedintomenandwomen。Sotheworldwasinhabitedwithpeopleagain。
TheGreatFloodSia(NewMexico)
Foralongtimeafterthefight,thepeoplewereveryhappy,buttheninthyearwasverybad。Thewholeearthwasfilledwithwater。Thewaterdidnotfallinrain,butcameinasriversbetweenthemesas。Itcontinuedtoflowinfromallsidesuntilthepeopleandtheanimalsfledtothemesatops。Thewatercontinuedtoriseuntilnearlylevelwiththetopsofthemesas。ThenSussistinnakocried,"Whereshallmypeoplego?Whereistheroadtothenorth?"Helookedtothenorth。
"Whereistheroadtothewest?Whereistheroadtotheeast?Whereistheroadtothesouth?"Helookedineachdirection。Hesaid,"Iseethewatersareeverywhere。"
Allofthemedicinemensangfourdaysandfournights,butstillthewaterscontinuedtorise。
ThenSpiderplacedahugereeduponthetopofthemesa。Hesaid,"Mypeoplewillpassupthroughthistotheworldabove。"
Utsetledtheway,carryingasackinwhichweremanyoftheStarpeople。Themedicinemenfollowed,carryingsacredthingsinsacredblanketsontheirbacks。Thencamethepeople,andtheanimals,andthesnakes,andbirds。Theturkeywasfarbehindandthefoamofthewaterroseandreachedthetipendsofhisfeathers。Youmayknowthatistruebecauseeventothisdaytheybearthemarkofthewaters。
Whentheyreachedthetopofthegreatreed,theearthwhichformedtheflooroftheworldabove,barredtheirway。UtsetcalledtoLocust,"Man,comehere。"Locustwenttoher。Shesaid,"Youknowbesthowtopassthroughtheearth。Goandmakeadoorforus。"
"Verywell,mother,"saidLocust。"IthinkIcanmakeaway。"
Hebeganworkingwithhisfeetandafterawhilehepassedthroughtheearthyfloor,enteringtheupperworld。Assoonashesawit,hesaidtoUtset,"Itisgoodabove。"
UtsetcalledBadger,andsaid,"Makeadoorforus。Sika,theLocusthasmadeone,butitisverysmall。"
"Verywell,mother,Iwill,"saidBadger。
Aftermuchworkhepassedintotheworldabove,andsaid,"Mother,Ihaveopenedtheway。"Badgeralsosaid,"Father—mother,theworldaboveisgood。"
UtsetthencalledDeer。Shesaid,"Yougothroughfirst。Ifyoucangetyourheadthrough,othersmaypass。"
Thedeerreturnedsaying,"Father,itisallright。Ipassedwithouttrouble。"
UtsetcalledElk。Shesaid,"Youpassthrough。Ifyoucangetyourheadandhornsthroughthedoor,allmaypass。"
Elkreturnedsaying,"Father,itisgood。Ipassedwithouttrouble。"
ThenUtsettoldthebuffalototry,andhereturnedsaying,"Father—mother,thedoorisgood。Ipassedwithouttrouble。"
Utsetcalledthescarabbeetleandgavehimthesackofstars,tellinghimtopassoutfirstwiththem。Scarabdidnotknowwhatthesackcontained,buthewasverysmallandgrewtiredcarryingit。Hewonderedwhatcouldbeinthesack。Afterenteringthenewworldhewassotiredhelaiddownthesackandpeepedintoit。Hecutonlyatinyhole,butatoncetheStarPeopleflewoutandfilledtheheavenseverywhere。
ThenUtsetandallthepeoplecame,andafterTurkeypassed,thedoorwasclosedwithagreatrocksothatthewatersfrombelowcouldnotfollowthem。
ThenUtsetlookedforthesackwiththeStarPeople。Shefounditnearlyemptyandcouldnottellwherethestarshadgone。Thelittlebeetlesatby,verymuchfrightenedandverysad。ButUtsetwasangryandsaid,"Youarebadanddisobedient。Fromthistimeforth,youshallbeblind。"
Thatisthereasonthescarabaeushasnoeyes,sotheoldonessay。
Butthelittlefellowhadsavedafewofthestarsbygraspingthesackandholdingitfast。Utsetplacedtheseintheheavens。Inonegroupsheplacedseven—thegreatbear。Inanother,three。InanothergroupsheplacedthePleiades,andthrewtheothersfaroffintothesky。
TheFloodandtheTheftofFireTolowa(DelNorteCo。,Cal。)
Alongtimeagotherecameagreatrain。Itlastedalongtimeandthewaterkeptrisingtillallthevalleysweresubmerged,andtheIndiantribesfledtothehighlands。Butthewaterrose,andthoughtheIndiansfledtothehighestpoint,allweresweptawayanddrowned—allbutonemanandonewoman。Theyreachedtheveryhighestpeakandweresaved。ThesetwoIndiansatethefishfromthewatersaroundthem。
Thenthewaterssubsided。Allthegamewasgone,andalltheanimals。
ButthechildrenofthesetwoIndians,whentheydied,becamethespiritsofdeerandbearandinsects,andsotheanimalsandinsectscamebacktotheearthagain。
TheIndianshadnofire。Thefloodhadputoutallthefiresintheworld。Theylookedatthemoonandwishedtheycouldsecurefirefromit。ThentheSpiderIndiansandtheSnakeIndiansformedaplantostealfire。TheSpiderswoveaverylightballoon,andfasteneditbyalongropetotheearth。Thentheyclimbedintotheballoonandstartedforthemoon。ButtheIndiansoftheMoonweresuspiciousoftheEarthIndians。TheSpiderssaid,"Wecametogamble。"TheMoonIndiansweremuchpleasedandalltheSpiderIndiansbegantogamblewiththem。Theysatbythefire。
ThentheSnakeIndianssentamantoclimbupthelongropefromtheearthtothemoon。Heclimbedtherope,anddartedthroughthefirebeforetheMoonIndiansunderstoodwhathehaddone。Thenhesliddowntheropetoearthagain。Assoonashetouchedtheearthhetravelledovertherocks,thetrees,andthedrystickslyingupontheground,givingfiretoeach。Everythinghetouchedcontainedfire。Sotheworldbecamebrightagain,asitwasbeforetheflood。
WhentheSpiderIndianscamedowntoearthagain,theywereimmediatelyputtodeath,forthetribeswereafraidtheMoonIndiansmightwantrevenge。
LegendoftheFloodinSacramentoValleyMaidu(nearSacramentoValley,Cal。)
Long,longagotheIndianslivinginSacramentoValleywerehappy。
Suddenlytherecametheswiftsoundofrushingwaters,andthevalleybecamelikeBigWaters,whichnomancanmeasure。TheIndiansfled,butmanysleptbeneaththewaves。AlsothefrogsandthesalmonpursuedthemandtheyatemanyIndians。Onlytwowhofledintothefoothillsescaped。
Tothesetwo,GreatMangavemanychildren,andmanytribesarose。Butonegreatchiefruledallthenation。ThechiefwentoutuponawideknolloverlookingBigWaters,andheknewthattheplainsofhispeoplewerebeneaththewaves。Ninesleepshelayontheknoll,thinkingthoughtsofthesegreatwaters。Ninesleepshelaywithoutfood,andhismindwasthinkingalwaysofonething:Howdidthisdeepwatercovertheplainsoftheworld?
Attheendofninesleepshewaschanged。Hewasnotlikehimself。Noarrowcouldwoundhim。HewaslikeGreatManfornoIndiancouldslayhim。ThenhespoketoGreatManandcommandedhimtobanishthewatersfromtheplainsofhisancestors。GreatMantoreaholeinthemountainside,sothatthewatersontheplainsflowedintoBigWaters。ThustheSacramentoRiverwasformed。
TheFableoftheAnimalsKarok(nearKlamathRiver,。Cal。)
Agreatmanyhundredsnowsago,Kareya,sittingontheSacredStool,createdtheworld。First,hemadethefishesintheBigWater,thentheanimalsonthegreenland,andlastofall,Man!Butatfirsttheanimalswereallalikeinpower。Nooneknewwhichanimalsshouldbefoodforothers,andwhichshouldbefoodforman。ThenKareyaorderedthemalltomeetinoneplace,thatManmightgiveeachhisrankandhispower。Sotheanimalsallmettogetheroneevening,whenthesunwasset,towaitovernightforthecomingofManonthenextmorning。KareyaalsocommandedMantomakebowsandarrows,asmanyastherewereanimals,andtogivethelongestonetotheanimalwhichwastohavethemostpower,andtheshortesttotheonewhichshouldhaveleastpower。
Sohedid,andafterninesleepshisworkwasended,andthebowsandarrowswhichhehadmadewereverymany。
Nowtheanimals,beingalltogether,wenttosleep,sotheymightbereadytomeetManonthenextmorning。ButCoyotewasexceedinglycunning—hewascunningaboveallthebeasts。Coyotewantedthelongestbowandthegreatestpower,sohecouldhavealltheotheranimalsforhismeat。Hedecidedtostayawakeallnight,sothathewouldbefirsttomeetManinthemorning。Sohelaughedtohimselfandstretchedhisnoseoutonhispawandpretendedtosleep。Aboutmidnighthebegantobesleepy。Hehadtowalkaroundthecampandscratchhiseyestokeepthemopen。Hegrewmoresleepy,sothathehadtoskipandjumpabouttokeepawake。Buthemadesomuchnoise,heawakenedsomeoftheotheranimals。Whenthemorningstarcameup,hewastoosleepytokeephiseyesopenanylonger。Sohetooktwolittlesticks,andsharpenedthemattheends,andproppedopenhiseyelids。Thenhefeltsafe。Hewatchedthemorningstar,withhisnosestretchedalonghispaws,andfellasleep。Thesharpstickspinnedhiseyelidsfasttogether。
Themorningstarroserapidlyintothesky。Thebirdsbegantosing。Theanimalswokeupandstretchedthemselves,butstillCoyotelayfastasleep。Whenthesunrose,theanimalswenttomeetMan。HegavethelongestbowtoCougar,sohehadgreatestpower;thesecondlongesthegavetoBear;othershegavetotheotheranimals,givingallbutthelasttoFrog。Buttheshortestonewasleft。Mancriedout,"WhatanimalhaveImissed?"ThentheanimalsbegantolookaboutandfoundCoyotefastasleep,withhiseyelidspinnedtogether。Alltheanimalsbegantolaugh,andtheyjumpeduponCoyoteanddanceduponhim。ThentheyledhimtoMan,stillblinded,andManpulledoutthesharpsticksandgavehimtheshortestbowofall。Itwouldhardlyshootanarrowfartherthanafoot。Alltheanimalslaughed。
ButMantookpityonCoyote,becausehewasnowweakereventhanFrog。
Soathisrequest,Kareyagavehimcunning,tentimesmorethanbefore,sothathewascunningabovealltheanimalsofthewood。ThereforeCoyotewasfriendlytoManandhischildren,anddidmanythingsforthem。
CoyoteandSunPaiUte(nearKernRiver,Cal。)
Alongtimeago,Coyotewantedtogotothesun。HeaskedPokoh,OldMan,toshowhimthetrail。Coyotewentstraightoutonthistrailandhetravelleditallday。ButSunwentroundsothatCoyotecamebackatnighttotheplacefromwhichhestartedinthemorning。
Thenextmorning,CoyoteaskedPokohtoshowhimthetrail。Pokohshowedhim,andCoyotetravelledalldayandcamebackatnighttothesameplaceagain。
Butthethirdday,Coyotestartedearlyandwentoutonthetrailtotheedgeoftheworldandsatdownontheholewherethesuncameup。Whilewaitingforthesunhepointedwithhisbowandarrowatdifferentplacesandpretendedtoshoot。Healsopretendednottoseethesun。
WhenSuncameup,hetoldCoyotetogetoutofhisway。Coyotetoldhimtogoaround;thatitwashistrail。ButSuncameupunderhimandhehadtohitchforwardalittle。AfterSuncameupalittlefarther,itbegantogethotonCoyote’sshoulder,sohespitonhispawandrubbedhisshoulder。Thenhewantedtorideupwiththesun。Sunsaid,"Oh,no";
butCoyoteinsisted。SoCoyoteclimbeduponSun,andSunstartedupthetrailinthesky。Thetrailwasmarkedoffintostepslikealadder。AsSunwentuphecounted"one,two,three,"andsoon。ByandbyCoyotebecameverythirsty,andheaskedSunforadrinkofwater。Sungavehimanacorn—cupfull。Coyoteaskedhimwhyhehadnomore。Aboutnoontime,Coyotebecameveryimpatient。Itwasveryhot。Suntoldhimtoshuthiseyes。Coyoteshutthem,butopenedthemagain。Hekeptopeningandshuttingthemalltheafternoon。Atnight,whenSuncamedown,Coyotetookholdofatree。ThenheclamberedoffSunandclimbeddowntotheearth。
TheCourseoftheSunSia(NewMexico)
Sussistinnako,thespider,saidtothesun,"Myson,youwillascendandpassovertheworldabove。Youwillgofromnorthtosouth。Returnandtellmewhatyouthinkofit。"
Thesunsaid,onhisreturn,"Mother,Ididasyoubademe,andIdidnotliketheroad。"
Spidertoldhimtoascendandpassovertheworldfromwesttotheeast。
Onhisreturn,thesunsaid,"Itmaybegoodforsome,mother,butIdidnotlikeit。"
Spidersaid,"Youwillagainascendandpassoverthestraightroadfromtheeasttothewest。Returnandtellmewhatyouthinkofit。"
Thatnightthesunsaid,"Iammuchcontented。Ilikethatroadmuch。"
Sussistinnakosaid,"Myson,youwillascendeachdayandpassovertheworldfromeasttowest。"
Uponeachday’sjourneythesunstopsmidwayfromtheeasttothecentreoftheworldtoeathisbreakfast。Inthecentrehestopstoeathisdinner。Halfwayfromthecentretothewesthestopstoeathissupper。
Heneverfailstoeatthesethreemealseachday,andalwaysstopsatthesamepoints。