Creation Myths of Primitive America: In relation to the Religious History and Mental Development of MankindCurtin, Jeremiah
Religion
Creation Myths of Primitive America: In relation to the Religious History and Mental Development of Mankind
Curtin, Jeremiah
Creation -- Mythology; Indian mythology -- North America; Indians of North America -- Folklore
"Where? Which way do you want me to go, my grandfather?"
"Go west from here, far away; you will start when it is dark; you will
get there in the dark. You will go to where the old woman Nomhawena
Pokaila lives: she is your grandmother. When you go to her house, ask
her about your brother; she will tell you where he is."
"My grandfather, I don't believe that I can find her house. I don't
know what kind of house it is."
"You cannot miss it, my grandson. The night will be very dark; no one
will be able to see anything, but you cannot miss the house. It is a
little house; no one can see it, but you cannot miss it. You will go
there very quickly, though 'tis far from here and the night is dark."
Then the old man showed him a small sand trail; it was bright, just
like a ray of light in the darkness, though it was very narrow, as
narrow as a hair, and all around it was dark night. The old man had
made this trail purposely.
Tsaroki started, and could see the trail straight ahead of him; he
went over it as swiftly as an arrow goes from a bow. He travelled
right on, and at the end of the trail, just on the trail itself, was a
little bark house. He went into this house, and saw an old woman lying
there with her back to the fire; she was sleeping on the south side of
it. He walked in and stood at the north side. He sat down then, and
was sitting a while when the old woman woke, turned her face to the
fire, and saw some one opposite. She rose, stirred the fire to make
light, looked at the young man, and said,--
"I see some person over there; who is it?"
"My grandmother, I am Tsaroki Sakahl. I have come because my
grandfather, Waida Dikit, sent me to see you, so that you might tell
me about my brother. I should like to know where my brother lives. I
have come to see my brother and speak to him."
"Very well, my grandson, I will tell you. He lives right over here on
the west."
As soon as she had finished speaking, Tsaroki stood up and went toward
the west. He had not made many steps when he saw a large space, a
broad space on which a great many people were sitting. The place was
dark, but the people could see one another. Tsaroki saw all, and
looked around carefully. He saw that all were at work except one man,
who was sitting in the middle in a good place. He looked a long time,
not knowing what to do, for Waida Dikit had said to him,--
"You must not let any one know but your brother why I sent you, and
tell him not to tell others."
No one present saw Tsaroki, and he thought: "I don't know how I shall
go to my brother without letting any one know." At last he made up his
mind what to do. He went down under the ground where he had been
sitting, and came up just in front of the great man, his brother.
The people were dressing skins, making arrow-points, and finishing
arrows. All were at work but the man in the middle. Tsaroki came up in
front of him and whispered,--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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