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
"What kind of call do you make?" asked Nop.
"My grandfather is going to have a playing on flutes."
"I will go," said Nop.
"My grandfather is inviting people from all parts of the world. All
will be invited who can play on the flute."
Waida Dikit himself went south to invite people living in the water,
and sent Tsaroki to invite all the land people. They went far and near
to invite all. After a time both grew wearied, and wanted to get some
one to take invitations. They thought who would be best in heat and
cold, light and darkness, and thought that Kinus would be; so they
called him, and hired him to go.
Kinus went as far as he could go, went around the whole world to a
distance a little this side of where the sky comes down. After a time
he returned and said,--
"This world is wide and big. I called all the people as far as I went,
but I was not able to go everywhere,--this world goes farther than I
went. Whole days I could get no water, no food; but I invited all the
people that I saw."
Now, while Kinus was speaking the invited people were listening; and
there were many of them then at Waida Dikit's. Lutchi sat at one side
and listened.
"There is," said Waida Dikit, "a man that we should like to see here.
Waida Werris and also a man who lives far in the East, Patkilis; he
lives behind the sky, beyond the place where the sky touches the
earth, and Sedit lives with him. We want these three. Now Kinus cannot
go to them,--nobody that we know is able to go to them. What shall we
do?"
All talked about this. Lutchi sat back in silence, and listened to
what they were saying.
"This sweat-house is too small," said Kanhlalas.
"You will see," answered Waida Dikit.
The sweat-house was spreading out, growing gradually, growing all the
time as the people came. A great many came that afternoon. The house
extended now as far as the eye could see. Whenever new people came,
Waida Dikit would blow and say, "I wish this house to be larger!" And
the house stretched, became wider and longer and higher. In the
evening great crowds were there already.
Kinus and the rest talked all night and the next day. "Nobody can go
to Waida Werris, Patkilis, and Sedit. That was what they said."
They asked all present, and each answered, "I cannot go to them." They
talked and talked. At last one man said to another, "Let's ask that
Lutchi Herit over there; maybe he can go." A third said, "Yes, let's
ask him." And the three said to Waida Dikit, "Ask that little man;
perhaps he can go." "He is small," said Waida Dikit, "but I will ask
him." He went up to Lutchi, touched him on the shoulder, and asked,--
"My grandson, can you do something for me? You are small, but I am
asking you."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account