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
Tsudi took the hair and went along quietly. No one heard him. He held
the hair over Hawt's head, and there was a light from it that filled
the whole house. It was as bright as day there. All the people were
seen sitting up, each hugging his flute. No man would lend his flute
to any one else in the world for any price. All were looking toward
the spot whence the music came. In the light they saw a man lying on
his back with his arms across his breast, but they could not see that
he was doing anything. He had no flute, he made no motion with his
mouth, for he fingered his sides as he would a flute, and made the
music by drawing in air through his nostrils, and sending it out
through the holes in his sides.
Tsudi held up Waida Werris's single hair, and people watched Hawt to
see how he made the beautiful music. He was lying on his back making
wonderful sounds. He played the music of Tsaik's song, of Waida
Werris's song, of Tsaroki's song. They could hear the music, but there
was no motion of Hawt's mouth and they could not see his fingers play.
He gave the music of Patkilis's song and of Sedit's. He gave the music
of the songs of all people in the sweat-house.
"Hawt has beaten the world!" cried the assembly. "He can do more than
we can; we yield, we are silent. Hawt is the best player in the world!
No one can play as he plays!"
Hawt gave his own music next. No one knew that music but him, no one
could play it but him. There was no other music so loud and strong, no
other music so soft and low.
When the people had watched Hawt a long time and listened a long time,
he stopped. All cried out then,--
"Hawt is the one great musician, the only great player on earth!"
Tsudi put down the hair and all were in the dark. He carried the hair
back and gave it to Waida Werris.
People began to talk and ask one another: "Where did that light come
from; whose is it?" One said Tsudi had it; another said, "No, he never
had a light like that." "Who gave it to him?" asked a third. "Some one
must have given it to Tsudi. Let us ask him about this."
Here and there people said: "Only Waida Werris could make such a
light. What kind of person is Waida Werris? We should like to see
Waida Werris."
"I have never seen Waida Werris, but I have heard people tell how nice
looking he is, and that he can be seen from afar," said Patkilis. "If
he were here he might make such a light, but he is not here, or we
should all see him right away."
Waida Werris was lying near them, and heard all they said.
"Let us ask Waida Dikit," said Karkit Kiemila, a big man, lying on the
west side, facing Waida Werris; and he began to talk to Waida Dikit.
"The people wish to see Waida Werris," said he. "You have invited all
people in the world, and you have invited him. What will you do? Is he
here? Will you let every one see him?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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