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
They went to a place about six miles beyond the river, where they
found a sweat-house.
"These are the first people we have seen," said Keriha. "We shall call
this place Tsarau Heril." They stood near the door of the sweat-house.
"Oh, my brother," said a big man who saw them and came to the door.
"Yes," said Keriha, "you are our brother, you are Norwinte."
Another came and said, "Oh, my brother!"
"You are our brother, too," said Keriha; "you are Eltuluma."
"It is dark. We do not know what to do," said Norwinte.
"And we do not know," answered Keriha.
"Not far from here are more people," said Norwinte. "Let us send to
them to come here. Perhaps we may learn what to do."
Norwinte sent a messenger to the north. He brought a new person soon,
a good-looking man; and when this stranger had talked a while he said,
"There is a person in the southeast who can help us."
"Will you bring him here?" asked Norwinte.
"I cannot go there," said the stranger.
"You go, Keriha," said Norwanchakus. "No one can go there but you."
Keriha went, and was not long gone. He brought back Patkilis.
"My brother Patkilis, do you know of any more people anywhere?"
"I know of no more people. I have seen none; but in the far east I
hear shouting, with dancing and singing."
"Well, my brother, I wish you would go and see what kind of people are
making that noise there."
"I will go," said Patkilis. "I don't think it is very far from here to
where they are."
Patkilis was gone a long time. When he came back, he said: "I saw many
people, but they did not see me. There is a hill beyond the sky in the
east. On the northern slope of it are houses. On the southern slope
there are houses, also. A river flows from this hill westward. South
of the hill every one is dancing. I went into the houses on the north
side. All were empty except one. In the middle house of the village I
found a blind boy. I looked around and saw much in the house. 'Why
have you so many things here?' asked I of the boy. 'What are they good
for? I live on the other side. We haven't such things in our houses.'
He said nothing. I talked a long time to him, asked many questions,
but got no answer. All he said was, 'My people have gone to dance.'
There were piles of acorns inside and outside, great baskets of them
put around everywhere. I sat down. 'What is this?' asked I. 'What is
that? What is in those baskets there?' 'Oh, something,' said the blind
boy; and that was all the answer he made. There were many bags, all
full of something. I saw two small bags hanging in the house, and they
were very full. 'What is in those small bags that are so full?' asked
I. 'Can you tell me, little boy?' 'Why do you want to know
everything?' asked the blind boy. I asked about those two bags in
different ways, but he wouldn't tell me for a long time. I teased him
and teased him to tell. 'You want to know everything,' said he, at
last; 'I will tell you. In one is Puriwa.' 'Well, what is in the other
bag? Tell me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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