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
The uncle put himself into his nephew's heart now to strengthen him.
There was only one person to be seen. Igupa Topa went into his nephew,
went in because he knew that Tuina killed all men who tried to get
Halai Auna, and he wished to save his sister's son, Pun Miaupa.
When the girl had her basket full and turned to place it on her back,
she saw Pun Miaupa behind her; she could not move, she was so
frightened.
"Why are you afraid? Am I so ugly?" asked Pun Miaupa.
He pleased her; but she said not a word, just ran, hurried home with
the basket, and threw it down at the door.
"What is your trouble?" asked the mother. "You don't like to work, I
think."
"What is the matter?" asked Wakara. "You are frightened."
"I saw a man on the mountain, a man with woodpecker scalps on his
head."
"The southern people wear woodpecker scalps," said Wakara; "that must
be one of the southern people."
Pun Miaupa sprang through the air, came down in front of Wakara's
sweat-house, went in and sat near Halai Auna on a bearskin. Nice food
was brought for all, and when they had finished eating, Wakara said,--
"Now, my daughters, and you, my wife, Ochul Marimi, make ready; let us
go. I wish to see my brother, Tuina, and hear what he says of Halai
Auna's new husband."
They dressed, put on beads, and put red paint on their faces. Halai
Auna said nothing. She sat with her head down; she was sorry; she
liked Pun Miaupa, she felt sure that they would kill him.
When all were ready, Wakara took his wife's hand and danced around the
fire with her. He had two unmarried daughters besides Halai Auna; one
of these took her father's hand, the other took Halai Auna's, and all
danced around the fire and circled about Pun Miaupa. They put him in
the middle and danced in a circle; they began to sing, and rose in
the air then and danced right up out of the sweat-house, went through
the smoke-hole and moved westward, singing as they went,--
"I-nó, i-nó, i-nó, no-má
I-nó, i-nó, i-nó, no-má."
They moved faster as they went, and danced all the time. It was dark
when they danced up through the roof of the sweat-house; no one saw
them, though there were many people round about. Old Wakara's
sons-in-law lived in that place; all the stars were his daughters, and
his daughters were married, except Halai Auna and the two who danced
around the fire. Wakara went without being seen. He would let no one
have Halai Auna unless one whom Tuina could not kill.
Now, a little before daylight they reached Tuina's house. Wakara stood
on the roof of the sweat-house and called, "My brother, I want you to
spring out of bed."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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