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
On the way home Kedila's two daughters had two sons, the sons of
Jewinpa. The boys were born the next day after Jewinpa had looked on
their mothers. They had come from the eyes of their father. He had
just looked through his fingers at Kedila's two daughters.
After Jewinna's son had been killed and then brought to life by
Chichepa, he went east to Kedila's great sweat-house, stayed five days
and nights there, then took his two wives and two sons and went back
to his father's.
Kedila's youngest son, born when his father was old, came to life. He
had sat always at the central pillar, at the edge of the ashes, and
had always kept moving his arms, but he had never danced on that or on
any floor. He had burned his face because he had sat so near the fire,
and had sweated often from being so near it.
Every one laughed at him; jeered at that "Burnt Face," who sat night
and day in the ashes. He spat always in one place. Kedila's eldest son
had said many times,--
"If we are killed, we shall come back to life again."
"I don't think that you will," said Burnt Face; "but when I am killed
I shall live again through my own power."
Burnt Face went out to fight, and was killed with the others. Now a
little baby came right up out of the spittle of Burnt Face, a boy.
The women took him and washed him. In one hour he had grown a good
deal, in two hours still more. On the following day he had full
growth.
Then this young man who had risen from the spittle went out of the
house. He followed the course of the struggle, found all Kedila's
people dead, struck each with his foot, turned him over. All came to
life and rose up, as well as ever.
When Jewinna came for his wives, their brothers and brothers-in-law
gave the women presents; but when his two wives and two sons went home
with him and old Jewinna saw them coming, he took two bearskins
quickly, and when they were on top of the sweat-house, he caught the
young boys, put them into the bearskins, rolled them up, and put them
away to be Weanmauna.
SUKONIA'S WIVES AND THE ICHPUL SISTERS
PERSONAGES
After each name is given that of the creature or thing into which the
personage was changed subsequently.
=Chikpitpa=, young weasel; =Jahtaneno=, a kind of shell creature;
=Metsi=, coyote; =Ichpul=, frog; =Sukónia=, a name of pine martin,
whose ordinary name is Demauna; =Tsoré Jowá=, a kind of eagle.
* * * * *
Old Jahtaneno had a great many daughters, and all but two of these
were married.
At that time Sukonia was a great chief in this country about us. He
had a large sweat-house, and many people to serve him.
One day Jahtaneno called his daughters and said: "My girls, I want you
to go to Sukonia's house. I have heard that he is very rich; go and
see him. He has no wife yet; he may marry you. Rise early in the
morning, bathe, comb your hair, go and see the chief Sukonia."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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