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
Haka Kaina was the greatest chief in this country; his very large and
beautiful sweat-house was Wahkalu.
One time Haka Kaina stole the three daughters of Hwipajusi, a chief
who lived down in the far south, beyond the valley of the Daha. When
Haka Kaina had brought the three girls home, he said,--
"I must find a good man, a careful man, now, to guard these three
girls, a man who never sleeps in the night-time. Hwipajusi will send
people here to steal them back; we must be ready for his men."
At last the chief chose Hohwitina because he whistled all night. Every
one thought that he never slept, for he whistled all the time,
whistled without stopping from evening till daylight. Hohwitina
watched the three girls a good many nights; he never looked after
them during daylight, for he rested at that time. They were brought to
him at dusk every evening to the central pillar of the sweat-house.
The arms of each girl were tied together; one girl was tied to
Hohwitina's left arm, the second to his right arm, and the third
behind to his waist.
After a time old Hwipajusi sent ten of the best southern men to bring
back his three daughters; the names of these men were Pusi Tena, Wija
Lala, Chami Nuri, Malwila, Gowila, Grana Rana, Dekkech, Pushi Chowa,
Manu Rana, Taki Lapiki. These men were called Yolaina,--that is, the
bravest, men who feared nothing.
These men painted their arms and faces black before starting, took
good bows and arrows, and went to Wahkalu.
Hwipajusi had kept his three daughters always hidden away in his
sweat-house, rolled up in otter-skin carefully; but Haka Kaina, the
chief of Wahkalu, had stolen in while all were sleeping and carried
away the three maidens.
Hwipajusi's ten men came near Wahkalu one evening between dusk and
darkness, and were right there near the sweat-house. Haka Kaina, the
chief, saw them coming, and prepared all his forces to fight.
"These are people," said he, "sent by Hwipajusi, very brave and strong
men. You must not let them come near the three girls; you must not let
them go from here; you must not let them take the girls nor go away
themselves; you must kill these ten enemies."
One of the Haka Kaina's men had a great hammer. He put a block of
flint at the point which the ten men attacked when they came near; he
struck the flint with his hammer; small sharp bits flew off from it
like rain, fell on the attackers, and cut them terribly. The ten men
had no fear of flint nor of other things. They rushed on until five
were killed; the five others were not frightened and they went
forward. The man with the hammer struck away on the flint block till
five more were killed.
Now Hwipajusi's ten brave men who feared nothing were dead.
Hwipajusi waited for his men to come back, looked for them, hoped to
see them bring his daughters, but the men could not come; they were
dead. They had promised their chief to bring the girls surely, but
they could not bring them; the ten were dead at Wahkalu.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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