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
She raised the basket to her back, and rushed away. When she reached
Wakaruwa, she threw down the basket outside, and ran into the house
past her mother.
"Why are you so frightened? What is the matter?" asked her mother.
Not a word did she answer.
Old Wakara was sitting inside. "Why are you frightened, my daughter?"
asked he. "Has anything happened, has any one hurt you?"
"I saw a man over there on the mountain."
"What kind of man was he?" asked Wakara.
"He has an otter on his back and wears buckskin; his hands are both
red with deer blood."
Titindi Maupa had a large piece of fat venison in his otter-skin
quiver.
"He is a good hunter, I think," said Wakara; and he took down an
otter-skin, put it on the north side of the house, and said to his
daughter, "Sit there and let this man come to you."
It was night soon. All the people came into the house, sat down, and
ate supper. Titindi Maupa stopped outside for a while, and found a
place where Wakara stored acorns. "I will leave you here for this
night," said he to his sister. "To-morrow I will come to get you."
Titindi Maupa left his sister in the acorn crib, sank in the ground
then, and came up inside the sweat-house right at the side of Paiowa.
Old Wakara laughed when he saw him sitting near his daughter. He was
glad.
"Give the stranger food," said he.
Paiowa brought food and gave it to the stranger.
Titindi Maupa ate some and said, "Look in my otter-skin, I have some
venison."
She put her hand in, found a good piece, a nice saddle of venison.
She could not draw the piece out, it was so heavy. She went then to
her father and said, "I must have a big basket."
She took a large tray basket over to her place. Titindi Maupa drew out
the venison and put it on the tray, saying,--
"Now, be no smaller, my venison, stay as you are, no matter how much
they take from you."
Two girls carried the basket and put it down before Wakara and Hemauna
Marimi, his wife. The two old people ate. After them all in the house
ate, and the saddle of venison was as large as at first. When all in
the house had eaten, old Wakara went out on the housetop and
shouted,--
"My sons, I call you all to come in for a short while."
Now, all the stars in the sky were Wakara's children; they were his
sons and daughters. The greatest, a son, came in first. When near the
house, he had caught the odor of venison. Behind him came a great many
people. All the stars were in Wakara's sweat-house; the whole place
was filled with them. When they looked and saw Titindi Maupa sitting
with their sister, they laughed. They were glad. Some sat down; others
cut off the venison and roasted it. All ate what they wanted.
Now, old Wakara himself cut off venison, and gave a large share to
each son to carry home for his wife and children. All went away
laughing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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