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 Wakara's and asked: "Where is Titindi Maupa? We wish to
try him; we want to shoot arrows at a mark against him."
Titindi Maupa came out and shot. He won the first shot, the second; he
won all the time, won everything that Lawalila's people wagered.
Just at noon Lawalila lost his temper, got angry, sprang up, tried to
seize and take back all the things that his people had lost. Titindi
Maupa would not let him do that; he stood in his way, would not let
him take anything.
Lawalila struck Wakara's new son-in-law. Titindi Maupa threw down his
opponent. Lawalila jumped up, ran toward his people, drew his bow, and
tried to send an arrow through Titindi Maupa. A great fight now
followed.
Wakara's sons came and took Titindi Maupa's part. Lawalila's people
hurried to his side. Titindi Maupa's young wife ran out to help her
brothers and her husband.
They fought very hard on both sides. In the middle of the afternoon
all were killed on Lawalila's side except himself. New forces came to
Lawalila. Titindi Maupa was so tired that he could not stand. At this
moment his sister came. She picked up Titindi Maupa, put him on her
back, and gave him her bow and arrows. He shot from her shoulder, and
used her strong arrows. Every man that they touched fell that moment.
Every one from the west was killed, Lawalila with the others.
Titindi Maupa rested, and went to the sweat-house. His sister went
with him. The dead of both sides lay all night where they fell.
Before daybreak Titindi Maupa rose, took his fire-drill, went out, and
turning the faces of all his brothers-in-law to the earth, struck them
with the fire-drill. All came to life and went back to Wakaruwa.
Lawalila's people lay on the field all night, the next day, and the
night following. Titindi Maupa did not like to see all those dead
people lying there; so he went before daybreak of the second day and
struck each with his fire-drill. All came to life, rose up, were glad,
and went home. Next morning they came to Wakaruwa, and had games
again, with good feasting and pleasure. They did not get angry a
second time.
Titindi Maupa brought in deer every morning. His brothers-in-law came
and ate with him; they were friendly and happy. Titindi Maupa stayed
twenty days at Wakaruwa. He killed deer for all of them. On the
twenty-first morning Wakara said to his daughter,--
"I think your husband would like to go home now."
Next morning Titindi Maupa set out for home with his wife and sister;
they went in one day to Kurulsa Mauna.
Three nights later Topuna came to visit them; he came again to see
Titildi Marimi. She let him come now. She was afraid that her brother
might leave her a second time.
So at last Topuna got the wife he wanted, and they all lived together
at Kurulsa Mauna.
THE TWO SISTERS, HAKA LASI AND TSORE JOWA
PERSONAGES
After each name is given that of the creature or thing into which the
personage was changed subsequently.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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