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 girls lay on each side of the man, and gave him food; stayed all
night with him. Next morning they went home for more food.
"Feed him, give him plenty," said Jamuka; "he may get health and
strength yet."
The sisters went back and stayed a second night. The man began to look
better, but he cried all the time, and many deer came to drink the
water that flowed from his eyes. The girls went home the second
morning. "The man looks better," said they to their father.
"I have heard," said old Jamuka, "that Juka's sons were killed. This
must be one of them."
They went back right away, and stayed another day and night with the
stranger. The man looked as though he might get his health again. He
began to talk. "Has your father a bow and arrows?" asked he of the
sisters.
"He has; he has many."
"Bring me a bow and arrows; many deer come near me to drink, I may
shoot one."
They took the man's words to their father. Jamuka gave them a bow and
some arrows, and they went back to the sick man.
"You may go home to-night," said he. "I wish to be alone."
The girls left him. At sundown a great buck came and drank of the
tears, he killed him; later another came, he killed that one; at
midnight a third came, he killed the third; now he had three. At
daylight a fourth buck was killed; he had four now. "That is enough,"
thought he.
When the girls came and saw four great bucks lying dead near the
stranger, they were frightened; they ran home and told their father.
Old Jamuka was glad when they told him. He sharpened his knife,
hurried out to the woods and looked at the stranger. "That is Juka's
son," said he; "take good care of him, daughters."
Jamuka dressed the deer, carried them home, and cut up the venison for
drying. Next evening Juka's son sent the girls home a second time, and
killed five great deer that night. Next morning the girls came to see
him, and ran home in wonder.
Their father was very glad. He dressed the five deer as he had the
four, and cut up the venison.
Tsore Jowa was hunting everywhere all this time to find her brother.
She had left the hearts, her sister's body, and her father hidden away
carefully; had done nothing yet to save them.
The night after Juka's son killed the five deer the two girls took him
home to their father. He was well now and beautiful, in good health
and strong. He cried no more after that. A salt spring was formed in
the place where he had fallen and shed so many tears. The spring is in
that place till this day, and deer go in herds to drink from it.
People watch near the spring and kill them, as Juka's son did. Tsore
Jowa went to every house inquiring about her brother. At last she came
to Jamuka's house, and there she found him. She was glad now and
satisfied. She left her brother with his two wives and hurried home.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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