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
Tsore Jowa made in one night a great sweat-house, prepared a big
basket, and filled it with water. When the second night came, she
dropped hot stones into the water; put all the hearts into the basket.
Opening her sister's body, she took out her heart and put it in with
the others. At this time the water in the basket was boiling. She
covered the basket and placed it on top of the sweat-house. Then she
went in, lay down and slept.
The water was seething all night. At daybreak the basket turned over,
and there was a crowding and hurrying of people around the
sweat-house. They began to talk briskly.
"We are cold, we are cold!" said they. "Let us in!"
Soon broad daylight came. Tsore Jowa opened the door, and all crowded
into the sweat-house. Tsore Jowa said not a word yet. All the brothers
came; behind them Haka Lasi. She looked well, she was good. Her heart
was clean; there was nothing bad now in it.
"Where is our eldest brother?" asked all.
"He is well; I have found him. He has two wives," said Tsore Jowa.
Juka was in good health and strong. She had washed him and given him
good food.
All were happy, and they went hunting.
"I think your husband would like to go home," said Jamuka one day to
his daughters.
Juka's son and his two wives set out to visit his father; Juka saw
his son coming; took a big blanket quickly, caught him, placed him in
it, and put him right away.
Now the wives of Juka's son came in and sat down in the house. Two
other brothers took them for wives. They stayed a long time, never saw
their first husband again. Old Juka kept him secreted, made him a
Weänmauna, a hidden one.
After a time the two women wished to go home to visit Jamuka. They
took beads and blankets, nice things of all kinds, and went to their
father at the foot of Wahkalu.
"We have never seen our husband," said they, "since we went to his
father's. We have new husbands now."
"I think that is well enough," said Jamuka. "His father has put him
away. His brothers are as good for you as he was."
The sisters agreed with their father, and went back and lived at
Juka's house after that.
THE DREAM OF JUIWAIYU AND HIS JOURNEY TO DAMHAUJA'S COUNTRY
PERSONAGES
After each name is given that of the creature or thing into which the
personage was changed subsequently.
=Damhauja=, the moon just before renewal; =Darijua=, gray squirrel;
=Halaia=, morning star; =Jupka=, butterfly of the wild silk worm;
=Juiwaiyu=, acorn of the Eastern black oak; =Kechowala=, blue jay;
=Mahari=, Eastern black oak; =Pahnino=, a kind of ocean-shell;
=Periwiriwaiyu=, another kind of Eastern black oak.
* * * * *
Juiwaiyu lived far away in the east, in the southern part of it. His
father, Periwiriwaiyu, was old. His mother, Maharia, was old, too; but
both were very beautiful.
Juiwaiyu hunted, fished; was happy till one night he dreamed of two
girls who lived beyond Wahkalu, lived north of that mountain.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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