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
Tsuwalkai Marimi was ready to run to the mountain and look at the
trap. She wanted to know what was in it.
"You, my grandson, stay here at home," said she; "perhaps the thing
that you have caught is not dead yet. I will look at it."
The old woman started, but as she was going out she said: "Maybe Hehku
is in your trap. If she is, she will get out, run here and kill us
both perhaps; kill you, surely, if she finds you. Save yourself, my
grandson. If you see her coming, run west, run very hard, run till you
come to a great river. On the other side of it is Mipka's house; shout
to him, call him uncle, tell him to take you over; say that you are
running for your life, that he must save you."
While the old woman was talking, she looked and saw Hehku far off at
the mountain.
"My grandson," cried she, "Hehku is coming! She will kill you. Run! I
will stay here and stop her a while."
Tsanunewa looked and saw Hehku. Then he ran west; ran till he reached
the great river. He stopped at the edge of it and shouted.
Hehku had made herself small the night before, and gone into
Tsanunewa's trap purposely. The boy thought that she was angry because
he had trapped her. She wanted him to think so. She went into the trap
to have an excuse to kill him as she had killed all his kindred. When
Tsanunewa ran home to his grandmother, frightened because he had seen
Hehku, Hehku went out of the trap, crushed red rottenstone, painted
her face, made it blood color. She had a big cap made of skulls,
skulls of people she had killed. She put the cap on her head then, and
started. She started, ran quickly, singing as she went,--
"I am following Tsanunewa; I am on his track.
I am following Tsanunewa; I am on his track."
She sang till she came to the door. There she stopped, said "Whu!" and
drew a long breath.
"Tell me, old woman," cried she, "tell me where Tsanunewa is; I have
come to this house on his track."
"I have not seen that boy," said Tsuwalkai Marimi. "I do not know
where he is. I am alone, all my people are dead; you killed them."
"I will not hurt you," said Hehku; "I will not touch you, but tell me
where the boy is; tell me which way he went. He went west, I think. I
will follow till I catch him."
She started and ran very fast; raised a great wind as she went. She
ran with her hands clasped behind her, and sang,--
"I am following Tsanunewa; I am on his track.
I am following Tsanunewa; I am on his track."
The boy ran swiftly, ran with all his strength; was at the great river
first. Mipka was at the other side.
"Save me, my uncle!" cried Tsanunewa; "put your leg over the water,
put it over quickly. Hehku is hunting me. I am running for my life.
Save me, my uncle, save me!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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