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
Hehku had a sister, Miniau Marimi. She took this sister as a
companion. Both started, went together, and never stopped till they
reached Oaimatu, a great hollow mountain northeast of Jigulmatu. Hehku
brought a pipe with her, and made tobacco of dried brains. "My smoke
will be stronger than Jupka's," thought Hehku. She spent one night in
the hollow mountain, and dreamed again of gambling in Jupka's
sweat-house. She rose early, and was in Jigulmatu at daylight. She
stood with Miniau Marimi on the roof of the sweat-house, and sang to
herself,--
"I shall win, I shall win, I shall win surely."
"Jupka, I wish to go into your sweat-house," said she. "When I go in,
you will like me, you will like to see me. I am nice to look at."
She changed; made herself very beautiful then. No one could know her;
no one could know that that woman was the Hehku who had hunted
Tsanunewa.
At sunrise all the people in Jupka's sweat-house heard steps above,
heard walking on the sweat-house. The two women were there. Hehku came
to the roof-door and said,--
"Jupka, put away your things; clear your house. I want to come down
and gamble with you. I dreamed last night that I played with you."
Jupka was lying with his head to the north. He made no answer. Hehku
went down.
"Sit on the west side," said Jupka to the two sisters; and he told
Malewula to spread out two robes, one of cinnamon, the other of black
bearskin. All the people held down their heads. None looked at the
women except Malewula.
"I should be glad to give these women something to eat," said
Malewula, "but I don't know what they like; let us offer them
venison."
He roasted venison, put it before them in a basket; they wouldn't eat
it, wouldn't taste or touch it. Then he brought dried salmon in small
pieces; the women turned away their faces. Next he put salmon flour
and mountain-pine nuts before them; they wouldn't eat, turned aside
their faces.
"Take this food away," said Hehku; "we don't wish to eat. I came here
to see people, I came here to gamble."
The Mapchemaina said nothing for a long time. At last Kaitsiki spoke
up.
"I do not know how to gamble, I cannot play," said he.
"I do not like to hear you talk so. I know you," said Hehku. "I know
that you gamble a great deal. I know that you began to gamble long
ago."
Kaitsiki made no answer. He went to get gambling-sticks (counters). He
brought grass and fixed everything for the play. They sat down, Hehku
on the west, Kaitsiki on the east.
"What will you play for, what will you bet?" asked the woman.
Kaitsiki took his shell necklace, hung it up, and said, "I will begin
with this."
Hehku handled the Jupaiauna; it was hers, and made of a finger-bone.
Kaitsiki guessed "north" the first time, and lost; after that he
guessed north once and south once, lost both times; after that he lost
his ten sticks.
"Take the necklace and hang it on our side," said Hehku to Miniau.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account