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
This myth describes a deadly feud between the people who were turned
into flint, that is, fire, presumably lightning, and the grizzlies or
cloud people. After I had prevailed on him to give me the story, the
narrator told it with unfeigned delight. His sympathy with the old
woman Tsuwalkai was great, and his enthusiasm for Tsawandi Kamshupa,
who rose from the spittle of Tsawandi Kamshu, evident and striking.
The origin of Ilhataina in this myth and in the following called
"Ilhataina," which is the usual name for lightning, strengthens my
view that the Wintu Tulchuherris, a name which is merely an epithet,
meaning "dug up," is the same person as Ilhataina of the Yanas. The
regular acknowledged lightning of the Wintus is called Walokit, who is
a child of Wima Loimis, grizzly bear maiden, and the sun.
ILHATAINA
In this myth lightning is "dug up," as in the preceding one.
Electricity is one of the earth's children.
The putting on of Gowila's skin by Ilhataina is one of the curious
acts frequent in Indian mythology. In the Aztec worship of Mexico, in
Montezuma's time, the sacrificing priest put on the skin of the victim
as far as the waist.
The wish of Ilhataina to get the old rabbit-skin robe is worthy of
attention.
HITCHINNA
Among the Iroquois the cyclone was represented as a great head, the
name of which in Seneca is Dagwa Noenyent. This head would pass
through a forest and tear up the greatest trees by the roots.
The method used by the deceitful Metsi to rid the world of Hitchinna
might remind one of the way of cooking oysters at the waterside in
Virginia near the places where they are taken.
TIRUKALA
I have referred to Tirukala in the Wintu myth "Hawt." The battle
described in this myth and the child which rises from the spittle of
Burnt Face and reaches maturity in one day, are very striking.
Tirukala gives the active, the working side of water as a personage,
the widener of valleys, the pusher apart of mountains, the maker of
all streams and rivers. Tirukala works without ceasing, he sings as he
labors, and never eats food of any kind.
Hawt (in the Wintu myth) gives the artistic, the poetic side of the
same person, whose voice is that of Niagara and the raging ocean at
its loudest, that of the tiniest rivulet or of the raindrop at its
gentlest.
SUKONIA'S WIVES AND THE ICHPUL SISTERS
It is noteworthy that in Indian myths whenever two sisters are sent
somewhere, as in the present case, and warned by father or mother
against some deceiver who is likely to meet them on the way, the elder
sister is generally ready to become a victim, the younger is the wise
and obedient one, as in this myth.
We have again a case of putting on the skin of a slain person to
become like him or her.
The test of bringing water was perfect, since no one who was not of
the household could know where it was.
THE FINDING OF FIRE
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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