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
"We must send for this Hlahi," said he. "Let him come here to sing and
bring water back to us. Some of you young men who walk fast must go
for him to-morrow."
That night they talked about the person who should go. One said to a
second, "You walk fast; you ought to go."
"I do not," said the second; "but you walk fast. You are the person to
go."
And so they spoke one after another, till at last Lutchi said, "I
cannot walk fast, but I will go."
Early next morning he went out to the top of the sweat-house and said,
"I am going!" and he shot away to the southeast.
He found the old Hlahi. He had not finished his night's work yet. This
Hlahi was Kopus Kiemila.
"Old man, you must stop awhile," said Lutchi. "Olelbis lost his wife,
Mem Loimis, years ago. He has two children, and he and all the people
are very dry; they are thirsting, they are dying for want of water. He
wants you to come and see if you can tell us what to do to bring water
back to Olelpanti. Olelbis will give you five sacks of acorns for your
pay. You must sing five nights for these five sacks. They are old
acorns."
"I will do that," said Kopus. "I will go with you."
Lutchi returned to Olelpanti with Kopus, who was called also Pori
Kipanamas, which means a man wearing a headband of fresh oak leaves
with two green acorns thrust in on each side. His face was painted
with acorn mould. A great many people were waiting there, all very
dry, very thirsty,--all hoping for water.
"I sent for you to come," said Olelbis, "and you must hlaha[2] five
nights. All my people, all my children, are dry. I am dry myself. I
lost my wife five years ago. I don't know where she went, and we have
no water since she left us. I want you to sing and to dance. I want
you to find out where my wife is."
[2] Hlaha means, "to perform as a Hlahi, or doctor."
When night came, Olelbis gave a pipe filled with tobacco to Kopus and
said, "Now you must hlaha."
Kopus smoked, became tunindili,--that is, possessed. A Tsudi yapaitu
came to him and began to chant. The yapaitu, speaking through Kopus,
said,--
"I have looked all around the world, I have looked everywhere; every
smell has come to my nose, every sight to my eyes, every sound to my
ears, but to-night nothing comes to me. I cannot see, I cannot hear, I
cannot smell." And he stopped.
"I am going to dance the spirit dance," said Kopus. "Who will sing for
me?"
"Let these two Tsudi girls sing," said Olelbis.
Hubit was lying on the east side of the sweat-house, and he said,--
"Make haste, you two girls, and sing for that Hlahi. I am nearly dead,
almost cut in two, I am so dry."
He had tightened his belt a little that evening. Kopus danced all
night, and the two girls sang for him.
"I have not found out which way that woman went," said he, next
morning.
He danced five days and nights, and then said: "I can tell nothing. I
know nothing about this woman, Mem Loimis."
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account