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
The two Tede Wiu brothers from Koï Nomsono were to lead the southern
people in the dance. Kopus called five times; the southern people did
not move. Then the elder Tede Wiu made a step and stopped; when he
raised his foot to take a second step, all began to dance. Both
brothers carried a load of mempak on their arms, and each had a flint
knife. As they danced they attached long strings of mempak to one side
of the house higher than a man's head; they extended the strings to
the other side and tied them there. They stretched mempak in this way
from side to side as they danced, and from end to end, lengthwise and
crosswise; then they danced under it. The beautiful strings were
shining in every color just above their heads. The music, the mempak,
and the dancing were so beautiful that all were delighted; all people
were glad; they could hardly sit still and look on.
The brothers danced up to where Kopus was sitting, took strings of
shell and mempak from their necks and heads, and put them down before
him; next they put down their two beautiful knives. When they had done
this they danced away to the other end of the sweat-house, and then
danced up again to where Kopus was.
Norwan rose and began to dance without knowing it. She could not help
dancing. Every one looked at her. She danced with the two brothers,
danced away to the other side of the house with them. Only after a
time did she see that she was dancing.
The two brothers sat down; she sat with them. Then the three stood up
and went out.
They had just gone when Norbis came in. He was splendidly dressed,
wore mempak, had a garland of fresh young leaves on his head, and on
the top of it mempak. He sat down and asked some one near by,--
"Where is my wife?"
"Norwan has gone with the two Tede Wiu brothers."
"I don't believe that!" said Norbis.
He sprang up, went around, and asked others. All said, "She is with
the Tede Wiu brothers."
At last Norbis went out, taking his people. They had gone into the
house, but had not danced. They followed at his call. He went swiftly
to the northwest to overtake the two brothers.
The dance was at an end. All started home. Daylight was near.
The two brothers did not go to Norwan Buli Hlut, which was farther
north than Koï Nomsono. They kept the woman at their own house till
morning. When they reached home each of the brothers said,--
"My people, be ready for a great hunt at daybreak."
When daylight came the elder brother said,--
"Come, my people, we will eat together. You must all eat with me this
morning."
While eating they heard shouts on the west bank of Bohema Mem, and
soon they saw two men running toward them,--men finely dressed, with
plumes on their heads. The men crossed the river, and came to the
house of the Tede Wius. They were the Wul Wuhl brothers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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