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 Kawas sisters came now on Tede Wiu's side, bringing food,
elkskins, and arrows for their brother, Sehinom Chabatu. They did not
go where the fighting was, but stood back in the rear a little. Now
Wai Charatawa came to Tede Wiu's side. He was a very small man and
left-handed, but a great chief, a brother to Sehinom and to Wik Herit.
He had his hair tied up and fastened in front with a long bone sharp
at one end.
Norhara Chepmis came to help Norbis on the southern side.
Before the struggle began Norbis sent a message to the brothers,
asking, "Are you willing to give up that woman?"
They refused.
"Now, my people," said Norbis, "we are going to fight. I have done
what I could to persuade these brothers to give up Norwan, but they
refuse, and we are going to fight a second time."
At this moment Kiri Hubit came from the south, a strong man. He went
to the east side to fight. He had only one arrow without a point.
When all these forces met, there was a terrible uproar.
"Now," cried Wul Wuhl, "a man from the south is coming; he is small,
but brave and quick-tempered, a terrible fighter. He will strike on
the left flank. His name is Nor Patsas Herit."
Yipokus Herit, who lived on the northeastern slope of Bohem Puyuk, was
to be on the field at midday; he was the one to fight Nor Patsas. His
weapons were ice and snow.
Just at this time Norwan found a weak place in the mempak and untied
it. As soon as she was out she went home to Norwan Buli.
When ready to meet, the two armies saw a very big woman coming from
the northwest: an old woman, Nom Toposloni Pokaila. She was carrying
on her back a great basket, as big as a house. This basket was full of
pounded fir-bark, which makes the skin itch terribly and almost blinds
every eye that it touches.
A man came from the northwest to the southern army, and said to Wul
Wuhl,--
"Tell your man Norhara Chepmis not to engage in battle; let him stand
aside and look on. I will do as he does." This man was Wainom Yola
Herit. "If he fights on the southern side, I will do the same on the
northern."
Wul Wuhl gave the message. Norhara drew back, and Wainom Yola did the
same.
The two armies stood opposite, each looking the other in the face,
each waiting for the other to begin.
At this moment the Siriwit brothers left the ranks on the east, the
left wing of the northern army, and went careering around with Chir
Chuma on two sticks. Now Nor Patsas, the small peevish southern man,
saw Chir Chuma (the Siriwits were invisible), and could contain his
wrath no longer. He ran at the lame man with all his might. When just
in front of Chir Chuma, he struck the ground with his brand, and one
hundred people, as passionate and peevish as himself, sprang up around
him. But Chir Chuma rode right over Nor Patsas. The Siriwits knocked
him to one side, rushed across his men, trampled, beat, and killed
them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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