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
When all the people had assembled at Sehinom's, Wik Herit picked up
dead coals and blackened his face. "I want to see fighting," said he.
"I am a brave warrior. I want to fight;" then he puffed and strutted
tremendously.
Nomel Hiwili, who lived at Waiel Nomeltos, came, bringing his people.
"My brother," said he to Sehinom, "I am not very strong, I cannot do
much, but I will go with you and do what I can."
When they went to the place where the battle was to be fought, a
messenger came and said,--
"Saiai Not Herit is coming to see you. He has no heart, and all his
people are without hearts. Saiai Not wants to fight with you. Kichuna
from Kinwinis Pom and Hamam Herit from the east wish to fight with
you. All these people are at Memnom Kalai now, not far from here."
At this time they saw some one coming toward them from the east. This
was a second Chir Pokaila. She was from Pokaitin Mem. When she came up
she said to Sehinom's grandmother,--
"My sister, we will help our grandson, and if he is killed we will
mourn over him together."
"It is time to move now," said Sehinom.
"We will be in the centre of the army," said the Tede Wiu brothers,
and they took their places. Wai Karili went to the south wing of the
northern army, and all his people with him. They went up on a level
mound, and from there saw people coming on both sides, from the north
and the south, as far as the eye could see. They came on like a great
water, rolling forward. The people were in number as the grains in two
clouds of sand. The two armies approached each other gradually.
Sehinom's grandmother, with her sister, was in front of the northern
forces. She engaged the enemy first, and fought fiercely. She had
arrows of kopus wood, pointed with Chirdokos, all made by herself. The
northern army faced the east, and the southern the west.
Chir Chuma, carried by the Siriwits, came to help his two sisters.
All three had the same kind of arrows. They killed fifty and sixty at
a shot, and these three gave victory to the left wing of the northern
army.
On the right flank of the northern and left flank of the southern army
were good men, and there was hard fighting. On the northern side was
Wai Karili with his people, having nets to catch the enemy. Then
Hokohas and his forces, all dressed in elkskin armor; next Kaisus and
Tichelis, with many people. Between Tichelis and the centre was
Kichuna. On the other side, opposite Kichuna, was Hamam, who had sent
word to Kichuna that he would meet him on the field. Opposite Sedit of
Sonomyai was an unknown chief, but a very great fighter.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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