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
Wai Karili, Hokohas, Kaisus, and Tichelis with their forces were met
by Hawt and Tsuini, whose people outnumbered those of the four chiefs
opposed to them. The Hawts used solid blue rocks as weapons. They
hurled them with great force, breaking the armor of Hokohas's people
and tearing the nets of Karili's men. The Tsuini people threw smaller
stones from slings in great showers at the people of Tichelis and
Kaisus.
The battle raged with fury on that flank till evening. Many were
killed on both sides, and of the chiefs Hamam and Sedit of Sonomyai
fell. Neither side had the victory when night came, though Hawt and
Tsuini were gaining a little.
In the centre were the great chiefs of both armies. There Chulup,
supported by Saiai Not, Tenek Not, and Tubuk, met Sehinom Chabatu and
the Tede Wiu brothers.
In the morning Chulup began the fighting, and cut into the centre. In
the middle of the forenoon he had gone half-way through Sehinom's
people. But Sehinom forced him back, and at midday Chulup was where he
had begun in the morning. Sehinom advanced now, and tried to cut
through Chulup's people. He had gone more than half-way when Chulup
rallied, pressed around him, pushed him back, and at sundown had
rushed forward among Sehinom's warriors.
Just at that time Sehinom saw in the field behind Chulup a tall and
very beautiful woman. She was Chulup's wife. Her name was Sanihas.
Sehinom Chabatu ran quickly to this woman, and led her to his own
camp, while Chulup was struggling with the Tede Wiu brothers. The sun
was down now. Night had come.
Chulup dropped back to his own place. He had lost his wife and gained
nothing. Both sides went from the battlefield and made camp-fires. You
could see the two lines of fire running north and south, but could not
see either end of them.
Chulup rose at daybreak next morning, rushed to Sehinom's camp, and
after a sharp and short fight took his wife back before sunrise. Both
sides were very angry and fought hard. At midday the southern forces
had the advantage in the centre and the southern flank, and would have
beaten Sehinom Chabatu but for his grandmother, his uncle, and his
aunt. The two women and Chir Chuma, carried on two sticks by the
Siriwit brothers, had beaten everything in front of them.
At this time the centre and flank of the northern forces had suffered
much. Wai Karili left the fight; he was angry.
"I will do something better than this," said he.
Taking his net, he went off to the southeast, and never stopped till
he was at the edge of the earth, and had found the opening through
which Chulup passed when he came out on land or went back to his home
on the bed of the great eastern water. He laid the net across the
hole, thrust the middle of it in deeply, covered what was left
outside, and waited in hiding.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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