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
At noon, when Sehinom Chabatu was hard pressed and the enemy were
pushing his people from the field, his grandmother, aunt, and uncle,
with the whole army behind them, fell upon the rear of Chulup's
forces. The struggle began anew, and from then till sunset was fought
the hardest battle of the world up to that day. At sunset they had to
stop, for there were few people left on either side, and those were so
tired that they could fight no longer.
Each side left the field without saying a word to the other.
Chulup sent his wife Sanihas home by another way, and went himself to
the passage where Wai Karili was hiding. He went into the opening.
Karili drew the net, closed it around Chulup, and tied it firmly. He
put it on his back then, and carried Chulup to Tehi Buli, some
distance east of Bohem Puyuk. There he taunted him, saying:
"Now, Chulup, you did not take me, but I have taken you. You are not
going to kill me, but I am going to kill you. Who is better, you or
I?" Then he killed him, and pounded his body fine.
When Sehinom Chabatu went home his grandmother said to him,--
"Now, my grandson, you are becoming a strong man; you know how to
fight, but men who fight do not live long. I have never told you to
fight, but from this on you will see fighting. You must keep awake, my
grandson. You must rise early, you must not sleep long; some day you
will hear news, some day something will happen."
After that Sehinom Chabatu brought the tallest yellow pine from beyond
Dau Paki Olel, stripped all the bark off, painted it white, black, and
red. The people danced around this pole, danced two days.
"We will go home now," said the Tede Wiu brothers, "but perhaps
something will happen later on."
Then Dokos said to Wik Kiemila: "We have had all this fighting, we may
have more fighting yet; people may come to attack us, to kill you or
me."
"My father-in-law," said Wai Dokos to Wik Kiemila, "we have killed a
great man, Chulup Win Herit. I think now that we shall have much
trouble; he was the chief of many people; they will attack us."
After this talk all went home. People lived in peace for two years.
"I will go and sleep in the sweat-house," said Sehinom Chabatu one
night. He went. There were many in the sweat-house, and a greater
number outside. Usually Chir Pokaila knew everything; but this night
the old woman did not know that trouble was coming, she was in her own
house asleep.
The door of Sehinom's sweat-house was on the east, and he was sleeping
on the north side. Just before daylight some of the men lying outside
woke up, and some in the sweat-house were awake, but none had risen
yet. All at once they heard an uproar, a crowd of men shouting.
When the people around the sweat-house heard this shouting, they took
their arms and ran forward. All inside the sweat-house rushed to the
door, and as soon as they were out strange people killed them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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