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
"Well, my little brother," said Sehinom next morning, "go and tell my
two sisters, Kawas Loimis in Waiti Nomken to come here. Tell them that
I am hungry, that I have nothing to eat. Say that I am starving. Tell
them to bring food to me. From my sisters go to my brother Kichuna; he
lives at Kenwinis Pom. Go next to Wai Hau, at Hau Buli, then to Nomel
Hiwili at Waiel Nomeltos. Go to Dokos Hilit; you will find his house
by inquiring; from there to my father-in-law, Nom Sowiwi. Tell these
people to come to me and bring all their forces."
Then, turning to the other brother, he said: "I will send you, my
little brother, down south. I want you to go to Tidok Kiemila at Tidok
Waisono. This old man and his people have plenty of feather dresses
for war. Go to the Tede Wiu brothers; go to Hokohas Herit. Go eastward
to Dokos Herit, at Dokos Hleï Puriton; go to Kaisus at Kaisansi
Haraston, tell all to come to-morrow and bring their people."
The elder Tsudi brother came back in the evening. "Your sisters will
come to-morrow morning," said he, "and the others will all come."
The younger brother came back a little later. "All the people will
come to-morrow morning," said he: "all the Hokohas people with their
elkskins, all the Tidok people will come with their feather
headdresses. When I went to the Tede Wiu brothers, they said: 'Sehinom
Chabatu has great trouble.' I said: 'He has, indeed; my brother and I
are all that are left.' 'He is our brother,' said they; 'we must help
him.'"
Next morning the two Kawas sisters came, bringing many things. Each
brought two elkskins and a great many arrows and otter-skins.
"Now, brother, eat and feed the two little boys," said they, taking
out food.
People began to come. They came from every direction, from all sides.
All that day they poured in; in the evening and night they kept
coming. Sehinom Chabatu had to wait some days for all to come. The
Kawas sisters had food for every one.
"We heard that you were killed," said the Tede Wiu brothers when they
came. "We are glad to see you living."
"I am alone," said Sehinom. "I do not know what saved me. All my
people were killed except these two little boys."
The Tede Wiu brothers were the first to come from the south. Next came
the Tidok people. They came in crowds, in thousands, and every one had
a feather net on his head. They began to come in the morning, and kept
coming all day, all night, on the morrow, and second night, without
stopping. They came without stopping for twelve days and nights, they
came till there was no room for them anywhere around. More Tidoks
remained at home than came, and more Tidoks came than all other people
put together.
"You people," said Sehinom Chabatu, when all had come, "I did not
cause this war and fighting. I did not begin. The war was made by the
Tede Wiu brothers and Norbis."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account