Outlines of Zuñi Creation Myths: Thirteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1891-1892, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1896, pages 321-448Cushing, Frank Hamilton
History
Outlines of Zuñi Creation Myths: Thirteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1891-1892, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1896, pages 321-448
Cushing, Frank Hamilton
Zuni mythology
Thus wise were the Priests of the Bow established by teaching of the
Twain, whose breaths of destruction each one of them breathed in due
part; whom none might gainsay; nay, not even the fathers whose speakers
they were, and with whom none might contend; nay, not even sorcerers,
whose scourgers they were--nor yet the Fearful!
And so, when on a dark night thereafter the world groaned and the
shells sounded warning, all together the Twain and these their new
warriors sought the priest-fathers of the people, bidding them take
in hand for carrying, their tabernacles of precious possessions.
And swiftly and sternly too they wakened all sleepers, old ones and
young, and those who obeyed them were gathered in clan-lines and led
off to safety, for Áhaiyuta, the elder, and his warriors journeyed
before them, and Mátsailema, the younger, and his warriors followed
behind--shields of the people, makers and destroyers of pathways! But
those who loved sleeping or who murmured like children were left to
their evil; they were choked by the black fumes, or buried in the walls
of their houses, which fell when presently the earth heaved with dire
fumes, fire and thunder. Their bones are still digged by the gopher and
marmot.
Thus, from country to country journeyed the people, their fathers
the priests and the keepers of the mysteries, with the women and
children in their midst, while before them, from valley to valley, the
Bow-priests swept danger away.
THE WARS WITH THE BLACK PEOPLE OF THE HIGH BUILDINGS AND WITH THE
ANCIENT WOMAN OF THE K‘YÁKWEINA AND OTHER K´KÂKWE.
At last the people neared, in the midst of plains to the eastward,
great towns built in the heights (_héshotayálawa_). But in these times
the thoughts of their warriors were always those of the eagle or
mountain-lion or other fierce creatures of prey. Of those they met it
was "Lo, now! If I can but seize him and utterly overthrow him and eat
of his substance, feeding therewith also my kind!" Thus, only, thought
they.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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