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 ere long they became used to the light, and to this high world
they had entered. Wherefore, when they arose and no longer walked
bended, lo! it was then that they first looked full upon one another
and in horror of their filthier parts, strove to hide these, even from
one another, with girdles of bark and rushes; and when by thus walking
only upon their hinder feet the same became bruised and sore, they
sought to protect them with plaited soles (sandals) of yucca fiber.
THE ORIGIN OF PRIESTS AND OF KNOWLEDGE.
It was thus, by much devising of ways, that men began to grow knowing
in many things, and were instructed by what they saw, and so became
wiser and better able to receive the words and gifts of their fathers
and elder brothers, the gods, Twain and others, and priests. For
already masters-to-be were amongst them. Even in the dark of the
under-worlds such had come to be; as had, indeed, the various kinds
of creatures-to-be, so these. And according to their natures they had
found and cherished things, and had been granted gifts by the gods; but
as yet they knew not the meaning of their own powers and possessions,
even as children know not the meanings and right uses of the precious
or needful things given them; nay nor yet the functions of their very
parts! Now in the light of the Sun-father, persons became known from
persons, and these things from other things; and thus the people came
to know their many fathers among men, to know them by themselves or by
the possessions they had.
Now the first and most perfect of all these fathers among men after
Póshaiyaŋk‘ya was Yanáuluha, who brought up from the under-world
water of the inner ocean, and seeds of life-production and growing
things; in gourds he brought these up, and also things containing the
"of-doing-powers."
THE ORIGIN OF THE RAVEN AND THE MACAW, TOTEMS OF WINTER AND SUMMER.
He who was named Yanáuluha carried ever in his hand a staff which now
in the daylight appeared plumed and covered with feathers of beautiful
colors--yellow, blue-green, and red, white, black, and varied. Attached
to it were shells and other potent contents of the under-world. When
the people saw all these things and the beautiful baton, and heard the
song-like tinkle of the sacred shells, they stretched forth their hands
like little children and cried out, asking many questions.
Yanáuluha, and other priests (_shiwanáteuna_) having been made wise by
teaching of the masters of life (god-beings) with self-magic-knowing
(_yam tsépan ánikwanan_), replied: "It is a staff of extension,
wherewith to test the hearts and understandings of children." Then he
balanced it in his hand and struck with it a hard place and blew upon
it. Amid the plumes appeared four round things, seeds of moving beings,
mere eggs were they, two blue like the sky or turkis; two dun-red like
the flesh of the Earth-mother.
Again the people cried out with wonder and ecstasy, and again asked
they questions, many.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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