The Messenger
Then hastened down
To the fourth division of the heavens,
Close to it he stood and paused
And lo, Ni´-ḳa Wa-ḳoⁿ-da-gi, Man of Mysteries,
Appeared before him.
The Messenger turned and said to his followers: Here stands a man,
Verily, one who inspires fear.
I truly believe his name is, Fear-inspiring.
The Man of Mysteries spake, saying: I am a person of whom your
little ones may well make their bodies.
When your little ones make of me their bodies,
They shall be free from all causes of death.
They shall take the name Little-hawk,
To use as their personal name,
Then shall they be able to live to see old age.
Woman-hawk
Is also a name that I have.
Your little ones shall use it as their personal name,
Then shall they be able to live to old age.
The Messenger quickly passed on
To Tho´-xe, who appeared in the form of a buffalo bull.
Close to him the Messenger stood and spake,
Saying: O, Grandfather!
Then, turning toward his followers, he said: Here stands a man,
Verily, a man who inspires fear.
Then Tho´-xe spake, saving: I am a person of whom your little ones
may well make their bodies.
Thereupon he threw himself upon the earth,
And the blazing star, a purple flower,
Sprang up from the soil and stood, pleasing to the sense of sight.
And Tho´-xe spake, saying: This plant shall be medicine for your
little ones,
It shall make their limbs to lengthen in growth,
And they shall be able to live to see old age.
Again Tho´-xe threw himself upon the earth
And the poppy mallow
Sprang from the soil and stood, beautiful, in its red blossoms.
Then Tho´-xe spake, saying: Of this plant also,
Your little ones shall make their bodies,
They shall use it as medicine
And it shall make their limbs to lengthen in growth.
It is astringent to the taste,
Therefore you shall name your little ones Astringent.
When the little ones make of this plant their bodies,
They shall be able to live to see old age.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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