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MYTHS AND LEGENDS

CALIFORNIA

AND THE

OLD SOUTHWEST -

COMPILED AND EDITED BY

KATHARINE BERRY JUDSON

AUTHOR OF "MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF ALASKA," "MYTHS AND LEGENDS
OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST," AND "MONTANA."

ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO

A. C. McCLURG & CO,
1912

A. C. McCLURG & CO.
1912

Published April, 1912

I. JT. 3all Printing Compatig
Chicago

PREFACE

IN the beginning of the New-making, the ancient
fathers lived successively in four caves in the Four-
fold-containing-earth. The first was of sooty
blackness, black as a chimney at night time; the sec
ond, dark as the night in the stormy season; the third,
like a valley in starlight; the fourth, with a light like
the dawning. Then they came up in the night-shine
into the World of Knowing and Seeing.

So runs the Zuni myth, and it typifies well the men
tal development, insight, and beauty of speech of the
Indian tribes along the Pacific Coast, from those of
Alaska in the far-away Northland, with half of life
spent in actual darkness and more than half in the
struggle for existence against the cold and the storms
loosed by fatal curiosity from the bear's bag of bit
ter, icy winds, to the exquisite imagery of the Zunis
and other desert tribes, on their sunny plains in the
Southland,

It was in the night-shine of this southern land, with
its clear, dry air and brilliant stars, that the Indians,

247055

PREFACE

looking up at the heavens above them, told the story
of the bag of stars — of Utset, the First Mother, who
gave to the scarab beetle, when the floods came, the
bag of Star People, sending him first into the world
above. It was a long climb to the world above and
the tired little fellow, once safe, sat down by the sack.
After a while he cut a tiny hole in the bag, just to
see what was in it, but the Star People flew out and
filled the heavens everywhere. Yet he saved a few
stars by grasping the neck of the sack, and sat there,
frightened and sad, when Utset, the First Mother,
asked what he had done with the beautiful Star People.
The Sky-father himself, in those early years of
the New-making, spread out his hand with the palm
downward, and into all the wrinkles of his hand set
the semblance of shining yellow corn-grains, gleaming
like sparks of fire in the dark of the early World-dawn.
" See," said Sky-father to Earth-mother, " our chil
dren shall be guided by these when the Sun-father is
not near and thy mountain terraces are as darkness it
self. Then shall our children be guided by light." So
Sky-father created the stars. Then he said, " And
even as these grains gleam upward from the water,
so shall seed grain like them spring up from the earth
when touched by water, to nourish our children." And
he created the golden Seed-stuff of the corn.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Beginning of Newness . .
The Men of the Early Times
Creation and Longevity . . .

Old Mole's Creation . . . .
The Creation of the World . .

Spider's Creation

The Gods and the Six Regions .
How Old Man Above Created the

World

The Search for the Middle and the

Hardening of the World .
Origin of Light

Pokoh, the Old Man . . . .

Thunder and Lightning . . .

Creation of Man

The First Man and Woman . .

Old Man Above and the Grizzlies
The Creation of Man-kind and the

Flood

The Birds and the Flood . . .
Legend of the Flood

Zuni (New Mexico) .
Zuni (New Mexico) .
Achomawi (Pit River,

Cal.)

Shastika (Cal) . .
Pima (Arizona)
Sia (New Mexico)

PAGE
19
24

26
27
29
32
36

The Great Flood

Shastika (Cal.) ... 37 •

Zuni (New Mexico) . . 39
Gallinomero (Russian

River, Cal.) ... 47 .
Pat Ute (near Kern

River, Cal.) .... 48 •
Maidu (near Sacramento

Valley, Cal.) ... 50*
Miwok (San Joaquin

Valley, Cal.) ... 51 .
Nishinam (near Bear

River, Cal.) ... 54 '

Shastika (Cal.) ... 55 ,

Pima (Arizona) ... 58

Pima (Arizona) ... 62
Ashochimi (Coast Indians,

Cal.) 63 .

Sia (New Mexico) . . 64

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

The Flood and the Theft of Fire . Tolowa (Del Norte Co.,

Cal) 68

Legend of the Flood in Sacramento Maidu (near Sacramento -

Valley Valley, Cal.) ... 70

The Fable of the Animals . . . Karok (near Klamath

River, Cal.) .... 72

Coyote and Sun Pal Ute (near Kern

River, Cal.) .... 75

The Course of the Sun . . . Sia (New Mexico) . . 77
The Foxes and the Sun . . . Yurok (near Klamath

River, Cal.) .... 80

The Theft of Fire Karok (near Klamath

River, Cal.) .... 8 1

The Theft of Fire Sia (New Mexico} . . 83

The Earth-hardening after the

Flood Sia (New Mexico) . . 85

The Origins of the Totems and of

Names Zuni (New Mexico) . . 88

Traditions of Wanderings . . . Hopi (Arizona) ... 89
The Migration of the Water

People Walpi (Arizona) ... 92

Coyote and the Mesquite Beans . Pima (Arizona) ... 94
Origin of the Sierra Nevadas and Yokuts (near Fresno,

Coast Range Cal) ...... 95

Yosemite Valley and its Indian

Names 97

Legend of Tu-tok-a-nu'-la (El

Capitan) Yosemite Valley . . . 100

Legend of Tis-se'-yak (South

Dome and North Dome) . . Yosemite Valley . . . 102
Historic Tradition of the Upper

Tuolumne Yosemite Valley . . . 104

California Big Trees .... Pai Ute (near Kern

River, Cal.) . . . . 106
The Children of Cloud . . . Pima (Arizona) ... 107

xii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

The Cloud People . . . .» . Sia (New Mexico) . . 110

Rain Song Sia (New Mexico) . . 113

Rain Song 114

Rain Song Sia (New Mexico) . . 115

The Corn Maidens ...... Zuni (New Mexico) . 116

The Search for the Corn

Maidens Zuni (New Mexico) . 120

Hasjelti and Hostjoghon . . . Navajo (New Mexico) . 132

The Song-hunter Navajo (New Mexico) . 134

Sand Painting of the Song-hunter Navajo 137

The Guiding Duck and the Lake

of Death Zuni (New Mexico) . . 140

The Boy who Became a God . . Navajo (New Mexico) . 144

» Origin of Clear Lake Patwin (Sacramento

Valley, Cal) . . . 151

The Great Fire Patwin (Sacramento

Valley, Cal.) ... 152
Origin of the Raven and the

Macaw Zuni (New Mexico) . . 154

Coyote and the Hare .... Sia (New Mexico) . . 157

Coyote and the Quails .... Pima (Arizona) . . . 160

Coyote and the Fawns .... Sia (New Mexico) . . 162

How the Bluebird Got its Color . Pima (Arizona) . . . 164

Coyote's Eyes Pima (Arizona) . . 166

Coyote and the Tortillas . . . Pima (Arizona) . . . 168

Coyote as a Hunter Sia (New Mexico) . . 170

How the Rattlesnake Learned to

Bite Pima (Arizona) . . . 175

Coyote and the Rattlesnake . . Sia (New Mexico) . . 178
Origin of the Saguaro and Palo

Verde Cacti Pima (Arizona) . . . 182

The Thirsty Quails Pima (Arizona) . . . 184

The Boy and the Beast .... Pima (Arizona) . . . 185

xiii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

Why the Apaches are Fierce . . Pima (Arizona) ... 187

Speech on the Warpath .... Pima (Arizona) . . . 188

The Spirit Land Gallinomero (Russian

River, Cal.) .... 192
Song of the Ghost Dance . . . Pat Ute (Kern River,

Cal.) 193

xiv

PREFACE

It is around the beautiful Corn Maidens that per
haps the most delicate of all imagery clings, Maid
ens offended when the dancers sought their presence
all too freely, no longer holding them so precious as
in the olden time, so that, in white garments, they be
came invisible in the thickening white mists. Then
sadly and noiselessly they stole in amongst the people
and laid their corn wands down amongst the trays, and
laid their white broidered garments thereon, as moth
ers lay soft kilting over their babes. Even as the mists
became they, and with the mists drifting, fled away,
to the far south Summer-land.

Then began the search for the Corn Maidens, found
at last only by Paiyatuma, the god of dawn, from whose
flute came wonderful music, as of liquid voices in
caverns, or the echo of women's laughter in water vases,
heard only by men of nights as they wandered up and
down the river trail.

When he paused to rest on his journey, playing on
his painted flute, butterflies and birds sought him,
and he sent them before to seek the Maidens, even
before they could hear the music of his song-sound.
And the Maidens filled their colored trays with seed-
corn from their fields, and' over all spread broidered
mantles, broidered with the bright colors and the
creature signs of the Summer-land, and thus following

Vll

PREFACE

him, journeyed only at night and dawn, as the dead
do, and the stars also.

Back to the Seed People they came, but only to
give Vo the ancients the precious seed, and this hav
ing been given, the darkness of night fell around them.
As shadows in deep night, so these Maidens of the Seed
of Corn, the beloved and beautiful, were seen no
more of men. But Shutsuka walked behind the Maid
ens, whistling shrilly as they sped southward, even as
the frost wind whistles when the corn is gathered away,
among the lone canes and the dry leaves of a gleaned
field.

The myths of California, in general, are of the same
type as those given in a preceding volume on the myths
of the Pacific Northwest. Indeed many of the myths
of Northern Californian tribes are so obviously the
same as those of the Modocs and Klamath Indians that
they have not been repeated. Coyote and Fox reign
supreme, as they do along the entire coast, though the
birds of the air take a greater part in the creation of
things. These stories are quaint and whimsical, but
they lack the beauty of the myths of the desert tribes.
There is nothing in all Californian myths, so far as I
have studied them, which in any way compares with
the one of the Corn Maidens, referred to above, or the

Sia myths of the Cloud People.

viii

PREFACE

In the compilation of this volume, the same idea
has governed as in the two preceding volumes — simply
the preparation of a volume of the quainter, purer
myths, suitable for general reading, authentic, and
with illustrations of the country portrayed, but with
no pretensions to being a purely scientific piece of
work. Scientific people know well the government
documents and reports of learned societies which con
tain myths of all kinds, good, bad, and indifferent. But
the volumes of this series are intended for popular use.
Changes have been made only in abridgments of long
conversations and of ceremonial details which detracted
from the myth as a myth, even though of great ethno
logical importance.

Especial credit is due in this volume to the work of
the ethnologists whose work has appeared in the pub
lications of the Smithsonian Institution, and the U. S.
Geographical and Geological Surveys West of the
Rocky Mountains: to Mrs. Mathilda Cox Stevenson
for the Sia myths, and to the late James Stevenson for
the Navajo myths and sand painting; to the late Frank
Hamilton Gushing for the Zuni myths, to the late Frank
Russell for the Pima myths, to the late Stephen Powers
for the Californian myths, and also to James Mooney
and Cosmos Mindeleff. The recent publications of the

PREFACE

University of California on the myths of the tribes of
that State have not been included.

Thanks are also due to the Smithsonian Institution
for the illustrations accredited to them, to the Carnegie
Institution of Washington for illustrations from the
Desert Botanical Laboratory at Tucson, Arizona,
and to Mr. Ferdinard Ellerman of the Mount Wilson
Observatory and to others.

K. B. J.
Department of History,

University of Washington.

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE
Zuni Sand Painting of " The Song Hunter " . . Frontispiece

Zuni Sand Altar in Kiva of the North 24

Interior of a Pueblo Zuni House 25

Desert Garden, Showing Cholla, Small Cereus, and Giant Cacti 32

Girl Carrying Water Olla 33

Yuma Indians 3°

" When the white man came * 3$

" Great towns built on the heights " (Castle of Montezuma) . 39

Yucca Growing through Sand Dune in Tularosa Desert . . 44

Indian Writing 48

Sierra Nevada Mountains 52

Huts of Papago (Pima) Indians, Showing Village Bake-oven . 58

Grand Canon of the Colorado 62

The Sands of the Desert 63

« * * * go that the waters on the plains flower into Big

Waters" (Golden Gate) 7°

Fallen Leaf Lake 71

San Luis Rey Mission 74

Sia Ceremonial Vase 84

From the Bell-tower of San Xavier Mission, Tuscon, Arizona 90

Indians in the Grand Canon 91

Happy Isles. Yosemite 96

A-wai'-a (Mirror Lake) 97

Po'-ho-no (Bridal Veil Falls) 98

Cholok, " the Fall " 99

" Then came the tiny Measuring Worm and began to creep up

the rock" (El Capitan) 100

Cathedral Spires 101

Yosemite Valley. Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls from Glacier

Point I02

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

" South Dome is the woman and North Dome is the husband " 103

Woh-woh-nau, the Sacred Trees of the Monos 106

Apache Medicine Shirt 107

"The Herati are the floating white clouds * * * " . . no

" The Heash are clouds like the plains * * * " . . . in

Zuni Ancestral Rock Gods 116

The Little Basket-maker 124

"On the mountains where the fogs meet" 132

Apache Ollas 133

* * * in the Northland of cold and white loneliness " 140

Navajo Blanket Weaving 148

Zuni Pueblo from the Southeast 154

Climbing up the Acoma Trail 155

Pinon Tree in the Grand Canon 158

San Xavier Mission, Tucson, Arizona 159

Mesquite and Small Cereus Cactus 164

Vases with Figures of Butterflies, from Sityatki 165

Sia Masks 172

Palo Verde Cacti 182

Pima Irrigation Dam 183

In the Petrified Forest of Arizona . 186

* * * threw all the Apaches over the mountains "
(Apache basket-maker) 187

" Bad Indians go to an island in the Bitter Waters "... 192

" The giant Sierras, fringed at the base with dark pines " . . 193

xvi

MYTHS AND LEGENDS

CALIFORNIA

AND THE

OLD SOUTHWEST

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF

CALIFORNIA AND THE
OLD SOUTHWEST

THE BEGINNING OF NEWNESS

Zuni (New Mexico)

BEFORE the beginning of the New-making, the
All-father Father alone had being. Through
ages there was nothing else except black
darkness.

In the beginning of the New-making, the All-father
Father thought outward in space, and mists were
created and up-lifted. Thus through his knowledge
he made himself the Sun who was thus created and
is the great Father. The dark spaces brightened with
light. The cloud mists thickened and became water.

From his flesh, the Sun-father created the Seed-stuff
of worlds, and he himself rested upon the waters. And
these two, the Four-fold-containing Earth-mother and
the All-covering Sky-father, the surpassing beings, with
power of changing their forms even as smoke changes
in the wind, were the father and mother of the soul-
beings.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

Then as man and woman spoke these two together.
" Behold! " said Earth-mother, as a great terraced bowl
appeared at hand, and within it water, " This shall be
the home of my tiny children. On the rim of each
world-country in which they wander, terraced moun
tains shall stand, making in one region many moun
tains by which one country shall be known from
another."

Then she spat on the water and struck it and stirred
it with her fingers. Foam gathered about the terraced
rim, mounting higher and higher. Then with her
warm breath she blew across the terraces. White flecks
of foam broke away and floated over the water. But
the cold breath of Sky-father shattered the foam and
it fell downward in fine mist and spray.

Then Earth-mother spoke:

" Even so shall white clouds float up from the great
waters at the borders of the world, and clustering about
the mountain terraces of the horizon, shall be broken
and hardened by thy cold. Then will they shed down
ward, in rain-spray, the water of life, even into the
hollow places of my lap. For in my lap shall nestle
our children, man-kind and creature-kind, for warmth
in thy coldness."

So even now the trees on high mountains near the
clouds and Sky-father, crouch low toward Earth-

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

mother for warmth and protection. Warm is Earth-
mother, cold our Sky-father.

Then Sky-father said, " Even so. Yet I, too, will
be helpful to our children." Then he spread his hand
out with the palm downward and into all the wrinkles
of his hand he set the semblance of shining yellow corn-
grains; in the dark of the early world-dawn they
gleamed like sparks of fire.

" See," he said, pointing to the seven grains between
his thumb and four fingers, " our children shall be
guided by these when the Sun-father is not near and
thy terraces are as darkness itself. Then shall our chil
dren be guided by lights." So Sky-father created the
stars. Then he said, " And even as these grains gleam
up from the water, so shall seed grain like them spring
up from the earth when touched by water, to nourish
our children." And thus they created the seed-corn.
And in many other ways they devised for their chil
dren, the soul-beings.

But the first children, in a cave of the earth, were
unfinished. The cave was of sooty blackness, black as
a chimney at night time, and foul. Loud became their
murmurings and lamentations, until many sought to es
cape, growing wiser and more man-like.

But the earth was not then as we now see it. Then
the Sun-father sent down two sons (sons also of the

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

Foam-cap), the Beloved Twain, Twin Brothers of
Light, yet Elder and Younger, the Right and the Left,
like to question and answer in deciding and doing. To
them the Sun-father imparted his own wisdom. He
gave them the great cloud-bow, and for arrows the
thunderbolts of the four quarters. For buckler, they
had the fog-making shield, spun and woven of the float
ing clouds and spray. The shield supports its bearer,
as clouds are supported by the wind, yet hides its bearer
also. And he gave to them the fathership and control
of men and of all creatures. Then the Beloved Twain,
with their great cloud-bow lifted the Sky-father into
the vault of the skies, that the earth might become
warm and fitter for men and creatures. Then along
the sun-seeking trail, they sped to the mountains west
ward. With magic knives they spread open the depths
of the mountain and uncovered the cave in which
dwelt the unfinished men and creatures. So they dwelt
with men, learning to know them, and seeking to lead
them out.

Now there were growing things in the depths, like
grasses and vines. So the Beloved Twain breathed on
the stems, growing tall toward the light as grass is
wont to do, making them stronger, and twisting them
upward until they formed a great ladder by which

men and creatures ascended to a second cave.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

Up the ladder into the second cave-world, men and
the beings crowded, following closely the Two Little
but Mighty Ones. Yet many fell back and were lost
in the darkness. They peopled the under-world from
which they escaped in after time, amid terrible earth
shakings.

In this second cave it was as dark as the night of
a stormy season, but larger of space and higher. Here
again men and the beings increased, and their com
plainings grew loud. So the Twain again increased
the growth of the ladder, and again led men upward,
not all at once, but in six bands, to become the fathers
of the six kinds of men, the yellow, the tawny gray,
the red, the white, the black, and the mingled. And
this time also many were lost or left behind.

Now the third great cave was larger and lighter,
like a valley in starlight. And again they increased
in number. And again the Two led them out into a
fourth cave. Here it was light like dawning, and men
began to perceive and to learn variously, according to
their natures, wherefore the Twain taught them first
to seek the Sun-father.

Then as the last cave became filled and men learned
to understand, the Two led them forth again into the
great upper world, which is the World of Knowing
and Seeing.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE MEN OF THE EARLY TIMES

Zuni (New Mexico)

EIGHT years was but four days and four nights
when the world was new. It was while such
days and nights continued that men were led
out, in the night-shine of the World of Seeing. For
even when they saw the great star, they thought it the
Sun-father himself, it so burned their eye-balls.

Men and creatures were more alike then than now.
Our fathers were black, like the caves they came from ;
their skins were cold and scaly like those of mud
creatures; their eyes were goggled like an owl's; their
ears were like those of cave bats; their feet were
webbed like those of walkers in wet and soft places;
they had tails, long or short, as they were old or young.
Men crouched when they walked, or crawled along
the ground like lizards. They feared to walk straight,
but crouched as before time they had in their cave
worlds, that they might not stumble or fall in the un
certain light.

When the morning star arose, they blinked exces
sively when they beheld its brightness and cried out

Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution

ZUNI SAND ALTAR IN KIVA OF THE NORTH

QJi

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

that now surely the Father was coming. But it was
only the elder of the Bright Ones, heralding with his
shield of flame the approach of the Sun-father. And
when, low down in the east, the Sun-father himself ap
peared, though shrouded in the mist of the world-
waters, they were blinded and heated by his light and
glory. They fell down wallowing and covered their
eyes with their hands and arms, yet ever as they looked
toward the light, they struggled toward the Sun as
moths and other night creatures seek the light of a
camp fire. Thus they became used to the light. But
when they rose and walked straight, no longer bend
ing, and looked upon each other, they sought to clothe
themselves with girdles and garments of bark and
rushes. And when by walking only upon their hinder
feet they were bruised by stone and sand, they plaited
sandals of yucca fibre.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

CREATION AND LONGEVITY

Achomawi (Pit River, Gal.)

OYOTE began the creation of the earth, but
Eagle completed it. Coyote scratched it up
with his paws out of nothingness, but Eagle
complained there were no mountains for him to perch
on. So Coyote made hills, but they were not high
enough. Therefore Eagle scratched up great ridges.
When Eagle flew over them, his feathers dropped
down, took root, and became trees. The pin feathers
became bushes and plants.

Coyote and Fox together created man. They quar
relled as to whether they should let men live always or
not. Coyote said, " If they want to die, let them die.7'
Fox said, " If they want to come back, let them come
back." But Coyote's medicine was stronger, and nobody
ever came back.

Coyote also brought fire into the world, for the In
dians were freezing. He journeyed far to the west,
to a place where there was fire, stole some of it, and
brought it home in his ears. He kindled a fire in the
mountains, and the Indians saw the smoke of it, and

went up and got fire.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

OLD MOLE'S CREATION

Shastika (Cat.)

ENG, long ago, before there was any earth, Old
Mole burrowed underneath Somewhere, and
threw up the earth which forms the world.
Then Great Man created the people. But the Indians
were cold.

Now in the east gleamed the white Fire Stone.
Therefore Coyote journeyed eastward, and brought
back the Fire Stone for the Indians. So people had
fire.

In the beginning, Sun had nine brothers, all flaming
hot like himself. But Coyote killed the nine broth
ers and so saved the world from burning up. But
Moon also had nine brothers all made of ice, like him
self, and the Night People almost froze to death.
Therefore Coyote went away out on the eastern edge
of the world with his flint-stone knife. He heated
stones to keep his hands warm, and as the Moons arose,
he killed one after another with his flint-stone knife,
until he had slain nine of them. Thus the people were

saved from freezing at night.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

When it rains, some Indian, sick in heaven, is weep
ing. Long, long ago, there was a good young Indian
on earth. When he died the Indians wept so that a
flood came upon the earth, and drowned all people ex
cept one couple.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE CREATION OF THE WORLD

Pima (Arizona)

IN the beginning there was nothing at all except
darkness. All was darkness and emptiness. For a
long, long while, the darkness gathered until it
became a great mass. Over this the spirit of Earth
Doctor drifted to and fro like a fluffy bit of cotton in
the breeze. Then Earth Doctor decided to make for
himself an abiding place. So he thought within him
self, " Come forth, some kind of plant," and there ap
peared the creosote bush. He placed this before him
and set it upright. But it at once fell over. He set it
upright again ; again it fell. So it fell until the fourth
time it remained upright. Then Earth Doctor took
from his breast a little dust and flattened it into a cake.
When the dust cake was still, he danced upon it, sing
ing a magic song.

Next he created some black insects which made black
gum on the creosote bush. Then he made a termite
which worked with the small earth cake until it grew
very large. As he sang and danced upon it, the flat

world stretched out on all sides until it was as large

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

as it is now. Then he made a round sky-cover to fit
over it, round like the houses of the Pimas. But the
earth shook and stretched, so that it was unsafe. So
Earth Doctor made a gray spider which was to spin
a web around the edges of the earth and sky, fastening
them together. When this was done, the earth grew
firm and solid.

Earth Doctor made water, mountains, trees, grass,
and weeds — made everything as we see it now. But
all was still inky blackness. Then he made a dish,
poured water into it, and it became ice. He threw this
round block of ice far to the north, and it fell at the
place where the earth and sky were woven together. At
once the ice began to gleam and shine. We call it now
the sun. It rose from the ground in the north up into
the sky and then fell back. Earth Doctor took it and
threw it to the west where the earth and sky were
sewn together. It rose into the sky and again slid back
to the earth. Then he threw it to the far south, but it
slid back again to the flat earth. Then at last he threw
it to the east. It rose higher and higher in the sky un
til it reached the highest point in the round blue cover
and began to slide down on the other side. And so the
sun does even yet.

Then Earth Doctor poured more water into the dish
and it became ice. He sang a magic song, and threw

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

the round ball of ice to the north where the earth and
sky are woven together. It gleamed and shone, but not
so brightly as the sun. It became the moon, and it
rose in the sky, but fell back again, just as the sun had
done. So he threw the ball to the west, and then to
the south, but it slid back each time to the earth. Then
he threw it to the east, and it rose to the highest point
in the sky-cover and began to slide down on the other
side. And so it does even to-day, following the sun.

But Earth Doctor saw that when the sun and moon
were not in the sky, all was inky darkness. So he sang
a magic song, and took some water into his mouth and
blew it into the sky, in a spray, to make little stars.
Then he took his magic crystal and broke it into pieces
and threw them into the sky, to make the larger stars.
Next he took his walking stick and placed ashes on the
end of it. Then he drew it across the sky to form the
Milky Way. So Earth Doctor made all the stars.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

SPIDER'S CREATION

Sia (New Mexico)

IN the beginning, long, long ago, there was but one
being in the lower world. This was the spider,
Sussistinnako. At that time there were no other
insects, no birds, animals, or any other living creature.

The spider drew a line of meal from north to south
and then crossed it with another line running east and
west. On each side of the first line, north of the sec
ond, he placed two small parcels. They were precious
but no one knows what was in them except Spider.
Then he sat down near the parcels and began to sing.
The music was low and sweet and the two parcels ac
companied him, by shaking like rattles. Then two
women appeared, one from each parcel.

In a short time people appeared and began walking
around. Then animals, birds, and insects appeared,
and the spider continued to sing until his creation was
complete.

But there was no light, and as there were many peo
ple, they did not pass about much for fear of tread
ing upon each other. The two women first created

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

were the mothers of all. One was named Utset and she
was the mother of all Indians. The other was Now-
utset, and she was the mother of all other nations.
While it was still dark, the spider divided the people
into clan's, saying to some, " You are of the Corn clan,
and you are the first of all." To others he said, " You
belong to the Coyote clan." So he divided them into
their clans, the clans of the Bear, the Eagle, and other
clans.

After Spider had nearly created the earth, Ha-
arts, he thought it would be well to have rain to water
it, so he created the Cloud People, the Lightning Peo
ple, the Thunder People, and the Rainbow People, to
work for the people of Ha-arts, the earth. He divided
this creation into six parts, and each had its home in
a spring in the heart of a great mountain upon whose
summit was a giant tree. One was in the spruce tree
on the Mountain of the North; another in the pine
tree on the Mountain of the West; another in the oak
tree on the Mountain of the South ; and another in the
aspen tree on the Mountain of the East; the fifth was
on the cedar tree on the Mountain of the Zenith; and
the last in an oak on the Mountain of the Nadir.

The spider divided the world into three parts: Ha-
arts, the earth; Tinia, the middle plain; and Hu-wa-ka,
the upper plain. Then the spider gave to these People

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

of the Clouds and to the rainbow, Tinia, the middle
plain.

Now it was still dark, but the people of Ha-arts
made houses for themselves by digging in the rocks and
the earth. They could not build houses as they do now,
because they could not see. In a short time Utset and
Now-utset talked much to each other, saying,

" We will make light, that our people may see. We
cannot tell the people now, but to-morrow will be a
good day and the day after to-morrow will be a good
day," meaning that their thoughts were good. So they
spoke with one tongue. They said, " Now all is cov
ered with darkness, but after a while we will have
light."

Then these two mothers, being inspired by Sussistin-
nako, the spider, made the sun from white shell, turkis,
red stone, and abalone shell. After making the sun,
they carried him to the east and camped there, since
there were no houses. The next morning they climbed
to the top of a high mountain and dropped the sun
down behind it. After a time he began to ascend.
When the people saw the light they were happy.

When the sun was far off, his face was blue; as he
came nearer, the face grew brighter. Yet they did not
see the sun himself, but only a large mask which cov
ered his whole body.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

The people saw that the world was large and the
country beautiful. When the two mothers returned to
the village, they said to the people, "We are the
mothers of all."

The sun lighted the world during the day, but there
was no light at night. So the two mothers created the
moon from a slightly black stone, many kinds of yellow
stone, turkis, and a red stone, that the world might be
lighted at night. But the moon travelled slowly and did
not always give light. Then the two mothers created the
Star People and made their eyes of sparkling white
crystal that they might twinkle and brighten the world
at night. When the Star People lived in the lower
world they were gathered into beautiful groups; they
were not scattered about as they are in the upper world.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE GODS AND THE SIX REGIONS

IN ancient times, Po-shai-an-ki-a, the father of the
sacred bands, or tribes, lived with his followers in
the City of Mists, the Middle Place, guarded by
six warriors, the prey gods. Toward the North, he
was guarded by Long Tail, the mountain lion; West
by Clumsy Foot, the bear; South by Black-Mark Face,
the badger; East by Hang Tail, the wolf; above by
White Cap, the eagle; below by Mole.

So when he was about to go forth into the world, he
divided the earth into six regions: North, the Direc
tion of the Swept or Barren Plains; West, the Direc
tion of the Home of the Waters ; South, the Place of
the Beautiful Red; East, the Direction of the Home
of Day; upper regions, the Direction of the Home of
the High; lower regions, the Direction of the Home
of the Low.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

HOW OLD MAN ABOVE CREATED THE

WORLD

Shastika (Gal.)

ENG, long ago, when the world was so new that
even the stars were dark, it was very, very flat.
Chareya, Old Man Above, could not see
through the dark to the new, flat earth. Neither could
he step down to it because it was so far below him. With
a large stone he bored a hole in the sky. Then through
the hole he pushed down masses of ice and snow, until
a great pyramid rose from the plain. Old Man Above
climbed down through the hole he had made in the
sky, stepping from cloud to cloud, until he could put
his foot on top the mass of ice and snow. Then with
one long step he reached the earth.

The sun shone through the hole in the sky and be
gan to melt the ice and snow. It made holes in the ice
and snow. When it was soft, Chareya bored with his
finger into the earth, here and there, and planted the first
trees. Streams from the melting snow watered the
new trees and made them grow. Then he gathered the
leaves which fell from the trees and blew upon them.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

They became birds. He took a stick and broke it into
pieces. Out of the small end he made fishes and placed
them in the mountain streams. Of the middle of the
stick, he made all the animals except the grizzly bear.
From the big end of the stick came the grizzly bear,
who was made master of all. Grizzly was large and
strong and cunning. When the earth was new he
walked upon two feet and carried a large club. So
strong was Grizzly that Old Man Above feared the
creature he had made. Therefore, so that he might be
safe, Chareya hollowed out the pyramid of ice and
snow as a tepee. There he lived for thousands of snows.
The Indians knew he lived there because they could
see the smoke curling from the smoke hole of his tepee.
When the pale-face came, Old Man Above went away.
There is no longer any smoke from the smoke hole.
White men call the tepee Mount Shasta.

Putnam d- Valentine

" WHEN THE WHITE MAN CAME . . .'

Putnam d- 1'nlcntine

"GREAT TOWNS BUILT IN THE HEIGHTS" (CASTLE OF MONTEZUMA)

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE SEARCH FOR THE MIDDLE AND THE
HARDENING OF THE WORLD

Zunl (New Mexico)

AS it was with the first men and creatures, so it
was with the world. It was young and unripe. .&
Earthquakes shook the world and rent it.
Demons and monsters of the under-world fled forth.
Creatures became fierce, beasts of prey, and others
turned timid, becoming their quarry. Wretchedness
and hunger abounded and black magic. Fear was
everywhere among them, so the people, in dread of
their precious possessions, became wanderers, living
on the seeds of grass, eaters of dead and slain things.
Yet, guided by the Beloved Twain, they sought in the
light and under the pathway of the Sun, the Middle of
the world, over which alone they could find the earth
at rest.1

When the tremblings grew still for a time, the peo
ple paused at the First of Sitting Places. Yet they <
were still poor and defenceless and unskilled, and the

1 The earth was flat and round, like a plate.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

world still moist and unstable. Demons and monsters
fled from the earth in times of shaking, and threatened
wanderers.

Then the Two took counsel of each other. The
Elder said the earth must be made more stable for
men and the valleys where their children rested. If
they sent down their fire bolts of thunder, aimed to
all the four regions, the earth would heave up and
down, fire would belch over the world and burn it,
floods of hot water would sweep over it, smoke would
blacken the daylight, but the earth would at last be
safer for men.

So the Beloved Twain let fly the thunderbolts.

The mountains shook and trembled, the plains
cracked and crackled under the floods and fires, and
the hollow places, the only refuge of men and creat
ures, grew black and awful. At last thick rain fell, put
ting out the fires. Then water flooded the world, cut
ting deep trails through the mountains, and burying
or uncovering the bodies of things and beings. Where
they huddled together and were blasted thus, their
blood gushed forth and flowed deeply, here in rivers,
there in floods, for gigantic were they. But the blood
was charred and blistered and blackened by the fires
into the black rocks of the lower mesas.1 There were

1 Lava.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

vast plains of dust, ashes, and cinders, reddened like the
mud of the hearth place. Yet many places behind and
between the mountain terraces were unharmed by the
fires, and even then green grew the trees and grasses and
even flowers bloomed. Then the earth became more
stable, and drier, and its lone places less fearsome since
monsters of prey were changed to rock.

But ever and again the earth trembled and the peo
ple were troubled.

" Let us again seek the Middle," they said. So they
travelled far eastward to their second stopping place,
the Place of Bare Mountains.

Again the world rumbled, and they travelled into a
country to a place called Where-tree-boles-stand-in-
the-midst-of-waters. There they remained long, say
ing, " This is the Middle." They built homes there.
At times they met people who had gone before, and
thus they learned war. And many strange things hap
pened there, as told in speeches of the ancient talk.

Then when the earth groaned again, the Twain
bade them go forth, and they murmured. Many re
fused and perished miserably in their own homes, as
do rats in falling trees, or flies in forbidden food.

But the greater number went forward until they
came to Steam-mist-in-the-midst-of-waters. And they
saw the smoke of men's hearth fires and many houses

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

scattered over the hills before them. When they came
nearer, they challenged the people rudely, demanding
who they were and why there, for in their last standing-
place they had had touch of war.

" We are the People of the Seed," said the men of
the hearth-fires, " born elder brothers of ye, and led
of the gods."

" No," said our fathers, " we are led of the gods and
we are the Seed People. . . ."

Long lived the people in the town on the sunrise
slope of the mountains of Kahluelawan, until the earth
began to groan warningly again. Loath were they to
leave the place of the Kaka and the lake of their dead.
But the rumbling grew louder and the Twain Beloved
called, and all together they journeyed eastward, seek
ing once more the Place of the Middle. But they
grumbled amongst themselves, so when they came to a
place of great promise, they said, " Let us stay here.
Perhaps it may be the Place of the Middle."

So they built houses there, larger and stronger than
ever before, and more perfect, for they were strong in
numbers and wiser, though yet unperfected as men.
They called the place " The Place of Sacred Stealing."

Long they dwelt there, happily, but growing wiser
and stronger, so that, with their tails and dressed in the
skins of animals, they saw they were rude and ugly.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

In chase or in war, they were at a disadvantage, for
they met older nations of men with whom they fought.
No longer they feared the gods and monsters, but
only their own kind. So therefore the gods called a
council.

" Changed shall ye be, oh our children," cried the
Twain. "Ye shall walk straight in the pathways,
clothed in garments, and without tails, that ye may
sit more straight in council, and without webs to your
feet, or talons on your hands."

So the people were arranged in procession like
dancers. And the Twain with their weapons and fires
of lightning shored off the forelocks hanging down
over their faces, severed the talons, and slitted the
webbed fingers and toes. Sore was the wounding and
loud cried the foolish, when lastly the people were ar
ranged in procession for the razing of their tails.

But those who stood at the end of the line, shrinking
farther and farther, fled in their terror, climbing trees
and high places, with loud chatter. Wandering far,
sleeping ever in tree tops, in the far-away Summer-
land, they are sometimes seen of far-walkers, long of
tail and long handed, like wizened men-children.

But the people grew in strength, and became more
perfect, and more than ever went to war. They grew
vain. They had reached the Place of the Middle.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

They said, " Let us not wearily wander forth again
even though the earth tremble and the Twain bid us
forth."

And even as they spoke, the mountain trembled and
shook, though far-sounding.

But as the people changed, changed also were the
Twain, small and misshapen, hard-favored and un
yielding of will, strong of spirit, evil and bad. They
taught the people to war, and led them far to the east
ward.

At last the people neared, in the midst of the plains
to the eastward, great towns built in the heights. Great
were the fields and possessions of this people, for they
knew how to command and carry the waters, bringing
new soil. And this, too, without hail or rain. So our
ancients, hungry with long wandering for new food,
were the more greedy and often gave battle.

It was here that the Ancient Woman of the Elder
People, who carried her heart in her rattle and was
deathless of wounds in the body, led the enemy, cry
ing out shrilly. So it fell out ill for our fathers. For,
moreover, thunder raged and confused their warriors,
rain descended and blinded them, stretching their bow
strings of sinew and quenching the flight of their ar
rows as the flight of bees is quenched by the sprinkling
plume of the honey-hunter. But they devised bow

Courtesy, Department of Botanical Research, Carnegie Institution of Washington

YUCCA GROWING THROUGH SAND DUNE IN TULAROSA DESERT

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

strings of yucca and the Two Little Ones sought coun
sel of the Sun-father who revealed the life-secret of
the Ancient Woman and the magic powers over the
under-fires of the dwellers of the mountains, so that our
enemy in the mountain town was overmastered. And
because our people found in that great town some hid
den deep in the cellars, and pulled them out as rats
are pulled from a hollow cedar, and found them black
ened by the fumes of their war magic, yet wiser than
the common people, they spared them and received
them into their next of kin of the Black Corn. . . .
But the tremblings and warnings still sounded, and
the people searched for the stable Middle.

Now they called a great council of men and the
beasts, birds, and insects of all kinds. After a long
council it was said,

" Where is Water-skate? He has six legs, all very
long. Perhaps he can feel with them to the uttermost
of the six regions, and point out the very Middle."

So Water-skate was summoned. But lo! It was the
Sun-father in his likeness which appeared. And he
lifted himself to the zenith and extended his fingerfeet
to all the six regions, so that they touched the north,
the great waters ; the west, and the south, and the east,
the great waters ; and to the northeast the waters above,
and to the southwest the waters below. But to the north

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

his finger foot grew cold, so he drew it in. Then grad
ually he settled down upon the earth and said, " Where
my heart rests, mark a spot, and build a town of the
Mid-most, for there shall be the Mid-most Place of the
Earth-mother."

And his heart rested over the middle of the plain
and valley of Zuni. And when he drew in his finger-
legs, lo! there were the trail-roads leading out and in
like stays of a spider's nest, into and from the mid-most
place he had covered.

Here because of their good fortune in finding the
/% stable Middle, the priest father called the town the

Abiding-place-of-happy- fortune.

Copyrighted by George H'harton James

GIRL CARRYING WATER OLLA

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

ORIGIN OF LIGHT

Gallinomero (Russian River, Cal.)

IN the earliest beginning, the darkness was thick
and deep. There was no light. The animals ran
here and there, always 'bumping into each other.
The birds flew here and there, but continually knocked
against each other.

Hawk and Coyote thought a long time about the
darkness. Then Coyote felt his way into a swamp and
found a large number of dry tule reeds. He made a
ball of them. He gave the ball to Hawk, with some
flints, and Hawk flew up into the sky, where he touched
off the tule reeds and sent the bundle whirling around
the world. But still the nights were dark, so Coyote
made another bundle of tule reeds, and Hawk flew into
the air with them, and touched them off with the flints.
But these reeds were damp and did not burn so well.
That is why the moon does not give so much light as
the sun.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

POKOH, THE OLD MAN

Pal Ute (near Kern River, Cal.)

OKOH, Old Man, they say, created the world.
Pokoh had many thoughts. He had many
blankets in which he carried around gifts for
men. He created every tribe out of the soil where they
used to live. That is why an Indian wants to live and
die in his native place. He was made of the same soil.
Pokoh did not wish men to wander and travel, but to
remain in their birthplace.

Long ago, Sun was a man, and was bad. Moon was
good. Sun had a quiver full of arrows, and they are
deadly. Sun wishes to kill all things.

Sun has two daughters (Venus and Mercury) and
twenty men kill them ; but after fifty days, they return
to life again.

Rainbow is the sister of Pokoh, and her breast is
covered with flowers.

Lightning strikes the ground and fills the flint with

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

fire. That is the origin of fire. Some say the beaver
brought fire from the east, hauling it on his broad, flat
tail. That is why the beaver's tail has no hair on it,
even to this day. It was burned off.

There are many worlds. Some have passed and some
are still to come. In one world the Indians all creep ;
in another they all walk; in another they all fly. Per
haps in a world to come, Indians may walk on four
legs ; or they may crawl like snakes ; or they may swim
in the water like fish.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING

Maidu (near Sacramento Valley, Cal.)

GREAT-MAN created the world and all the peo
ple. At first the earth was very hot, so hot
it was melted, and that is why even to-day there
is fire in the trunk and branches of trees, and in the
stones.

Lightning is Great-Man himself coming down
swiftly from his world above, and tearing apart the
trees with his flaming arm.

Thunder and Lightning are two great spirits who
try to destroy mankind. But Rainbow is a good spirit
who speaks gently to them, and persuades them to let
the Indians live a little longer.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

CREATION OF MAN

Miivok (SanJoaquln Valley, Cal.)

AFTER Coyote had completed making the world,
he began to think about creating man. He
called a council of all the animals. The ani
mals sat in a circle, just as the Indians do, with Lion
at the head, in an open space in the forest. On Lion's
right was Grizzly Bear; next Cinnamon Bear; and so
on to Mouse, who sat at Lion's left.

Lion spoke first. Lion said he wished man to have
a "terrible voice, like himself, so that he could frighten
all animals. He wanted man also to be well covered
with hair, with fangs in his claws, and very strong
teeth.

Grizzly Bear laughed. He said it was ridiculous
for any one to have such a voice as Lion, because when
he roared he frightened away the very prey for which
he was searching. But he said man should have very
great strength ; that he should move silently, but very
swiftly; and he should be able to seize his prey with
out noise.

Buck said man would look foolish without antlers.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

And a terrible voice was absurd, but man should have
ears like a spider's web, and eyes like fire.

Mountain Sheep said the branching antlers would
bother man if he got caught in a thicket. If man had
horns rolled up, so that they were like a stone on each
side of his head, it would give his head weight enough
to butt very hard.

When it came Coyote's turn, he said the other ani
mals were foolish because they each wanted man to
be just like themselves. Coyote was sure he could make
a man who would look better than Coyote himself,
or any other animal. Of course he would have to
have four legs, with five fingers. Man should have a
strong voice, but he need not roar all the time with it.
And he should have feet nearly like Grizzly Bear's,
because he could then stand erect when he needed to.
Grizzly Bear had no tail, and man should not have
any. The eyes and ears of Buck were good, and per
haps man should have those. Then there was Fish,
which had no hair, and hair was a burden much of the
year. So Coyote thought man should not wear fur.
And his claws should be as long as the Eagle's, so that
he could hold things in them. But no animal was as
cunning and crafty as Coyote,, so man should have the
wit of Coyote.

Then Beaver talked. Beaver said man would have

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

to have a tail, but it should be broad and flat, so he
could haul mud and sand on it. Not a furry tail, be
cause they were troublesome on account of fleas.

Owl said man would be useless without wings.

But Mole said wings would be folly. Man would
be sure to bump against the sky. Besides, if he had
wings and eyes both, he would get his eyes burned out
by flying too near the sun. But without eyes, he could
burrow in the soft, cool earth where he could be happy.

Mouse said man needed eyes so he could see what
he was eating. And nobody wanted to burrow in the
damp earth. So the council broke up in a quarrel.

Then every animal set to work to make a man ac
cording to his own ideas. Each one took a lump of
earth and modelled it just like himself. All but Coyote,
for Coyote began to make the kind of man he had
talked of in the council.

It was late when the animals stopped work and fell
asleep. All but Coyote, for Coyote was the cunningest
of all the animals, and he stayed awake until he had
finished his model. He worked hard all night. When
the other animals were fast asleep he threw water on
the lumps of earth, and so spoiled the models of the
other animals. But in the morning he finished his
own, and gave it life long before the others could fin
ish theirs. Thus man was made by Coyote.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE FIRST MAN AND WOMAN

Nishinam (near Bear River, Cat.)

THE first man created by Coyote was called
Aikut. His wife was Yototowi. But the
woman grew sick and died. Aikut dug a grave
for her close beside his camp fire, for the Nishinam did
not burn their dead then. All the light was gone from
his life. He wanted to die, so that he could follow
Yototowi, and he fell into a deep sleep.

There was a rumbling sound and the spirit of Yoto
towi arose from the earth and stood beside him. He
would have spoken to her, but she forbade him, for
when an Indian speaks to a ghost he dies. Then she
turned away and set out for the dance-house of ghosts.
Aikut followed her. Together they journeyed through
a great, dark country, until they came to a river which
separated them from the Ghost-land. Over the river
there was a bridge of but one small rope, so small that
hardly Spider could crawl across it. Here the woman
started off alone, but when Aikut stretched out his
arms, she returned. Then she started again over the
bridge of thread. And Aikut spoke to her, so that he
died. Thus together they journeyed to the Spirit-land.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

OLD MAN ABOVE AND THE GRIZZLIES

Shastika (Cal.)

ALONG time ago, while smoke still curled from
the smoke hole of the tepee, a great storm arose.
The storm shook the tepee. Wind blew the
smoke down the smoke hole. Old Man Above said to
Little Daughter: " Climb up to the smoke hole. Tell
Wind to be quiet. Stick your arm out of the smoke
hole before you tell him." Little Daughter climbed
up to the smoke hole and put out her arm. But Little
Daughter put out her head also. She wanted to see
the world. Little Daughter wanted to see the rivers
and trees, and the white foam on the Bitter Waters.
Wind caught Little Daughter by the hair. Wind
pulled her out of the smoke hole and blew her down
the mountain. Wind blew Little Daughter over the
smooth ice and the great forests, down to the land of
the Grizzlies. Wind tangled her hair and then left
her cold and shivering near the tepees of the Grizzlies.
Soon Grizzly came home. In those days Grizzly
walked on two feet, and carried a big stick. Grizzly
could talk as people do. Grizzly laid down the young

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

elk he had killed and picked up Little Daughter. He
took Little Daughter to his tepee. Then Mother
Grizzly warmed her by the fire. Mother Grizzly gave
her food to eat.

Soon Little Daughter married the son of Grizzly.
Their children were not Grizzlies. They were men.
So the Grizzlies built a tepee for Little Daughter and
her children. White men call the tepee Little Shasta.

At last Mother Grizzly sent a son to Old Man
Above. Mother Grizzly knew that Little Daughter
was the child of Old Man Above, but she was afraid.
She said: " Tell Old Man Above that Little Daughter
is alive."

Old Man Above climbed out of the smoke hole. He
ran down the mountain side to the land of the Grizzlies.
Old Man Above ran very quickly. Wherever he set
his foot the snow melted. The snow melted very
quickly and made streams of water. Now Grizzlies
stood in line to welcome Old Man Above. They stood
on two feet and carried clubs. Then Old Man Above
saw his daughter and her children. He saw the new
race of men. Then Old Man Above became very
angry. He said to Grizzlies :

" Never speak again. Be silent. Neither shall ye
stand upright. Ye shall use your hands as feet. Ye
shall look downward."

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

Then Old Man Above put out the fire in the tepee.
Smoke no longer curls from the smoke hole. He
fastened the door of the tepee. The new race of men
he drove out. Then Old Man Above took Little
Daughter back to his tepee.

That is why grizzlies walk on four feet and look
downward. Only when fighting they stand on two feet
and use their fists like men.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE CREATION OF MAN-KIND AND
THE FLOOD

Pima (Arizona)

AFTER the world was ready, Earth Doctor made
all kinds of animals and creeping things.
Then he made images of clay, and told them
to be people. After a while there were so many peo
ple that there was not food and water enough for all.
They were never sick and none died. At last there
grew to be so many they were obliged to eat each other.
Then Earth Doctor, because he could not give them
food and water enough, killed them all. He caught
the hook of his staff into the sky and pulled it down so
that it crushed all the people and all the animals, un
til there was nothing living on the earth. Earth Doc
tor made a hole through the earth with his stick, and
through that he went, coming out safe, but alone, on
the other side.

He called upon the sun and moon to come out of
the wreck of the world and sky, and they did so. But
there was no sky for them to travel through, no stars,
and no Milky Way. So Earth Doctor made these all

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

over again. Then he created another race of men and
animals.

Then Coyote was born. Moon was his mother.
When Coyote was large and strong he came to the land
where the Pima Indians lived.

Then Elder Brother was born. Earth was his
mother, and Sky his father. He was so powerful that
he spoke roughly to Earth Doctor, who trembled be
fore him. The people began to increase in numbers,
just as they had done before, but Elder Brother short
ened their lives, so the earth did not become so crowded.
But Elder Brother did not like the people created by
Earth Doctor, so he planned to destroy them again. So
Elder Brother planned to create a magic baby. . . .

The screams of the baby shook the earth. They could
be heard for a great distance. Then Earth Doctor
called all the people together, and told them there
would be a great flood. He sang a magic song and
then bored a hole through the flat earth-plain through
to the other side. Some of the people went into the
hole to escape the flood that was coming, but not very
many got through. Some of the people asked Elder
Brother to help them, but he did not answer. Only
Coyote he answered. He told Coyote to find a big log
and sit on it, so that he would float on the surface of
the water with the driftwood. Elder Brother got into

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

a big olla which he had made, and closed it tight. So
he rolled along on the ground under the olla. He sang
a magic song as he climbed into his olla.

A young man went to the place where the baby was
screaming. Its tears were a great torrent which cut
gorges in the earth before it. The water was rising all
over the earth. He bent over the child to pick it up,
and immediately both became birds and flew above the
flood. Only five birds were saved from the flood. One
was a flicker and one a vulture. They clung by their
beaks to the sky to keep themselves above the waters,
but the tail of the flicker was washed by the waves and
that is why it is stiff to this day. At last a god took
pity on them and gave them power to make " nests of
down " from their own breasts on which they floated
on the water. One of these birds was the vipisimal,
and if any one injures it to this day, the flood may come
again.

Now South Doctor called his people to him and
told them that a flood was coming. He sang a magic
song and he bored a hole in the ground with a cane so
that people might go through to the other side. Others
he sent to Earth Doctor, but Earth Doctor told them
they were too late. So they sent the people to the top
of a high mountain called Crooked Mountain. South

Doctor sang a magic song and traced his cane around

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

the mountain, but that held back the waters only for
a short time. Four times he sang and traced a line
around the mountain, yet the flood rose again each time.
There was only one thing more to do.

He held his magic crystals in his left hand and sang
a song. Then he struck it with his cane. A thunder
peal rang through the mountains. He threw his staff
into the water and it cracked with a loud noise. Turn
ing, he saw a dog near him. He said, " How high is
the tide?" The dog said, " It is very near the top."
He looked at the people as he said it. When they
heard his voice they all turned to stone. They stood
just as they were, and they are there to this day in
groups: some of the men talking, some of the women
cooking, and some crying.

But Earth Doctor escaped by enclosing himself in
his reed staff, which floated upon the water. Elder
Brother rolled along in his olla until he came near the
mouth of the Colorado River. The olla is now called
Black Mountain. After the flood he came out and
visited all parts of the land.

When he met Coyote and Earth Doctor, each claimed
to have been the first to appear after the flood, but at
last they admitted Elder Brother was the first, so he
became ruler of the world.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE BIRDS AND THE FLOOD

Pima (Arizona)

ONCE upon a time, when all the earth was
flooded, two birds were hanging above the
water. They were clingirg to the sky with
their beaks. The larger bird was gray with a long tail
and beak, but the smaller one was the tiny bird that
builds a nest shaped like an olla, with only a very small
opening at the top. The birds were tired and fright
ened. The larger one cried and cried, but the little
bird held on tight and said, " Don't cry. I 'm littler
than you are, but I 'm very brave."

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

LEGEND OF THE FLOOD

Ashochimi (Coast Indians, Cal.)

ENG ago there was a great flood which destroyed
all the people in the world. Only Coyote was
saved. When the waters subsided, the earth
was empty. Coyote thought about it a long time.

Then Coyote collected a great bundle of tail feath
ers from owls, hawks, eagles, and buzzards. He jour
neyed over the whole earth and carefully located the
site of each Indian village. Where the tepees had
stood, he planted a feather in the ground and scraped
up the dirt around it. The feathers sprouted like trees,
and grew up and branched. At last they turned into
men and women. So the world was inhabited with
people again.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE GREAT FLOOD

Sia (New Mexico)

FOR a long time after the fight, the people were
very happy, but the ninth year was very bad.
The whole earth was filled with water. The
water did not fall in rain, but came in as rivers between
the mesas. It continued to flow in from all sides until
the people and the animals fled to the mesa tops. The
water continued to rise until nearly level with the tops
of the mesas. Then Sussistinnako cried, " Where shall
my people go? Where is the road to the north? " He
looked to the north. " Where is the road to the west?
Where is the road to the east? Where is the road to
the south?" He looked in each direction. He said,
" I see the waters are everywhere."

All of the medicine men sang four days and four
nights, but still the waters continued to rise.

Then Spider placed a huge reed upon the top of
the mesa. He said, " My people will pass up through
this to the world above."

Utset led the way, carrying a sack in which were
many of the Star people. The medicine men followed,

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

carrying sacred things in sacred blankets on their backs.
Then came the people, and the animals, and the snakes,
and birds. The turkey was far behind and the foam
of the water rose and reached the tip ends of his feath
ers. You may know that is true because even to this
day they bear the mark of the waters.

When they reached the top of the great reed, the
earth which formed the floor of the world above, barred
their way. Utset called to Locust, " Man, come here."
Locust went to her. She said, " You know best how
to pass through the earth. Go and make a door for

us."

" Very well, mother," said Locust. " I think I can
make a way."

He began working with his feet and after a while
he passed through the earthy floor, entering the upper
world. As soon as he saw it, he said to Utset, " It is
good above."

Utset called Badger, and said, " Make a door for us.
Sika, the Locust has made one, but it is very small."

" Very well, mother, I will," said Badger.

After much work he passed into the world above,
and said,

" Mother, I have opened the way." Badger also
said, " Father-mother, the world above is good."

Utset then called Deer. She said, " You go through

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

first. If you can get your head through, others may
pass."

The deer returned saying, " Father, it is all right.
I passed without trouble."

Utset called Elk. She said, " You pass through.
If you can get your head and horns through the door,
all may pass."

Elk returned saying, " Father, it is good. I passed
without trouble."

Then Utset told the buffalo to try, and he returned
saying, " Father-mother, the door is good. I passed
without trouble."

Utset called the scarab beetle and gave him the sack
of stars, telling him to pass out first with them. Scarab
did not know what the sack contained, but he was very
small and grew tired carrying it. He wondered what
could be in the sack. After entering the new world
he was so tired he laid down the sack and peeped into
it. He cut only a tiny hole, but at once the Star People
flew out and filled the heavens everywhere.

Then Utset and all the people came, and after
Turkey passed, the door was closed with a great rock
so that the waters from below could not follow them.

Then Utset looked for the sack with the Star People.
She found it nearly empty and could not tell where the

stars had gone. The little beetle sat by, very much

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

frightened and very sad. But Utset was angry and
said, " You are bad and disobedient. From this time
forth, you shall be blind." That is the reason the
scarabaeus has no eyes, so the old ones say.

But the little fellow had saved a few of the stars by
grasping the sack and holding it fast. Utset placed
these in the heavens. In one group she placed seven
— the great bear. In another, three. In another group
she placed the Pleiades, and threw the others far off
into the sky.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE FLOOD AND THE THEFT OF FIRE
Tolowa (Del Norte Co., Cal.)

ALONG time ago there came a great rain. It
lasted a long time and the water kept rising
till all the valleys were submerged, and the
Indian tribes fled to the high lands. But the water
rose, and though the Indians fled to the highest point,
all were swept away and drowned — all but one man
and one woman. They reached the very highest peak
and were saved. These two Indians ate the fish from
the waters around them.

Then the waters subsided. All the game was gone,
and all the animals. But the children of these two
Indians, when they died, became the spirits of deer and
bear and insects, and so the animals and insects came
back to the earth again.

The Indians had no fire. The flood had put out
all the fires in the world. They looked at the moon
and wished they could secure fire from it. Then the
Spider Indians and the Snake Indians formed a plan
to steal fire. The Spiders wove a very light balloon,

and fastened it by a long rope to the earth. Then they

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

climbed into the balloon and started for the moon.
But the Indians of the Moon were suspicious of the
Earth Indians. The Spiders said, " We came to gam
ble." The Moon Indians were much pleased and all
the Spider Indians began to gamble with them. They
sat by the fire.

Then the Snake Indians sent a man to climb up the
long rope from the earth to the moon. He climbed
the rope, and darted through the fire before the Moon
Indians understood what he had done. Then he slid
down the rope to earth again. As soon as he touched
the earth he travelled over the rocks, the trees, and the
dry sticks lying upon the ground, giving fire to each.
Everything he touched contained fire. So the world
became bright again, as it was before the flood.

When the Spider Indians came down to earth again,
they were immediately put to death, for the tribes were
afraid the Moon Indians might want revenge.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

LEGEND OF THE FLOOD IN SACRAMENTO

VALLEY

Maidu (near Sacramento Valley, Cal.)

E>NG, long ago the Indians living in Sacramento
Valley were happy. Suddenly there came the
swift sound of rushing waters, and the valley
became like Big Waters, which no man can measure.
The Indians fled, but many slept beneath the waves.
Also the frogs and the salmon pursued them and they
ate many Indians. Only two who fled into the
foothills escaped. To these two, Great Man gave
many children, and many tribes arose. But one great
chief ruled all the nation. The chief went out upon a
wide knoll overlooking Big Waters, and he knew that
the plains of his people were beneath the waves. Nine
sleeps he lay on the knoll, thinking thoughts of these
great waters. Nine sleeps he lay without food, and his
mind was thinking always of one thing: How did
this deep water cover the plains of the world?

At the end of nine sleeps he was changed. He was
not like himself. No arrow could wound him. He was

like Great Man for no Indian could slay him. Then

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

he spoke to Great Man and commanded him to banish
the waters from the plains of his ancestors. Great
Man tore a hole in the mountain side, so that the wa
ters on the plains flowed into Big Waters. Thus the
Sacramento River was formed.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE FABLE OF THE ANIMALS

Karok (near Klamath River, Cal.)

A GREAT many hundred snows ago, Kareya, sit
ting on the Sacred Stool, created the world.
First, he made the fishes in the Big Water,
then the animals on the green land, and last of all,
Man! But at first the animals were all alike in power.
No one knew which animals should be food for others,
and which should be food for man. Then Kareya or
dered them all to meet in one place, that Man might
give each his rank and his power. So the animals all
met together one evening, when the sun was set, to
wait overnight for the coming of Man on the next
morning. Kareya also commanded Man to make bows
and arrows, as many as there were animals, and to
give the longest one to the animal which was to have
the most power, and the shortest to the one which
should have least power. So he did, and after nine
sleeps his work was ended, and the bows and arrows
which he had made were very many.

Now the animals, being all together, went to sleep,

so they might be ready to meet Man on the next morn-

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

ing. But Coyote was exceedingly cunning — he was
cunning above all the beasts. Coyote wanted the long
est bow and the greatest power, so he could have all
the other animals for his meat. He decided to stay
awake all night, so that he would be first to meet Man
in the morning. So he laughed to himself and
stretched his nose out on his paw and pretended to
sleep. About midnight he began to be sleepy. He
had to walk around the camp and scratch his eyes to
keep them open. He grew more sleepy, so that he had
to skip and jump about to keep awake. But he made
so much noise, he awakened some of the other animals.
When the morning star came up, he was too sleepy to
keep his eyes open any longer. So he took two little
sticks, and sharpened them at the ends, and propped
open his eyelids. Then he felt safe. He watched the
morning star, with his nose stretched along his paws,
and fell asleep. The sharp sticks pinned his eyelids
fast together.

The morning star rose rapidly into the sky. The
birds began to sing. The animals woke up and
stretched themselves, but still Coyote lay fast asleep.
When the sun rose, the animals went to meet Man. He
gave the longest bow to Cougar, so he had greatest
power; the second longest he gave to Bear; others he
gave to the other animals, giving all but the last to

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

Frog. But the shortest one was left. Man cried out,
"What animal have I missed?" Then the animals
began to look about and found Coyote fast asleep, with
his eyelids pinned together. All the animals began
to laugh, and they jumped upon Coyote and danced
upon him. Then they led him to Man, still blinded,
and Man pulled out the sharp sticks and gave him the
shortest bow of all. It would hardly shoot an arrow
farther than a foot. All the animals laughed.

But Man took pity on Coyote, because he was now
weaker even than Frog. So at his request, Kareya
gave him cunning, ten times more than before, so that
he was cunning above all the animals of the wood.
Therefore Coyote was friendly to Man and his chil
dren, and did many things for them.

Putnam & Valentine

SAN Luis REY MISSION

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

COYOTE AND SUN
Pal Ute (near Kern River, Cal.)

ALONG time ago, Coyote wanted to go to the
sun. He asked Pokoh, Old Man, to show him
the trail. Coyote went straight out on this
trail and he travelled it all day. But Sun went round
so that Coyote came back at night to the place from
which he started in the morning.

The next morning, Coyote asked Pokoh to show him
the trail. Pokoh showed him, and Coyote travelled all
day and came back at night to the same place again.

But the third day, Coyote started early and went out
on the trail to the edge of the world and sat down on
the hole where the sun came up. While waiting for
the sun he pointed with his bow and arrow at different
places and pretended to shoot. He also pretended not
to see the sun. When Sun came up, he told Coyote to
get out of his way. Coyote told him to go around; that
it was his trail. But Sun came up under him and he had
to hitch forward a little. After Sun came up a little
farther, it began to get hot on Coyote's shoulder, so
he spit on his paw and rubbed his shoulder. Then he

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

wanted to ride up with the sun. Sun said, " Oh, no " ;
but Coyote insisted. So Coyote climbed up on Sun,
and Sun started up the trail in the sky. The trail was
marked off into steps like a ladder. As Sun went up
he counted " one, two, three," and so on. By and by
Coyote became very thirsty, and he asked Sun for a
drink of water. Sun gave him an acorn-cup full.
Coyote asked him why he had no more. About noon
time, Coyote became very impatient. It was very hot.
Sun told him to shut his eyes. Coyote shut them, but
opened them again. He kept opening and shutting
them all the afternoon. At night, when Sun came
down, Coyote took hold of a tree. Then he clambered
off Sun and climbed down to the earth.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE COURSE OF THE SUN

Sia (New Mexico)

SUSSISTINNAKO, the spider, said to the sun,
" My son, you will ascend and pass over the
world above. You will go from north to south.
Return and tell me what you think of it."

The sun said, on his return, " Mother, I did as you
bade me, and I did not like the road."

Spider told him to ascend and pass over the world
from west to the east. On his return, the sun said,

" It may be good for some, mother, but I did not
like it."

Spider said, " You will again ascend and pass over
the straight road from the east to the west. Return
and tell me what you think of it."

That night the sun said, " I am much contented. I
like that road much."

Sussistinnako said, " My son, you will ascend each
day and pass over the world from cast to west."

Upon each day's journey the sun stops midway from
the east to the centre of the world to eat his breakfast.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

In the centre he stops to eat his dinner. Halfway from
the centre to the west he stops to eat his supper. He
never fails to eat these three meals each day, and al
ways stops at the same points.

The sun wears a shirt of dressed deerskin, with leg
gings of the same reaching to his thighs. The shirt
and leggings are fringed. His moccasins are also of
deerskin and embroidered in yellow, red, and turkis
beads. He wears a kilt of deerskin, having a snake
painted upon it. He carries a bow and arrows, the
quiver being of cougar skin, hanging over his shoulder,
and he holds his bow in his left hand and an arrow in
his right. He always wears the mask which protects
him from the sight of the people of Ha-arts.

At the top of the mask is an eagle plume with par
rot plumes ; an eagle plume is at each side, and one at
the bottom of the mask. The hair around the head and
face is red like fire, and when it moves and shakes
people cannot look closely at the mask. It is not in
tended that they should observe closely, else they would
know that instead of seeing the sun they see only his
mask.

The moon came to the upper world with the sun and
he also wears a mask.

Each night the sun passes by the house of Sussistin-

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

nako, the spider, who asks him, " How are my children
above? How many have died to-day? How many
have been born to-day? " The sun lingers only long
enough to answer his questions. He then passes on to
his house in the east

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE FOXES AND THE SUN

Yurok (near Klamath River, Cal.}

ONCE upon a time, the Foxes were angry with
Sun. They held a council about the matter.
Then twelve Foxes were selected — twelve of
the bravest to catch Sun and tie him down. They made
ropes of sinew; then the twelve watched until the Sun,
as he followed the downward trail in the sky, touched
the top of a certain hill. Then the Foxes caught Sun,
and tied him fast to the hill. But the Indians saw
them, and they killed the Foxes with arrows. Then
they cut the sinews. But the Sun had burned a great
hole in the ground. The Indians know the story is
true, because they can see the hole which Sun burned.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE THEFT OF FIRE

Karok (near Klamath River, Cal.)

THERE was no fire on earth and the Karoks
were cold and miserable. Far away to the
east, hidden in a treasure box, was fire which
Kareya had made and given to two old hags, lest the
Karoks should steal it. So Coyote decided to steal fire
for the Indians.

Coyote called a great council of the animals. After
the council he stationed a line from the land of the
Karoks to the distant land where the fire was kept.
Lion was nearest the Fire Land, and Frog was nearest
the Karok land. Lion was strongest and Frog was
weakest, and the other animals took their places, ac
cording to the power given them by Man.

Then Coyote took an Indian with him and went to
the hill top, but he hid the Indian under the hill. Coy
ote went to the tepee of the hags. He said, " Good-
evening." They replied, " Good-evening."

Coyote said, " It is cold out here. Can you let me
sit by the fire? " So they let him sit by the fire. He
was only a coyote. He stretched his nose out along

his forepaws and pretended to go to sleep, but he kept

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

the corner of one eye open watching. So he spent all
night watching and thinking, but he had no chance to
get a piece of the fire.

The next morning Coyote held a council with the
Indian. He told him when he, Coyote, was within the
tepee, to attack it. Then Coyote went back to the fire.
The hags let him in again. He was only a coyote.
But Coyote stood close by the casket of fire. The In
dian made a dash at the tepee. The hags rushed out
after him, and Coyote seized a fire brand in his teeth
and flew over the ground. The hags saw the sparks
flying and gave chase. But Coyote reached Lion, who
ran with it to Grizzly Bear. Grizzly Bear ran with it
to Cinnamon Bear; he ran with it to Wolf, and at last
the fire came to Ground-Squirrel. Squirrel took the
brand and ran so fast that his tail caught fire. He
curled it up over his back, and burned the black spot
in his shoulders. You can see it even to-day. Squirrel
came to Frog, but Frog could n't run. He opened his
mouth wide and swallowed the fire. Then he jumped
but the hags caught his tail. Frog jumped again, but
the hags kept his tail. That is why Frogs have no tail,
even to this day. Frog swam under water, and came
up on a pile of driftwood. He spat out the fire into
the dry wood, and that is why there is fire in dry wood
even to-day. When an Indian rubs two pieces together,

the fire comes out.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE THEFT OF FIRE

Sia (New Mexico)

ALONG, long time ago, the people became tired
of feeding on grass, like deer and wild animals,
and they talked together how fire might be
found. The Ti-amoni said, " Coyote is the best man
to steal fire from the world below," so he sent for
Coyote.

When Coyote came, the Ti-amoni s^id, " The peo
ple wish for fire. We are tired of feeding on grass.
You must go to the world below and bring the fire."

Coyote said, " It is well, father. I will go."

So Coyote slipped stealthily to the house of Sussis-
tinnako. It was the middle of the night. Snake, who
guarded the first door, was asleep, and he slipped
quickly and quietly by. Cougar, who guarded the sec
ond door, was asleep, and Coyote slipped by. Bear,
who guarded the third door, was also sleeping. At the
fourth door, Coyote found the guardian of the fire
asleep. Slipping through into the room of Sussistin-
nako he found him also sleeping.

Coyote quickly lighted the cedar brand which was

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

attached to his tail and hurried out. Spider awoke,
just enough to know some one was leaving the room.
"Who is there?" he cried. Then he called, "Some
one has been here." But before he could waken the
sleeping Bear and Cougar and Snake, Coyote had al
most reached the upper world.

Courtesy of Smithsonian Institution

SIA CEREMONIAL VASE

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE EARTH-HARDENING AFTER THE
FLOOD

Sia (New Mexico)

AFTER the flood, the Sia returned to Ha-arts, the
earth. They came through an opening in the
far north. After they had remained at their
first village a year, they wished to pass on, but the earth
was very moist and Utset was puzzled how to harden
it.

Utset called Cougar. She said, " Have you any med
icine to harden the road so that we may pass over it? "
Cougar replied, " I will try, mother." But after go
ing a short distance over the road, he sank to his shoul
ders in the wet earth. He returned much afraid and
told Utset that he could go no farther.

Then she sent for Bear. She said, " Have you any
medicine to harden the road?" Bear started out, but
he sank to his shoulders, and returned saying, " I can do
nothing."

Then Utset called Badger, and he tried. She called
Shrew, and he failed. She called Wolf, and he failed.

Then Utset returned to the lower world and asked

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

Sussistinnako what she could do to harden the earth
so that her people might travel over it. He asked,
" Have you no medicine to make the earth firm? Have
you asked Cougar and Wolf, Bear and Badger and
Wolf to use their medicines to harden the earth? "

Utset said, " I have tried all these."

Then Sussistinnako said, " Others will understand."
He told her to have a woman of the Kapina (spider)
clan try to harden the earth.

When the woman arrived, Utset said, " My mother,
Sussistinnako tells me the Kapina society understand
how to harden the earth."

The woman said, " I do not know how to make the
earth hard."

Three times Utset asked the woman about hardening
the earth, and three times the woman said, " I do not
know." The fourth time the woman said, " Well, I
guess I know. I will try."

So she called together the members of the Spider
society, the Kapina, and said,

" Our mother, Sussistinnako, bids us work for her
and harden the earth so that the people may pass over
it." The spider woman first made a road of fine cot
ton which she produced from her own body, and sus
pended it a few feet above the earth. Then she told

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

the people they could travel on that. But the people
were afraid to trust themselves to such a frail road.

Then Utset said, " I wish a man and not a woman
of the Spider society to work for me."

Then he came. He threw out a charm of wood, lat
ticed so it could be expanded or contracted. When it
was extended it reached to the middle of the earth. He
threw it to the south, to the east, and to the west; then
he threw it toward the people in the north.

So the earth was made firm that the people might
travel upon it.

Soon after Utset said, " I will soon leave you. I will,
return to the home from which I came."

Then she selected a man of the Corn clan. She said
to him, " You will be known as Ti-amoni (arch-ruler) .
You will be to my people as myself. You will pass
with them over the straight road. I give to you all
my wisdom, my thoughts, my heart, and all. I fill
your mind with my mind."

He replied: " It is well, mother. I will do as you
say."

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE ORIGINS OF THE TOTEMS AND OF

NAMES

Zunl (New Mexico]

NOW the Twain Beloved and the priest-fathers
gathered in council for the naming and selec
tion of man-groups and creature-kinds, and
things. So they called the people of the southern space
the Children of Summer, and those who loved the sun
most became the Sun people. Others who loved the
water became the Toad people, or Turtle people, or
Frog people. Others loved the seeds of the earth and
became the Seed people, or the people of the First-
growing grass, or of the Tobacco. Those who loved
warmth were the Fire or Badger people. According
to their natures they chose their totems.

And so also did the People of Winter, or the People
of the North. Some were known as the Bear people,
or the Coyote people, or Deer people; others as the
Crane people, Turkey people, or Grouse people. So
the Badger people dwelt in a warm place, even as the
badgers on the sunny side of hills burrow, finding a

dwelling amongst the dry roots whence is fire.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

TRADITIONS OF WANDERINGS

Ho pi (Arizona)

A^TER the Hopi had been taught to build stone
houses, they took separate ways. My people
were the Snake people. They lived in snake
skins, each family occupying a separate snake skin bag.
All were hung on the end of a rainbow which swung
around until the end touched Navajo Mountain. Then
the bags dropped from it. Wherever a bag dropped,
there was their house. After they arranged their bags
they came out from them as men and women, and they
then built a stone house which had five sides. Then
a brilliant star arose in the southeast. It would shine
for a while and disappear.

The old men said, " Beneath that star there must be
people." They decided to travel to it. They cut a
staff and set it in the ground and watched until the
star reached its top. Then they started and travelled
as long as the star shone. When it disappeared they
halted. But the star did not shine every night. Some
times many years passed before it appeared again.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

When this occurred, the people built houses during
their halt. They built round houses and square houses,
and all the ruins between here and Navajo Mountain
mark the places where our people lived. They waited
until the star came to the top of the staff again, but
when they moved on, many people remained in those
houses.

When our people reached Waipho (a spring a few
miles from Walpi) the star vanished. It has never
been seen since. They built a house there, but Mas-
auwu, the God of the Face of the Earth, came and
compelled the people to move about halfway between
the East Mesa and the Middle Mesa and there they
stayed many plantings. One time when the old men
were assembled, the god came among them, looking
like a horrible skeleton and rattling his bones. But
he could not frighten them. So he said, " I have lost
my wager. All that I have is yours. Ask for anything
you want and I will give it to you."

At that time, our people's house was beside the wa
ter course. The god said, " Why do you sit there in
the mud? Go up yonder where it is dry."

So they went across to the west side of the mesa near
the point and built a house and lived there.

Again when the old men assembled two demons

Putnam & Valentine

FROM THE BELL-TOWER OF SAN XAVIER MISSION, TUCSON, ARIZONA

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

came among them, but the old men took the great Baho
and chased them away.

Other Hopi (Hopituh) came into this country from
time to time and old people said, " Build here," or
" Build there," and portioned the land among .the
newcomers.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE MIGRATION OF THE WATER PEOPLE

Walpi {Arizona)

IN the long ago, the Snake, Horn, and Eagle people
lived here (in Tusayan) but their corn grew only
a span high and when they sang for rain, the Cloud
god sent only a thin mist. My people lived then in
the distant Pa-lat Kwa-bi in the South. There was a
very bad old man there. When he met any one he
would spit in their faces. . . . He did all manner
of evil. Baholihonga got angry at this and turned the
world upside down. Water spouted up through the
kivas and through the fire places in the houses. The
earth was rent in great chasms, and water covered ev
erything except one narrow ridge of mud. Across this
the Serpent-god told all the people to travel. As they
journeyed across, the feet of the bad slipped and they
fell into the dark water. The good people, after many
days, reached dry land.

While the water was rising around the village, the
old people got on top of the houses. They thought
they could not struggle across with the younger people.

But Baholihonga clothed them with the skins of tur-

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

keys. They spread their wings out and floated in the
air just above the surface of the water, and in this way
they got across. There were saved of us, the Water
people, the Corn people, the Lizard, Horned-toad, and
Sand peoples, two families of Rabbit, and the Tobacco
people. The turkey tail dragged in the water. That
is why there is white on the turkey's tail now. This
is also the reason why old people use turkey-feathers
at the religious ceremonies.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

COYOTE AND THE MESQUITE BEANS

Pima (Arizona]

AFTER the waters of the flood had gone down,
Elder Brother said to Coyote, " Do not touch
that black bug; and do not eat the mesquite
beans. It is dangerous to harm anything that came
safe through the flood."

So Coyote went on, but presently he came to the
black bug. He stopped and ate it up. Then he went
on to the mesquite beans. He stopped and looked at
them a while, and then said, " I will just taste one and
that will be all." But he stood there and ate and ate
until he had eaten them all up. And the bug and the
beans swelled up in his stomach and killed him.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

ORIGIN OF THE SIERRA NEVADAS AND
COAST RANGE

Yakuts (near Fresno, Cat.)

ONCE there was a time when there was nothing
in the world but water. About the place where
Tulare Lake is now, there was a pole standing
far up out of the water, and on this pole perched Hawk
and Crow. First Hawk would sit on the pole a while,
then Crow would knock him off and sit on it himself.
Thus they sat on the top of the pole above the water
for many ages. At last they created the birds which
prey on fish. They created Kingfisher, Eagle, Pelican,
and others. They created also Duck. Duck was very
small but she dived to the bottom of the water, took
a beakful of mud, and then died in coming to the top
of the water. Duck lay dead floating on the water.
Then Hawk and Crow took the mud from Duck's beak,
and began making the mountains.

They began at the place now known as Ta-hi-cha-pa
Pass, and Hawk made the east range. Crow made the
west one. They pushed the mud down hard into the
water and then piled it high. They worked toward

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

the north. At last Hawk and Crow met at Mount
Shasta. Then their work was done. But when they
looked at their mountains, Crow's range was much
larger than Hawk's.

Hawk said to Crow, " How did this happen, you
rascal? You have been stealing earth from my bill.
That is why your mountains are the biggest." Crow
laughed.

Then Hawk chewed some Indian tobacco. That
made him wise. At once he took hold of the moun
tains and turned them around almost in a circle. He
put his range where Crow's had been. That is why
the Sierra Nevada Range is larger than the Coast Range.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

YOSEMITE VALLEY

(Explanatory} l

MR. STEPHEN POWERS claims that there
is no such word in the Miwok language as
Yosemite.

" The valley has always been known to them, and is
to this day, when speaking among themselves, as
A-wa'-ni. This, it is true, is only the name of one of
the ancient villages which it contained; but by prom
inence it gave its name to the valley, and in accordance
with Indian usage almost everywhere, to the inhabitants
of the same. The word Yosemite is simply a very
beautiful and sonorous corruption of the word for
grizzly bear. On the Stanislaus and north of it, the
word is u-zu'-mai-ti; at Little Gap, o-so'-mai-ti; in
Yosemite itself, u-zu '-mai-ti ; on the South Fork of the
Merced, uh-zu'-mai-tuh. . . .

"In the following list, the signification of the name
is given whenever there is any known to the Indians:

1 The explanation given above is that made by Mr. Stephen
Powers, in Vol. 3, U. S. Geographical and Geological Survey of the
Rocky Mountain region, Part 2, Contributions to North American
Ethnology, 1877.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

" Wa-kal'-la (the river), Merced River.

" Lung-u-tu-ku'-ya, Ribbon Fall.

" Po'-ho-no, Po-ho'-no (though the first is probably
the more correct), Bridal-Veil Fall. . . . This
word is said to signify ' evil wind.' The only * evil
wind ' that an Indian knows of is a whirlwind, which
is poi-i'-cha or Kan'-u-ma.

" Tu-tok-a-nu'-la, El Capitan. ' Measuring-worm
stone.' [Legend is given elsewhere.]

" Ko-su'-ko, Cathedral Rock.

" Pu-si'-na, and Chuk'-ka (the squirrel and the acorn-
cache), a tall, sharp needle, with a smaller one at its
base, just east of Cathedral Rock. . . . The sav
ages . . . imagined here a squirrel nibbling at the
base of an acorn granary.

" Loi'-a, Sentinel Rock.

" Sak'-ka-du-eh, Sentinel Dome.

"ChoMok (the fall), Yosemite Fall. This is the
generic word for l fall.'

" Ma'-ta (the canon), Indian Canon. A generic
word, in explaining which the Indians hold up both
hands to denote perpendicular walls.

" Ham'-mo-ko (usually contracted to Ham'-moak),
. . . broken debris lying at the foot of the walls.

" U-zu'-mai-ti La'-wa-tuh (grizzly bear skin),
Glacier Rock . . . from the grayish, grizzled ap
pearance of the wall.

Putnam <G Valentine

PO'-HO-NO (BRIDAL VEIL FALLS)

Putnam <C- Valentine

CHOLOK, " THE FALL

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

" Choko-nip'-o-deh (baby-basket), Royal Arches.
This . . . canopy- rock bears no little resemblance
to an Indian baby-basket. Another form is cho-ko'-ni,
. . . literally . . . ' dog-house/

" Pai-wai'-ak (white water?), Vernal Fall.

" Yo-wai-yi, Nevada Fall. In this word is detected
the root of Awaia, * a lake ' or body of water.

" Tis-se'-yak, South Dome. [See legend elsewhere.]

" To-ko'-ye, North Dome, husband of Tisseyak.
[See legend elsewhere.]

" Shun'-ta, Hun'-ta (the eye), Watching Eye.

" A-wai'-a (a lake), Mirror Lake.

" Sa-wah' (a gap), a name occurring frequently.

" Wa-ha'-ka, a village which stood at the base of
Three Brothers; also the rock itself. This was the
westernmost village in the valley.

" There were nine villages in Yosemite Valley and
V . . formerly others extending as far down as the
Bridal Veil Fall, which were destroyed in wars that
occurred before the whites came."

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

LEGEND OF TU-TOK-A-NU'-LA
(EL CAPITAN)

Y os emit e Valley

THERE were once two little boys living in the
valley who went down to the river to swim.
After paddling and splashing about to their
hearts' content, they went on shore and crept up on a
huge boulder which stood beside the water. They lay
down in the warm sunshine to dry themselves, but fell
asleep. They slept so soundly that they knew nothing,
though the great boulder grew day by day, and rose
night by night, until it lifted them up beyond the sight
of their tribe, who looked for them everywhere.

The rock grew until the boys were lifted high into
the heaven, even far up above the blue sky, until they
scraped their faces against the moon. And still, year
after year, among the clouds they slept.

Then there was held a great council of all the ani
mals to bring the boys down from the top of the great
rock. Every animal leaped as high as he could up the
face of the rocky wall. Mouse could only jump as
high as one's hand; Rat, twice as high. Then Raccoon

TOO

Putnam & Valentine

" THEN CAME THE TINY MEASURING WORM AND BEGAN TO CREEP UP THE

ROCK" (£L CAPITAN)

Putnam & Valentine

CATHEDRAL SPIRES

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

tried; he could jump a little farther. One after an
other of the animals tried, and Grizzly Bear made a
great leap far up the wall, but fell back. Last of all
Lion tried, and he jumped farther than any other ani
mal, but fell down upon his back. Then came tiny
Measuring- Worm, and began to creep up the rock.
Soon he reached as high as Raccoon had jumped, then
as high as Bear, then as high as Lion's leap, and by and
by he was out of sight, climbing up the face of the rock.
For one whole snow, Measuring-Worm climbed the
rock, and at last he reached the top. Then he wakened
the boys, and came down the same way he went up, and
brought them down safely to the ground. Therefore
the rock is called Tutokanula, the measuring worm.
But white men call it El Capitan.

101

;ra#$:{AND: LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

LEGEND OF TIS-SE'-YAK
(SOUTH DOME AND NORTH DOME)

Y os emit e Valley

TISSEYAK and her husband journeyed from a
country very far off, and entered the valley of
the Yosemite foot-sore from travel. She bore
a great heavy conical basket, strapped across her head.
Tisseyak came first. Her husband followed with a
rude staff and a light roll of skins on his back. They
were thirsty after their long journey across the moun
tains. They hurried forward to drink of the waters,
and the woman was still in advance when she reached
Lake Awaia. Then she dipped up the water in her
basket and drank of it. She drank up all the water.
The lake was dry before her husband reached it. And
because the woman drank all the water, there came a
drought. The earth dried up. There was no grass,
nor any green thing.

But the man was angry because he had no water to
drink. He beat the woman with his staff and she fled,
but he followed and beat her even more. Then the
woman wept. In her anger she turned and flung her

102

Putnam & Valentine

YOSEMITE VALLEY. VERNAL FALLS AND NEVADA FALLS FROM
GLACIER POINT

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

basket at the man. And even then they were changed
into stone. The woman's basket lies upturned beside
the man. The woman's face is tear-stained, with long
dark lines trailing down.

South Dome is the woman and North Dome is the
husband. The Indian woman cuts her hair straight
across the forehead, and allows the sides to drop along
her cheeks, forming a square face.

103

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

HISTORIC TRADITION OF THE UPPER
TUOLUMNE

Yosemite Valley

(As given by Mr. Stephen Powers, 1877.) 1

THERE is a lake-like expansion of the Upper
Tuolumne some four miles long and from a
half mile to a mile wide, directly north of
Hatchatchie Valley (erroneously spelled Hetch
Hetchy). It appears to have no name among Amer
icans, but the Indians call it O-wai-a-nuh, which is
manifestly a dialectic variation of a-wai'-a, the generic
word for " lake." Nat. Screech, a veteran mountaineer
and hunter, states that he visited this region in 1850,
and at that time there was a valley along the river hav
ing the same dimensions that this lake now has. Again,
in 1855, he happened to pass that way and discovered
that the lake had been formed as it now exists. He
was at a loss to account for its origin ; but subsequently
he acquired the Miwok language as spoken at Little
Gap, and while listening to the Indians one day he

1 (Vol. 3, Part 2, U. S. Geographical and Geological Survey of
the Rocky Mountain region: Contributions to North American
Ethnology, 1877.)

104

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

overheard them casually refer to the formation of this
lake in an extraordinary manner. On being questioned
they stated that there had been a tremendous cataclysm
in that valley, the bottom of it having fallen out ap
parently, whereby the entire valley was submerged in
the waters of the river. As nearly as he could ascer
tain from their imperfect methods of reckoning time,
this occurred in 1851; and in that year, while in the
town of Sonora, Screech and many others remembered
to have heard a huge explosion in that direction which
they then supposed was caused by a local earthquake.

On Drew's Ranch, Middle Fork of the Tuolumne,
lives an aged squaw called Dish-i, who was in the val
ley when this remarkable event occurred. According
to her account the earth dropped in beneath their feet,
and waters of the river leaped up and came rushing
upon them in a vast, roaring flood, almost perpendic
ular like a wall of rock. At first the Indians were
stricken dumb, and motionless with terror, but when
they saw the waters coming, they escaped for life,
though thirty or forty were overtaken and drowned.
Another squaw named Isabel says that the stubs of
trees, which are still plainly visible deep down in the
pellucid waters, are considered by the old superstitious
Indians to be evil spirits, the demons of the place,
reaching up their arms, and that they fear them greatly.

105

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

CALIFORNIA BIG TREES

Pai Utes (near Kern River, Cal.}

THE California big trees are sacred to the
Monos, who call them " <woh-<woh-nau" a
word formed in imitation of the hoot of the
owl. The owl is the guardian spirit and the god of
the big trees. Bad luck comes to those who cut
down the big trees, or shoot at an owl, or shoot in the
presence of the owl.

In old days the Indians tried to persuade the white
men not to cut down the big trees. When they see the
trees cut down they call after the white men. They
say the owl will bring them evil.

106

Putnam <f- Valentine

WOH-WOH-NAU, THE SACRED TREES OF THE MoNOS

Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution

APACHE MEDICINE SHIRT

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE CHILDREN OF CLOUD

Pima (Arizona)

WHEN the Hohokam dwelt on the Gila River
and tilled their farms around the great temple
which we call Casa Grande, there was a beau
tiful young woman in the pueblo who had two twin
sons. Their father was Cloud, and he lived far away.

One day the boys came to their mother, as she was
weaving mats. "Who is our father? " they asked.
" We have no one to run to when he returns from the
hunt, or from war, to shout to him."

The mother answered : " In the morning, look to
ward the sunrise and you will see a white Cloud stand
ing upright. He is your father."

" Can we visit our father? " they asked.

" Yes," said their mother. " You may visit him, but
you must make the journey without stopping. First
you will reach Wind, who is your father's eldest
brother. Behind him you will find your father."

The boys travelled four days and came to the house
of Wind.

" Are you our father? " they asked.

107

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

" No, I am your Uncle," answered Wind. " Your
father lives in the next house. Go on to him."

They travelled on to Cloud. But Cloud drove them
away. He said, " Go to your uncle Wind. He will
tell you something." But Wind sent them back to
Cloud again. Thus the boys were driven away from
each house four times.

Then Cloud said to them, " Prove to me you are my
sons. If you are, you can do what I do."

The younger boy sent chain lightning across the sky
with sharp, crackling thunder. The elder boy sent
the heat lightning with its distant rumble of thunder.

" You are my children," said Cloud. " You have
power like mine."

But again he tested them. He took them to a house
near by where a flood of rain had drowned the people.
" If they are my sons," he said, " they will not be
harmed."

Then Cloud sent the rain and the storm. The water
rose higher and higher, but the two boys were not
harmed. The water could not drown them. Then
Cloud took them to his home and there they stayed a
long, long time.

But after a long time, the boys wished to see their
mother again. Then Cloud made them some bows and

arrows differing from any they had ever seen, and sent

1 08

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

them to their mother. He told them he would watch
over them as they travelled but they must speak to no
one they met on their way.

So the boys travelled to the setting sun. First they
met Raven. They remembered their father's com
mand and turned aside so as not to meet him. Then
they met Roadrunner, and turned aside to avoid him.
Next came Hawk and Eagle.

Eagle said, " Let 's scare those boys." So he swooped
down over their heads until they cried from fright.

" We were just teasing you," said Eagle. " We will
not do you any harm." Then Eagle flew on.

Next they met Coyote. They tried to avoid him, but
Coyote ran around and put himself in their way.
Cloud wras watching and he sent down thunder and
lightning. And the boys sent out their magic thunder
and lightning also, until Coyote was frightened and
ran away.

Now this happened on the mountain top, and one
boy was standing on each side of the trail. After
Coyote ran away, they were changed into mescal — the
very largest mescal ever known. The place was near
Tucson. This is the reason why mescal grows on the
mountains, and why thunder and lightning go from
place to place — because the children did. That is

why it rains when we gather mescal.

109

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE CLOUD PEOPLE

Sia (New Mexico)

NOW all the Cloud People, the Lightning Peo
ple, the Thunder and Rainbow Peoples fol
lowed the Sia into the upper world. But all
the people of Tinia, the middle world, did not leave
the lower world. Only a portion were sent by the
Spider to work for the people of the upper world. The
Cloud People are so many that, although the demands
of the earth people are so great, there are always many
passing about over Tinia for pleasure. These Cloud
People ride on wheels, small wheels being used by the
little Cloud children and large wheels by the older

ones.1

The Cloud People keep always behind their masks.
The shape of the mask depends upon the number of
the people and the work being done. The Henati are
the floating white clouds behind which the Cloud Peo
ple pass for pleasure. The Heash are clouds like the

1 The Indians say the Americans also ride wheels, therefore they
must have known about the Cloud People.

1 10

P )'

mmn

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

plains and behind these the Cloud People are laboring
to water the earth. Water is brought by the Cloud
People, from the springs at the base of the mountains,
in gourds and jugs and vases by the men, women, and
children. They rise from the springs and pass through
the trunk of the tree to its top, which reaches Tinia.
They pass on to the point to be sprinkled.

The priest of the Cloud People is above even the
priests of the Thunder, Lightning, and Rainbow Peo
ples. The Cloud People have ceremonials, just like
those of the Sia. On the altars of the Sia may be seen
figures arranged just as the Cloud People sit in their
ceremonials.

When a priest of the Cloud People wishes assistance
from the Thunder and Lightning Peoples, he notifies
their priests, but keeps a supervision of all things him
self.

Then the Lightning People shoot their arrows to
make it rain the harder. The smaller flashes come from
the bows of the children. > The Thunder People have
human forms, with wings of knives, and by flapping
these wings they make a great noise. Thus they frighten
the Cloud and Lightning People into working the
harder.

The Rainbow People were created to work in Tinia

to make it more beautiful for the people of Ha-arts,

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

the earth, to look upon. The elders make the beau
tiful rainbows, but the children assist. The Sia have
no idea of what or how these bows are made. They
do know, however, that war heroes always travel upon
the rainbows.

112

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

RAIN SONG

Sia (New Mexico)

WE, the ancient ones, ascended from the middle
of the world below, through the door of the
entrance to the lower world, we hold our
songs to the Cloud, Lightning, and Thunder Peoples as
we hold our own hearts. Our medicine is precious.
(Addressing the people of Tinia:)
We entreat you to send your thoughts to us so that
we may sing your songs straight, so that they will pass
over the straight road to the Cloud priests that they
may cover the earth with water, so that she may bear
all that is good for us.

Lightning People, send your arrows to the middle of
the earth. Hear the echo! Who is it? The People
of the Spruce of the North. All your people and your
thoughts come to us. Who is it? People of the white
floating Clouds. Your thoughts come to us. All your
people and your thoughts come to us. Who is it? The
Lightning People. Your thoughts come to us. Who
is it? Cloud People at the horizon. All your people
and your thoughts come to us.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

RAIN SONG

WHITE floating clouds. Clouds, like the plains,
come and water the earth. Sun, embrace the
earth that she may be fruitful. Moon, lion
of the north, bear of the west, badger of the south, wolf
of the east, eagle of the heavens, shrew of the earth,
elder war hero, younger war hero, warriors of the six
mountains of the world, intercede with the Cloud Peo
ple for us that they may water the earth. Medicine
bowl, cloud bowl, and water vase give us your hearts,
that the earth may be watered. I make the ancient
road of meal that my song may pass straight over it —
the ancient road. White shell bead woman who lives
where the sun goes down, mother whirlwind, father
Sussistinnako, mother Yaya, creator of good thoughts,
yellow woman of the north, blue woman of the west,
red woman of the south, white woman of the east,
slightly yellow woman of the zenith, and dark woman
of the nadir, I ask your intercession with the Cloud
People.

114

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

RAIN SONG

Sia (New Mexico)

ET the white floating clouds — the clouds like the
plains — the lightning, thunder, rainbow, and
cloud peoples, water the earth. Let the peo
ple of the white floating clouds, — the people of the
clouds like the plains — the lightning, thunder, rain
bow, and cloud peoples — come and work for us, and
water the earth.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE CORN MAIDENS

Zuni (New Mexico)

AFTER long ages of wandering, the precious
Seed-things rested over the Middle at Zuni,
and men turned their hearts to the cherishing
of their corn and the Corn Maidens instead of warring
with strange men.

But there was complaint by the people of the cus
toms followed. Some said the music was not that of
the olden time. Far better was that which of nights
they often heard as they wandered up and down the
river trail.1 Wonderful music, as of liquid voices in
caverns, or the echo of women's laughter in water-vases.
And the music was timed with a deep-toned drum from
the Mountain of Thunder. Others thought the music
was that of the ghosts of ancient men, but it was far
more beautiful than the music when danced the Corn
Maidens. Others said light clouds rolled upward from
the grotto in Thunder Mountain like to the mists that
leave behind them the dew, but lo! even as they faded

1 The mists and the dawn breeze on the river and in the grotto.

116

ZUNI ANCESTRAL ROCK GODS

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

the bright garments of the Rainbow women might be
seen fluttering, and the broidery and paintings of these
dancers of the mist were more beautiful than the
costumes of the Corn Maidens.

Then the priests of the people said, " It may well be
Paiyatuma, the liquid voices his flute and the flutes
of his players."

Now when the time of ripening corn was near, the
fathers ordered preparation for the dance of the Corn
Maidens. They sent the two Master-Priests of the Bow
to the grotto at Thunder Mountains, saying, " If you
behold Paiyatuma, and his maidens, perhaps they will
give us the help of their customs."

Then up the river trail, the priests heard the sound
of a drum and strains of song. It was Paiyatuma and
his seven maidens, the Maidens of the House of Stars,
sisters of the Corn Maidens.

The God of Dawn and Music lifted his flute and
took his place in the line of dancers. The drum
sounded until the cavern shook as with thunder. The
flutes sang and sighed as the wind in a wooded canon
while still the storm is distant. White mists floated
up from the wands of the Maidens, above which flut
tered the butterflies of Summer-land about the dress of
the Rainbows in the strange blue light of the night.

Then Paiyatuma, smiling, said, " Go the way before,

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

telling the fathers of our custom, and straightway we
will follow."

Soon the sound of music was heard, coming from up
the river, and soon the Flute People and singers and
maidens of the Flute dance. Up rose the fathers and
all the watching people, greeting the God of Dawn
with outstretched hand and offering of prayer meal.
Then the singers took their places and sounded their
drum, flutes, and song of clear waters, while the Maid
ens of the Dew danced their Flute dance. Greatly
marvelled the people, when from the wands they bore
forth came white clouds, and fine cool mists descended.

Now when the dance was ended and the Dew Maid
ens had retired, out came the beautiful Mothers of
Corn. And when the players of the flutes saw them,
they were enamoured of their beauty and gazed upon
them so intently that the Maidens let fall their hair
and cast down their eyes. And jealous and bolder grew
the mortal youths, and in the morning dawn, in rivalry,
the dancers sought all too freely the presence of the
Corn Maidens, no longer holding them so precious as
in the olden time. And the matrons, intent on the new
dance, heeded naught else. But behold! The mists
increased greatly, surrounding dancers and watchers
alike, until within them, the Maidens of Corn, all in

white garments, became invisible. Then sadly and

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

noiselessly they stole in amongst the people and laid
their corn wands down amongst the trays, and laid
their white broidered garments thereupon, as mothers
lay soft kilting over their babes. Then even as the mists
became they, and with the mists drifting, fled away, to
the far south Summer-land.

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE SEARCH FOR THE CORN MAIDENS

Zuni (New Mexico)

THEN the people in their trouble called the
two Master-Priests and said:

" Who, now, think ye, should journey to
seek our precious Maidens? Bethink ye! Who amongst
the Beings is even as ye are, strong of will and good of
eyes? There is our great elder brother and father,
Eagle, he of the floating down and of the terraced tail-
fan. Surely he is enduring of will and surpassing of
sight."

" Yea. Most surely," said the fathers. " Go ye forth
and beseech him."

Then the two sped north to Twin Mountain, where
in a grotto high up among the crags, with his mate and
his young, dwelt the Eagle of the White Bonnet.

They climbed the mountain, but behold! Only the
eaglets were there. They screamed lustily and tried
to hide themselves in the dark recesses. " Pull not our
feathers, ye of hurtful touch, but wait. When we are

older we will drop them for you even from the clouds."

1 20

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

" Hush," said the warriors. " Wait in peace. We
seek not ye but thy father."

Then from afar, with a frown, came old Eagle.
" Why disturb ye my featherlings? " he cried.

" Behold! Father and elder brother, we come seek
ing only the light of thy favor. Listen! "

Then they told him of the lost Maidens of the Corn,
and begged him to search for them.

" Be it well with thy wishes," said Eagle. " Go ye
before contentedly."

So the warriors returned to the council. But Eagle
winged his way high into the sky. High, high, he
rose, until he circled among the clouds, small-seem
ing and swift, like seed-down in a whirlwind. Through
all the heights, to the north, to the west, to the south,
and to the east, he circled and sailed. Yet nowhere
saw he trace of the Corn Maidens. Then he flew lower,
returning. Before the warriors were rested, people
heard the roar of his wings. As he alighted, the fathers
said, " Enter thou and sit, oh brother, and say to us
what thou hast to say." And they offered him the
cigarette of the space relations.

When they had puffed the smoke toward the four
points of the compass, and Eagle had purified his
breath with smoke, and had blown smoke over sacred
things, he spoke.

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

" Far have I journeyed, scanning all the regions.
Neither bluebird nor woodrat can hide from my see
ing," he said, snapping his beak. " Neither of them,
unless they hide under bushes. Yet I have failed to see
anything of the Maidens ye seek for. Send for my
younger brother, the Falcon. Strong of flight is he,
yet not so strong as I, and nearer the ground he takes
his way ere sunrise."

Then the Eagle spread his wings and flew away to
Twin Mountain. The Warrior-Priests of the Bow
sped again fleetly over the plain to the westward for
his younger brother, Falcon.

Sitting on an ant hill, so the warriors found Fal
con. He paused as they approached, crying, " If ye
have snare strings, I will be off like the flight of an
arrow well plumed of our feathers! "

" No," said the priests. " Thy elder brother hath
bidden us seek thee."

Then they told Falcon what had happened, and how
Eagle had failed to find the Corn Maidens, so white
and beautiful.

"Failed!" said Falcon. " Of course he failed.
He climbs aloft to the clouds and thinks he can see un
der every bush and into every shadow, as sees the Sun-
father who sees not with eyes. Go ye before."

Before the Warrior-Priests had turned toward the

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

town, the Falcon had spread his sharp wings and was
skimming off over the tops of the trees and bushes as
though verily seeking for field mice or birds' nests.
And the Warriors returned to tell the fathers and to
await his coming.

But after Falcon had searched over the world, to
the north and west, to the east and south, he too re
turned and was received as had been Eagle. He
settled on the edge of a tray before the altar, as on the
ant hill he settles to-day. When he had smoked and
had been smoked, as had been Eagle, he told the sor
rowing fathers and mothers that he had looked be
hind every copse and cliff shadow, but of the Maidens
he had found no trace.

" They are hidden more closely than ever sparrow
hid," he said. Then he, too, flew away to his hills in
the west.

" Our beautiful Maiden Mothers," cried the ma
trons. " Lost, lost as the dead are they! "

" Yes," said the others. " Where now shall we seek
them? The far-seeing Eagle and the close-searching
Falcon alike have failed to find them."

" Stay now your feet with patience," said the fathers.
Some of them had heard Raven, who sought food in
the refuse and dirt at the edge of town, at daybreak.

" Look now," they said. " There is Heavy-nose,

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

whose beak never fails to find the substance of seed
itself, however little or well hidden it be. He surely
must know of the Corn Maidens. Let us call him."

So the warriors went to the river side. When they
found Raven, they raised their hands, all weaponless.

" We carry no pricking quills," they called. " Black-
banded father, we seek your aid. Look now! The
Mother-maidens of Seed whose substance is the food
alike of thy people and our people, have fled away.
Neither our grandfather the Eagle, nor his younger
brother the Falcon, can trace them. We beg you to
aid us or counsel us."

" Ka! ka! " cried the Raven. " Too hungry am I to
go abroad fasting on business for ye. Ye are stingy!
Here have I been since perching time, trying to find
a throatful, but ye pick thy bones and lick thy bowls
too clean for that, be sure."

" Come in, then, poor grandfather. We will give
thee food to eat. Yea, and a cigarette to smoke, with
all the ceremony."

"Say ye so?" said the Raven. He ruffled his col
lar and opened his mouth so wide with a lusty kaw-
la-ka- that he might well have swallowed his own head.
" Go ye before," he said, and followed them into the
court of the dancers.

He was not ill to look upon. Upon his shoulders

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THE LITTLE BASKET-MAKER

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

were bands of white cotton, and his back was blue,
gleaming like the hair of a maiden dancer in the sun
light. The Master-Priest greeted Raven, bidding him
sit and smoke.

" Hal There is corn in this, else why the stalk of
it? " said the Raven, when he took the cane cigarette
of the far spaces and noticed the joint of it. Then he did
as he had seen the Master-Priest do, only more greedily.
He sucked in such a throatful of the smoke, fire and
all, that it almost strangled him. He coughed and
grew giddy, and the smoke all hot and stinging went
through every part of him. It filled all his feathers,
making even his brown eyes bluer and blacker, in rings.
It is not to be wondered at, the blueness of flesh, black
ness of dress, and skinniness, yes, and tearfulness of eye
which we see in the Raven to-day. And they are all as
greedy of corn food as ever, for behold! No sooner
had the old Raven recovered than he espied one of
the ears of corn half hidden under the mantle-covers
of the trays. He leaped from his place laughing.
They always laugh when they find anything, these
ravens. Then he caught up the ear of corn and made
off with it over the heads of the people and the tops
of the houses, crying,

" Ha! ha! In this wise and in no other will ye find
thy Seed Maidens."

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

But after a while he came back, saying, " A sharp
eye have I for the flesh of the Maidens. But who
might see their breathing-beings, ye dolts, except by
the help of the Father of Dawn-Mist himself, whose
breath makes breath of others seem as itself." Then
he flew away cawing.

Then the elders said to each other, " It is our fault,
so how dare we prevail on our father Paiyatuma to
aid us? He warned us of this in the old time."

Suddenly, for the sun was rising, they heard Paiya
tuma in his daylight mood and transformation.
Thoughtless and loud, uncouth in speech, he walked
along the outskirts of the village. He joked fearlessly
even of fearful things, for all his words and deeds were
the reverse of his sacred being. He sat down on a
heap of vile refuse, saying he would have a feast.

" My poor little children," he said. But he spoke
to aged priests and white-haired matrons.

" Good-night to you all," he said, though it was in
full dawning. So he perplexed them with his speeches.

" We beseech thy favor, oh father, and thy aid, in
finding our beautiful Maidens." So the priests
mourned.

" Oh, that is all, is it? But why find that which is
not lost, or summon those who will not come? "

Then he reproached them for not preparing the

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

sacred plumes, and picked up the very plumes he had
said were not there.

Then the wise Pekwinna, the Speaker of the Sun,
took two plumes and the banded wing-tips of the turkey,
and approaching Paiyatuma stroked him with the tips
of the feathers and then laid the feathers upon his
lips. . . .

Then Paiyatuma became aged and grand and
straight, as is a tall tree shorn by lightning. He said
to the father :

" Thou are wise of thought and good of heart.
Therefore I will summon from Summer-land the beau
tiful Maidens that ye may look upon them once more
and make offering of plumes in sacrifice for them, but
they are lost as dwellers amongst ye."

Then he told them of the song lines and the sacred
speeches and of the offering of the sacred plume wands,
and then turned him about and sped away so fleetly
that none saw him.

Beyond the first valley of the high plain to the south
ward Paiyatuma planted the four plume wands. First
he planted the yellow, bending over it and watching it.
When it ceased to flutter, the soft down on it leaned
northward but moved not. Then he set the blue wand
and watched it; then the white wand. The eagle down

on them leaned to right and left and still northward,

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

yet moved not. Then farther on he planted the red
wand, and bending low, without breathing, watched it
closely. The soft down plumes began to wave as
though blown by the breath of some small creature.
Backward and forward, northward and southward they
swayed, as if in time to the breath of one resting.

" ' T is the breath of my Maidens in Summer-land,
for the plumes of the southland sway soft to their
gentle breathing. So shall it ever be. When I set
the down of my mists on the plains and scatter my
bright beads in the northland,1 summer shall go thither
from afar, borne on the breath of the Seed Maidens.
Where they breathe, warmth, showers, and fertility
shall follow with the birds of Summer-land, and the
butterflies, northward over the world."

Then Paiyatuma arose and sped by the magic of his
knowledge into the countries of Summer-land, — fled
swiftly and silently as the soft breath he sought for,
bearing his painted flute before him. And when he
paused to rest, he played on his painted flute and the
butterflies and birds sought him. So he sent them to
seek the Maidens, following swiftly, and long before he
found them he greeted them with the music of his song-
sound, even as the People of the Seed now greet them
in the song of the dancers.

1 Dew drops.

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

When the Maidens heard his music and saw his tall
form in their great fields of corn, they plucked ears,
each of her own kind, and with them filled their col
ored trays and over all spread embroidered mantles, —
embroidered in all the bright colors and with the creat
ure-songs of Summer-land. So they sallied forth to
meet him and welcome him. Then he greeted them,
each with the touch of his hands and the breath of his
flute, and bade them follow him to the northland home
of their deserted children.

So by the magic of their knowledge they sped back
as the stars speed over the world at night time, toward
the home of our ancients. Only at night and dawn
they journeyed, as the dead do, and the stars also. So
they came at evening in the full of the last moon
to the Place of the Middle, bearing their trays of
seed.

Glorious was Paiyatuma, as he walked into the courts
of the dancers in the dusk of the evening and stood with
folded arms at the foot of the bow-fringed ladder of
priestly council, he and his follower Shutsukya. He
was tall and beautiful and banded with his own mists,
and carried the banded wings of the turkeys with which
he had winged his flight from afar, leading the Maid
ens, and followed as by his own shadow by the black

being of the corn-soot, Shutsukya, who cries with the

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

voice of the frost wind when the corn has grown aged
and the harvest is taken away.

And surpassingly beautiful were the Maidens clothed
in the white cotton and embroidered garments of Sum
mer-land.

Then after long praying and chanting by the priests,
the fathers of the people, and those of the Seed and
Water, and the keepers of sacred things, the Maiden-
mother of the North advanced to the foot of the lad
der. She lifted from her head the beautiful tray of
yellow corn and Paiyatama took it. He pointed it to
the regions, each in turn, and the Priest of the North
came an*d received the tray of sacred seed.

Then the Maiden of the West advanced and gave
up her tray of blue corn. So each in turn the Maid
ens gave up their trays of precious seed. The Maiden
of the South, the red seed; the Maiden of the East,
the white seed; then the Maiden with the black seed,
and lastly, the tray of all-color seed which the Priestess
of Seed-and-All herself received.

And now, behold! The Maidens stood as before,
she of the North at the northern end, but with her
face southward far looking; she of the West, next,
and lo! so all of them, with the seventh and last, look
ing southward. And standing thus, the darkness of the

night fell around them. As shadows in deep night, so

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

these Maidens of the Seed of Corn, the beloved and
beautiful, were seen no more of men. And Paiyatuma
stood alone, for Shutsukya walked now behind the
Maidens, whistling shrilly, as the frost wind whistles
when the corn is gathered away, among the lone canes
and dry leaves of a gleaned field.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

HASJELTI AND HOSTJOGHON

Navajo (New Mexico)

HASJELTI was the son of the white corn, and
Hostjoghon the son of the yellow corn. They
were born on the mountains where the fogs
meet. These two became the great song-makers of the
world.

To the mountain where they were born (Henry
Mountain, Utah), they gave two songs and two pray
ers. Then they went to Sierra Blanca (Colorado) and
made two songs and prayers and dressed the mountain
in clothing of white shell with two eagle plumes upon
its head. They visited San Mateo Mountain (New
Mexico) and gave to it two songs and prayers, and
dressed it in turquoise, even to leggings and moccasins,
and placed two eagle plumes upon its head. Then they
went to San Francisco Mountain (Arizona) and made
two songs and prayers and dressed that mountain in
abalone shells with two eagle plumes upon its head.
They then visited Ute Mountain and gave to it two
songs and prayers and dressed it in black beads. Then
they returned to their own mountain where the fogs

meet and said, " We two have made all these songs."

132

•J
_)

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

Other brothers were born of the white corn and yel
low corn, and two brothers were placed on each moun
tain. They are the spirits of the mountains and to
them the clouds come first. All the brothers together
made game, the deer and elk and buffalo, and so game
was created.

Navajos pray for rain and snow to Hasjelti and Host-
joghon. They stand upon the mountain tops and call
the clouds to gather around them. Hasjelti prays to
the sun, for the Navajos.

" Father, give me the light of your mind that my
mind may be strong. Give me your strength, that my
arm may be strong. Give me your rays, that corn and
other vegetation may grow."

The most important prayers are addressed to Has
jelti and the most valuable gifts made to him. He
talks to the Navajos through the birds, and for this
reason the choicest feathers and plumes are placed in
the cigarettes and attached to the prayer sticks offered
to him.

133

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE SONG-HUNTER

Navajo (New Mexico)

A MAN sat thinking. " Let me see. My songs
are too short. I want more songs. Where
shall I go to find them? "

Hasjelti appeared and perceiving his thoughts, said,
" I know where you can get more songs."

" Well, I want to get more. So I will follow you."

They went to a certain point in a box canon in the
Big Colorado River and here they found four gods, the
Hostjobokon, at work, hewing cottonwood logs.

Hasjelti said, " This will not do. Cottonwood be
comes water-soaked. You must use pine instead of
cottonwood."

The Hostjobokon began boring the pine with flint,
but Hasjelti said, "That is slow work." He com
manded a whirlwind to hollow the log. A cross, join
ing at the exact middle of each log, a solid one and
the hollow one, was formed. The arms of the cross
were equal.

The song-hunter entered the hollow log and Hasjelti
closed the end with a cloud so that water would not

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

enter when the logs were launched upon the great
waters. The logs floated off. The Hostjobokon, ac
companied by their wives, rode upon the logs, one
couple sitting upon each arm. Hasjelti, Hostjoghon,
and the two Naaskiddi walked upon the banks to keep
the logs off shore. Hasjelti carried a squirrel skin
filled with tobacco, with which to supply the gods on
their journey. Hostjoghon carried a staff ornamented
with eagle and turkey plumes and a gaming ring with
two humming birds tied to it with white cotton cord.
The two Naaskiddi carried staffs of lightning. The
Naaskiddi had clouds upon their backs in which the
seeds of all corn and grasses were carried.

After floating a long distance down the river, they
came to waters that had a shore on one side only. Here
they landed. Here they found a people like themselves.
When these people learned of the Song-hunter, they
gave him many songs and they painted pictures on a
cotton blanket and said,

" These pictures must go with the songs. If we give
this blanket to you, you will lose it. We will give you
white earth and black coals which you will grind to
gether to make black paint, and we will give you white
sand, yellow sand, and red sand. For the blue paint
you will take white sand and black coals with a very
little red and yellow sand. These will give you blue."

i35

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

And so the Navajo people make blue, even to this
day.

The Song-hunter remained with these people until
the corn was ripe. There he learned to eat corn and
he carried some back with him to the Navajos, who
had not seen corn before, and he taught them how to
raise it and how to eat it.

When he wished to return home, the logs would not
float upstream. Four sunbeams attached themselves
to the logs, one to each cross arm, and so drew the Song-
hunter back to the box canon from which he had
started. When he reached that point, he separated the
logs. He placed the end of the solid log into the hol
low end of the other and planted this great pole in the
river. It may be seen there to-day by the venturesome.
In early days many went there to pray and make
offerings.

136

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

SAND PAINTING OF THE SONG-HUNTER

Navajo
(Explanatory of frontispiece)

THE black cross bars denote pine logs; the
white lines the froth of the water; the yellow,
vegetable debris gathered by the logs; the blue
and red lines, sunbeams. The blue spot in the centre
of the cross denotes water. There are four Hostjo-
bokon, with their wives, the Hostjoboard. Each couple
sits upon one of the cross arms of the logs. The gods
carry in their right hands a rattle, and in their left
sprigs of pifian; the goddesses carry pinon sprigs in
both hands.

Hasjelti is to the east of the painting. He carries a
squirrel skin filled with tobacco. His shirt is white
cotton and very elastic. The leggings are of white deer
skin, fringed, and his head is ornamented with an
eagle's tail; at the tip of each plume there is a fluffy
feather from the breast of the eagle. The projection
on the right of the throat is a fox skin.

Hostjoghon is at the west. His shirt is invisible, the
dark being the dark of the body. His staff is colored

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

black from a charred plant. Two strips of beaver skin
tipped with six quills of the porcupine are attached to
the right of the throat. The four colored stars on the
body are bead ornaments. The top of the staff is or
namented with a turkey's tail. Eagle and turkey
plumes are alternately attached to the staff.

The Naaskiddi are north and south of the painting.
They carry staffs of lightning ornamented with eagle
plumes and sunbeams. Their bodies are nude except
the loin skirt. The hunch upon the back is a black
cloud and the three groups of white lines indicate
corn and other seeds. Five eagle plumes are attached
to the cloud-back, since eagles live among the clouds.
The body is surrounded by sunlight. The lines of blue
and red which border the cloud-back denote sunbeams
penetrating storm clouds. The black circle zig-zagged
with white around the head is a cloud basket filled with
corn and seeds of grass. On each side of the head are
five feathers of the red-shafted flicker.

The Rainbow goddess, upon which these gods often
travel, partly encircles and completes the picture.

These sand pictures are drawn upon common yel
low sand, brought in blankets and laid in squares about
three inches thick and four feet in diameter. The col
ors used in decoration were yellow, red, and white, se
cured from sand stones, black from charcoal, and a

138

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

grayish blue made from white sand and charcoal mixed
with a very small quantity of yellow and red sands.

(From eighth annual report of the Bureau of
Ethnology, abridged from description of James
Stevenson.)

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE GUIDING DUCK AND THE LAKE
OF DEATH

Zuni (New Mexico)

NOW K-yak-lu, the all-hearing and wise of
speech, all alone had been journeying afar in
the North Land of cold and white loneliness.
He was lost, for the world in which he wandered was
buried in the snow which lies spread there forever. So
cold he was that his face became wan and white from
the frozen mists of his own breath, white as become all
creatures who dwell there. So cold at night and dreary
of heart, so lost by day and blinded by the light was he
that he wept, and died of heart and became transformed
as are the gods. Yet his lips called continually and his
voice grew shrill and dry-sounding, like the voice of
far-flying water-fowl. As he cried, wandering blindly,
the water birds flocking around him peered curiously
at him, calling meanwhile to their comrades. But wise
though he was of all speeches, and their meanings plain
to him, yet none told him the way to his country and
people.

Now the Duck heard his cry and it was like her own.

140

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

She was of all regions the traveller and searcher, know
ing all the ways, whether above or below the waters,
whether in the north, the west, the south, or the east,
and was the most knowing of all creatures. Thus the
wisdom of the one understood the knowledge of the
other.

And the All-wise cried to her, " The mountains are
white and the valleys; all plains are like others in
whiteness, and even the light of our Father the Sun,
makes all ways more hidden of whiteness! In bright
ness my eyes see but darkness."

The Duck answered:

" Think no longer sad thoughts. Thou hearest all
as I see all. Give me tinkling shells from thy girdle
and place them on my neck and in my beak. I may
guide thee with my seeing if thou hear and follow my
trail. Well I know the way to thy country. Each
year I lead thither the wild geese and the cranes who
flee there as winter follows."

So the All-wise placed his talking shells on the neck
of the Duck, and the singing shells in her beak, and
though painfully and lamely, yet he followed the sound
she made with the shells. From place to place with
swift flight she sped, then awaiting him, ducking her
head that the shells might call loudly. By and by they
came to the country of thick rains and mists on the

141

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

borders of the Snow World, and passed from water to
water, until wider water lay in their path. In vain the
Duck called and jingled the shells from the midst of
the waters. K-yak-lu could neither swim nor fly as
could the Duck.

Now the Rainbow-worm was near in that land of
mists and waters and he heard the sound of the sacred
shells.

" These be my grandchildren," he said, and called,
" Why mourn ye? Give me plumes of the spaces. I
will bear you on my shoulders."

Then the All-wise took two of the lightest plume-
wands, and the Duck her two strong feathers. And he
fastened them together and breathed on them while the
Rainbow-worm drew near. The Rainbow unbent him
self that K-yak-lu might mount, then he arched himself
high among the clouds. Like an arrow he straight
ened himself forward, and followed until his face
looked into the Lake of the Ancients. And there the
All-wise descended, and sat there alone, in the plain
beyond the mountains. The Duck had spread her
wings in flight to the south to take counsel of the gods.

Then the Duck, even as the gods had directed, pre
pared a litter of poles and reeds, and before the morn
ing came, with the litter they went, singing a quaint

and pleasant song, down the northern plain. And when

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they found the All-wise, he looked upon them in the
starlight and wept. But the father of the gods stood
over him and chanted the sad dirge rite. Then
K-yak-lu sat down in the great soft litter they bore
for him.

They lifted it upon their shoulders, bearing it lightly,
singing loudly as they went, to the shores of the deep
black lake, where gleamed from the middle the lights
of the dead.

Out over the magic ladder of rushes and canes which
reared itself over the water, they bore him. And
K-yak-lu, scattering sacred prayer meal before him,
stepped down the way, slowly, like a blind man. No
sooner had he taken four steps than the ladder lowered
into the deep. And the All-wise entered the council
room of the gods.

The gods sent out their runners, to summon all be
ings, and called in dancers for the Dance of Good.
And with these came the little ones who had sunk be
neath the waters, well and beautiful and all seemingly
clad in cotton mantles and precious neck jewels.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE BOY WHO BECAME A GOD

Navajo (New Mexico)

THE Tolchini, a clan of the Navajos, lived at
Wind Mountains. One of them used to take
long visits into the country. His brothers
thought he was crazy. The first time on his return,
he brought with him a pine bough; the second time,
corn. Each time he returned he brought something
new and had a strange story to tell. His brothers said :
" He is crazy. He does not know what he is talking
about."

Now the Tolchini left Wind Mountains and went to
a rocky foothill east of the San Mateo Mountain. They
had nothing to eat but seed grass. The eldest brother
said, " Let us go hunting," but they told the youngest
brother not to leave camp. But five days and five
nights passed, and there was no word. So he followed
them.

After a day's travel he camped near a canon, in a
cavelike place. There was much snow but no water
so he made a fire and heated a rock, and made a hole

in the ground. The hot rock heated the snow and gave

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him water to drink. Just then he heard a tumult over
his head, like people passing. He went out to see what
made the noise and saw many crows crossing back and
forth over the canon. This was the home of the crow,
but there were other feathered people there, and the
chaparral cock. He saw many fires made by the crows
on each side of the canon. Two crows flew down near
him and the youth listened to hear what was the
matter.

The two crows cried out, " Somebody says. Some
body says."

The youth did not know what to make of this.

A crow on the opposite side called out, " What is
the matter? Tell us! Tell us! What is wrong? "

The first two cried out,' " Two of us got killed. We
met two of our men who told us."

Then they told the crows how two men who were
out hunting killed twelve deer, and a party of the Crow
People went to the deer after they were shot. They
said, " Two of us who went after the blood of the deer
were shot."

The crows on the other side of the canon called,
"Which men got killed?"

" The chaparral cock, who sat on the horn of the
deer, and the crow who sat on its backbone."

The others called out, " We are not surprised they

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

were killed. That is what we tell you all the time. If
you go after dead deer you must expect to be killed."

" We will not think of them longer," so the two
crows replied. " They are dead and gone. We are
talking of things of long ago."

But the youth sat quietly below and listened to ev
erything that was said.

After a while the crows on the other side of the
canon made a great noise and began to dance. They
had many songs at that time. The youth listened all
the time. After the dance a great fire was made and
he could see black objects moving, but he could not
distinguish any people. He recognized the voice of
Hasjelti. He remembered everything in his heart. He
even remembered the words of the songs that contin
ued all night. He remembered every word of every
song. He said to himself, " I will listen until day
light."

The Crow People did not remain on the side of the
canon where the fires were first built. They crossed
and recrossed the canon in their dance. They danced
back and forth until daylight. Then all the crows and
the other birds flew away to the west. All that was
left was the fires and the smoke.

Then the youth started for his brothers' camp. They

saw him coming. They said, " He will have lots of

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

stories to tell. He will say he saw something no one

ever saw."

But the brother-in-law who was with them said,
" Let him alone. When he comes into camp he will
tell us all. I believe these things do happen for he
could not make up these things all the time."

Now the camp was surrounded by pinon brush and
a large fire was burning in the centre. There was
much meat roasting over the fire. When the youth
reached the camp, he raked over the coals and said.
" I feel cold."

Brother-in-law replied, " It is cold. When people
camp together, they tell stories to one another in the
morning. We have told ours, now you tell yours."

The youth said, " Where I stopped last night was
the worst camp I ever had." The brothers paid no
attention but the brother-in-law listened.

The youth said, " I never heard such a noise." Then
he told his story. Brother-in-law asked what kind of
people made the noise..

The youth said, " I do not know. They were strange
people to me, but they danced all night back and forth
across the canon and I heard them say my brothers
killed twelve deer and afterwards killed two of their
people who went for the blood of the deer. I heard
them say, " * That is what must be expected. If you
go to such places, you must expect to be killed.' '

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

The elder brother began thinking. He said, " How
many deer did you say were killed? "

" Twelve."

Elder brother said, " I never believed you before,
but this story I do believe. How do you find out all
these things? What is the matter with you that you
know them? "

The boy said, " I do not know. They come into
my mind and to my eyes."

Then they started homeward, carrying the meat. The
youth helped them.

As they were descending a mesa, they sat down on
the edge to rest. Far down the mesa were four moun
tain sheep. The brothers told the youth to kill one.

The youth hid in the sage brush and when the sheep
came directly toward him, he aimed his arrow at them.
But his arm stiffened and became dead. The sheep
passed by.

He headed them off again by hiding in the stalks of
a large yucca. The sheep passed within five steps of
him, but again his arm stiffened as he drew the bow.

He followed the sheep and got ahead of them and
hid behind a birch tree in bloom. He had his bow
ready, but as they neared him they became gods. The
first was Hasjelti, the second was Hostjoghon, the third
was Naaskiddi, and the fourth Hadatchishi. Then the

youth fell senseless to the ground.

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

The four gods stood one on each side of him, each
with a rattle. They traced with their rattles in the
sand the figure of a man, drawing lines at his head and
feet. Then the youth recovered and the gods again
became sheep. They said, " Why did you try to shoot
us? You see you are one of us." For the youth had
become a sheep.

The gods said, " There is to be a dance, far off to
the north beyond the Ute Mountain. We want you to
go with us. We will dress you like ourselves and teach
you to dance. Then we will wander over the world."

Now the brothers watched from the top of the mesa
but they could not see what the trouble was. They saw
the youth lying on the ground, but when they reached
the place, all the sheep were gone. They began cry
ing, saying, " For a long time we would not believe
him, and now he has gone off with the sheep."

They tried to head off the sheep, but failed. They
said, " If we had believed him, he would not have
gone off with the sheep. But perhaps some day we
will see him again."

At the dance, the five sheep found seven others. This
made their number twelve. They journeyed all around
the world. All people let them see their dances and
learn their songs. Then the eleven talked together

and said,

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

" There is no use keeping this youth with us longer.
He has learned everything. He may as well go back
to his people and teach them to do as we do."

So the youth was taught to have twelve in the dance,
six gods and six goddesses, with Hasjelti to lead them.
He was told to have his people make masks to repre
sent the gods.

So the youth returned to his brothers, carrying with
him all songs, all medicines, and clothing.

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

ORIGIN OF CLEAR LAKE

Patwin (Sacramento Valley, Cal.)

BEFORE anything was created at all, Old Frog
and Old Badger lived alone together. Old
Badger wanted to drink, so Old Frog gnawed
into a tree, drew out all the sap and put it in a hollow
place. Then he created Little Frogs to help him, and
working together they dug out the lake.

Then Old Frog made the little flat whitefish. Some
of them lived in the lake, but others swam down Cache
Creek, and turned into the salmon, pike, and sturgeon
which swim in the Sacramento.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE GREAT FIRE

Patwin (Sacramento Valley, Cal.}

E~>NG ago a man loved two women and wished to
marry both of them. But the women were
magpies and they laughed at him. Therefore
the man went to the north, and made for himself a
tule boat. Then he set the world on fire, and himself
escaped to sea in his boat.

But the fire burned with terrible speed. It ate its
way into the south. It licked up all things on earth,
men, trees, rocks, animals, water, and even the ground
itself.

Now Old Coyote saw the burning and the smoke
from his place far in the south, and he ran with all his
might to put it out. He put two little boys in a sack
and ran north like the wind. He took honey-dew into
his mouth, chewed it up, spat on the fire, and so put it
out. Now the fire was out, but there was no water and
Coyote was thirsty. So he took Indian sugar again,
chewed it up, dug a hole in the bottom of the creek,
covered up the sugar in it, and it turned to water and
filled the creek. So the earth had water again.

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

But the two little boys cried because they were lone
some, for there was nobody left on earth. Then Coyote
made a sweat house, and split a number of sticks, and
laid them in the sweat house over night. In the morn
ing they had all turned into men and women.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

ORIGIN OF THE RAVEN AND THE MACAW

(Totems of summer and winter)

Zunl (New Mexico)

THE priest who was named Yanauluha carried
ever in his hand a star! which now in the day
light was plumed and covered with feathers —
yellow, blue-green, red, white, black, and varied. At
tached to it were shells, which made a song-like tinkle.
The people when they saw it stretched out their hands
and asked many questions.

Then the priest balanced it in his hand, and struck
with it a hard place, and blew upon it. Amid the
plumes appeared four round things — mere eggs they
were. Two were blue like the sky and two dun-red
like the flesh of the Earth-mother.

Then the people asked many questions.

" These," said the priests, " are the seed of living
beings. Choose which ye will follow. From two eggs
shall come beings of beautiful plumage, colored like
the grass and fruits of summer. Where they fly and
ye follow, shall always be summer. Without toil, fields
of food shall flourish. And from the other two eggs
shall come evil beings, piebald, with white, without

CLIMBING UP THE ACOMA TRAIL

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

colors. And where these two shall fly and ye shall fol
low, winter strives with summer. Only by labor shall
the fields yield fruit, and your children and theirs shall
strive for the fruits. Which do ye choose?"

" The blue! The blue! " cried the people, and those
who were strongest carried off the blue eggs, leaving
the red eggs to those who waited. They laid the blue
eggs with much gentleness in soft sand on the sunny
side of a hill, watching day by day. They were pre
cious of color; surely they would be the precious birds
of the Summer-land. Then the eggs cracked and the
birds came out, with open eyes and pin feathers under
their skins.

" We chose wisely," said the people. " Yellow and
blue, red and green, are their dresses, even seen through
their skins." So they fed them freely of all the foods
which men favor. Thus they taught them to eat all
desirable food. But when the feathers appeared, they
were black with white bandings. They were ravens.
And they flew away croaking hoarse laughs and mock
ing our fathers.

But the other eggs became beautiful macaws, and
were wafted by a toss of the priest's wand to the far
away Summer-land.

So those who had chosen the raven, became the Ra
ven People. They were the Winter People and they

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

were many and strong. But those who had chosen the
macaw, became the Macaw People. They were the
Summer People, and few in number, and less strong,
but they were wiser because they were more deliberate.
The priest Yanauluha, being wise, became their father,
even as the Sun-father is among the little moons of the
sky. He and his sisters were the ancestors of the priest-
keepers of things.

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

COYOTE AND THE HARE

Sia (New Mexico)

ONE day Coyote was passing about when he saw
Hare sitting before his house. Coyote thought,
" In a minute I will catch you," and he sprang
and caught Hare.

Hare cried, " Man Coyote, do not eat me. Wait
just a minute; I have something to tell you — some
thing you will be glad to hear — something you must
hear."

" Well," said Coyote, " I will wait."

" Let me sit at the entrance of my house," said Hare.
" Then I can talk to you."

Coyote allowed Hare to take his seat at the entrance.

Hare said, "What are you thinking of, Coyote?"

" Nothing," said Coyote.

" Listen, then," said Hare. " I am a hare and I am
very much afraid of people. When they come carry
ing arrows, I am afraid of them. When they see me
they aim their arrows at me and I am afraid, and oh !
how I tremble!"

Hare began trembling violently until he saw Coyote

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

a little off his guard, then he began to run. It took
Coyote a minute to think and then he ran after Hare,
but always a little behind. Hare raced away and soon
entered a house, just in time to escape Coyote. Coyote
tried to enter the house but found it was hard stone.
He became very angry.

Coyote cried, " I was very stupid! Why did I allow
this Hare to fool me? I must have him. But this
house is so strong, how can I open it? "

Coyote began to work, but after a while he said to
himself, " The stone is so strong I cannot open it."

Presently Hare called, " Man Coyote, how are you
going to kill me?"

" I know how," said Coyote. " I will kill you with
fire."

"Where is the wood?" asked Hare, for he knew
there was no wood at his house.

" I will bring grass," said Coyote, " and set fire to it.
The fire will enter your house and kill you."

" Oh," said Hare, " but the grass is mine. It is my
food; it will not kill me. It is my friend. The grass
will not kill me."

" Then," said Coyote, " I will bring all the trees of
the wood and set fire to them."

" All the trees know me," said Hare. " They are
my friends. They will not kill me. They are my food."

158

Photo by Charles Albertson

PINON TREE IN THE GRAND CANON

Putnam rf Valentine

SAN XAVIER MISSION, TUCSON, ARIZONA

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

Coyote thought a minute. Then he said, " I will
bring the gum of the pifion and set fire to that."

Hare said, " Now I am afraid. I do not eat that.
It is not my friend."

Coyote rejoiced that he had thought of a plan for
getting the hare. He hurried and brought all the gum
he could carry and placed it at the door of Hare's
house and set fire to it. In a short time the gum boiled
like hot grease, and Hare cried,

" Now I know I shall die! What shall I do? " Yet
all the time he knew what he would do.

But Coyote was glad Hare was afraid. After a
while Hare called, " The fire is entering my house,"
and Coyote answered, "Blow it out!"

But Coyote drew nearer and blew with all his might
to blow the. flame into Hare's house

Hare cried, " You are so close you are blowing the
fire on me and I will soon be burned."

Coyote was so happy that he drew closer and blew
harder, and drew still closer so that his face was very
close to Hare's face. Then Hare suddenly threw the
boiling gum into Coyote's face and escaped from his
house.

It took Coyote a long time to remove the gum from
his face, and he felt very sorrowful. He said, " I am
very, very stupid."

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

COYOTE AND THE QUAILS

Pima (Arizona)

ONCE upon a time, long ago, Coyote was sleep
ing so soundly that a covey of quails came along
and cut pieces of fat meat out of his flesh with
out arousing him. Then they went on. After they
had camped for the evening, and were cooking the
meat, Coyote came up the trail.

Coyote said, "Where did you get that nice, fat
meat? Give me some."

Quails gave him all he wanted. Then he went far
ther up the trail. After he had gone a little way,
Quails called to him,

" Coyote, you were eating your own flesh."

Coyote said, " What did you say? "

Quails said, " Oh, nothing. We heard something
calling behind the mountains."

Soon the quails called again : " Coyote, you ate your

own meat."

< What did you say? "
" Oh, nothing. We heard somebody pounding his

grinding-stone."

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

So Coyote went on. But at last he began to feel
where he had been cut. Then he knew what the quails
meant. He turned back down the trail and told Quails
he would eat them up. He began to chase them. The
quails flew above ground and Coyote ran about under
them. At last they got tired, but Coyote did not be
cause he was so angry.

By and by Quails came to a hole, and one of the
keenest-witted picked up a piece of prickly cholla cac
tus and pushed it into the hole; then they all ran in
after it. But Coyote dug out the hole and reached
them. When he came to the first quail he said,

" Was it you who told me I ate my own flesh? "

Quail said, " No."

So Coyote let him go and he flew away. When Coy
ote came to the second quail, he asked the same ques
tion. Quail said, " No," and then flew away. So
Coyote asked every quail, until the last quail was gone,
and then he came to the cactus branch. Now the
prickly cactus branch was so covered with feathers that
it looked just like a quail. Coyote asked it the same
question, but the cactus branch did not answer. Then
Coyote said,

" I know it was you because you do not answer."

So Coyote bit very hard into the hard, prickly

branch, and it killed him.

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

COYOTE AND THE FAWNS

Sia (New Mexico)

ANOTHER day when he was travelling around,
Coyote met a deer with two fawns. The fawns
were beautifully spotted, and he said to the deer,

" How did you paint your children? They are so
beautiful!"

Deer replied, " I painted them with fire from the
cedar."

" And how did you do the work? " asked Coyote.

" I put my children into a cave and built a fire of
cedar in front of it. Every time a spark flew from the
fire it struck my children, making a beautiful spot."

" Oh," said Coyote, " I will do the same thing.
Then I will make my children beautiful."

He hurried to his house and put his children in a
cave. Then he built a fire of cedar in front of it and
stood off to watch the fire. But the children cried be
cause the fire was very hot. Coyote kept calling to
them not to cry because they would be beautiful like
the deer. After a time the crying ceased and Coyote

was pleased. But when the fire died down, he found

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

they were burned to death. Coyote expected to find
them beautiful, but instead they were dead.

Then he was enraged with the deer and ran away to
hunt her, but he could not find her anywhere. He was
much distressed to think the deer had fooled him so
easily.

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

HOW THE BLUEBIRD GOT ITS COLOR

Pima (Arizona)

ALONG time ago, the bluebird was a very ugly
color. But Bluebird knew of a lake where no
river flowed in or out, and he bathed in this four
times every morning for four mornings. Every morn
ing he sang a magic song:

" There 's a blue water. It lies there.
I went in.
I am all blue."

On the fourth morning Bluebird shed all his feath
ers and came out of the lake just in his skin. But the
next morning when he came out of the lake he was cov
ered with blue feathers.

Now all this while Coyote had been watching Blue
bird. He wanted to jump in and get him to eat, but
he was afraid of the water. But on that last morning
Coyote said,

" How is it you have lost all your ugly color, and
now you are blue and gay and beautiful? You are
more beautiful than anything that flies in the air. I
want to be blue, too." Now Coyote at that time was

a bright green.

164

f. -

Courtesy of Smithsonian Institution

VASES WITH FIGURES OF BUTTERFLIES, FROM SIKYATKI

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

" I only went in four times on four mornings," said
Bluebird. He taught Coyote the magic song, and he
went in four times, and the fifth time he came out as
blue as the little bird.

Then Coyote was very, very proud because he was a
blue coyote. He was so proud that as he walked along
he looked around on every side to see if anybody was
looking at him now that he was a blue coyote and so
beautiful. He looked to see if his shadow was blue,
too. But Coyote was so busy watching to see if others
were noticing him that he did not watch the trail. By
and by he ran into a stump so hard that it threw him
down in the dirt and he was covered with dust all over.
You may know this is true because even to-day coyotes
are the color of dirt.

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

COYOTE'S EYES

Pima (Arizona)

WHEN Coyote was travelling about one day, he
saw a small bird. The bird was hopping
about contentedly and Coyote thought,

" What a beautiful bird. It moves about so grace
fully."

He drew nearer to the bird and asked, " What beau
tiful things are you working with? " but the bird could
not understand Coyote. After a while the bird took out
his two eyes and threw them straight up into the air,
like two stones. It looked upward but had no eyes.
Then the bird said,

" Come, my eyes. Come quickly, down into my
head." The eyes fell down into the bird's head, just
where they belonged, but were much brighter than
before.

Coyote thought he could brighten his eyes. He asked
the bird to take out his eyes. The bird took out Coy
ote's eyes, held them for a moment in his hands, and
threw them straight up into the air. Coyote looked up

and called,

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

" Come back, my eyes. Come quickly." They at
once fell back into his head and were much brighter
than before. Coyote wanted to try it again, but the
bird did not wish to. But Coyote persisted. Then the
bird said,

" Why should I work for you, Coyote? No, I will
work no more for you." But Coyote still persisted, and
the bird took out his eyes and threw them up. Coyote
cried,

" Come, my eyes, come back to me."

But his eyes continued to rise into the air, and the
bird began to go away. Coyote began to weep. But
the bird was annoyed, and called back,

"Go away now. I am tired of you. Go away and
get other eyes."

But Coyote refused to go and entreated the bird to
find eyes for him. At last the bird gathered gum from
a pinon tree and rolled it between his hands and put
it in Coyote's eye holes, so that he could see. But his
eyes had been black and very bright. His new eyes
were yellow.

" Now," said the bird, " go away. You cannot stay
here any longer."

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

COYOTE AND THE TORTILLAS

Pima (Arizona]

ONCE upon a time, a river rose very high and
spread all over the land. An Indian woman
was going along the trail by the river side with
a basket of tortillas on her head, but she was wading
in water up to her waist. Now Coyote was afraid of
the water, so he had climbed into a cottonwood
tree. When the woman came up the trail, Coyote
called,

" Oh, come to this tree and give me some of those
nice tortillas."

The woman said, "No. I can't give them to you;
they are for somebody else."

" If you do not come here I will shoot you," said
Coyote, and the woman really thought he had a bow.
So she came to the tree and said, " You must come down
and get them. I can't climb trees."

Coyote came down as far as he dared, but he was
afraid of the deep water. The woman laughed at him.

She said, " Just see how shallow it is. It 's only up to

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

my ankles." But she was standing on a big stump.
Coyote looked at the water. It seemed shallow and
safe enough, so he jumped. But the water was deep
and he was drowned. Then the woman went on up the
trail.

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

COYOTE AS A HUNTER

Sia (New Mexico]

COYOTE travelled a long distance and in the
middle of the day it was very hot. He sat
down and rested, and thought, as he looked up
to Tinia, " How I wish the Cloud People would
freshen my path and make it cool."

In just a little while the Cloud People gathered over
the trail Coyote was following and he was glad that
his path was to be cool and shady.

After he travelled some distance further, he sat down
again and looking upward said, " I wish the Cloud
People would send rain. My road would be cooler
and fresher." In a little while a shower came and
Coyote was contented.

But in a short time he again sat down and wished
that the road could be very moist, that it would be
fresh to his feet, and almost immediately the trail was
as wet as though a river had passed over it. Again
Coyote was contented.

But after a while he took his seat again. He said
to himself, " I guess I will talk again to the Cloud

People." Then he looked up and said to them,

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

" I wish for water over my road — water to my el
bows, that I may travel on my hands and feet in the
cool waters; then I shall be refreshed and happy."

In a short time his road was covered with water, and
he moved on. But again he wished for something
more, and said to the Cloud People,

" I wish much for water to my shoulders. Then I
will be happy and contented."

In a moment the waters arose as he wished, yet after
a while he looked up and said, " If you will only give
me water so high that my eyes, nose, mouth and ears
are above it, I will be happy. Then indeed my road will
be cool."

But even this did not satisfy him, and after travelling
a while longer he implored the Cloud People to give
him a river that he might float over the trail, and im
mediately a river appeared and Coyote floated down
stream. Now he had been high in the mountains and
wished to go to Hare Land.

After floating a long distance, he at last came to
Hare Land and saw many Hares a little distance off,
on both sides of the river. Coyote lay down in the mud
as though he were dead and listened. Soon a woman
ka-wate (mephitis) came along with a vase and a gourd
for water.

She said, " Here is a dead coyote. Where did he

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

come from? I guess from the mountains above. I
guess he fell into the water and died."

Coyote looked up and said, " Come here, woman."

She said, " What do you want? "

Coyote said, " I know the Hares and other small
animals well. In a little while they will come here
and think I am dead and be happy. What do you
think about it?"

Ka-wate said, " I have no thoughts at all."

So Coyote explained his plan. . . .

So Coyote lay as dead, and all the Hares and small
animals saw him lying in the river, and rejoiced that
he was dead. The Hares decided to go in a body and
see the dead Coyote. Rejoicing over his death, they
struck him with their hands and kicked him. There
were crowds of Hares and they decided to have a great
dance. Now and then a dancing Hare would stamp
upon Coyote who lay as if dead. During the dance
the Hares clapped their hands over their mouth and
gave a whoop like a war-whoop.

Then Coyote rose quickly and took two clubs which
the ka-wate had given him, and together they killed all
of the Hares. There was a great number and they were
piled up like stones.

Coyote said, "Where shall I find fire to cook the

hares? Ah," he said, pointing across to a high rock,

172

E
FRONT

Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution

SIA MASKS

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

" that rock gives good shade and it is cool. I will
find fire and cook my meat in the shade of that rock."

So they carried all the hares to that point and Coy
ote made a large fire and threw them into it. When
he had done this he was very warm and tired. He
lay down close to the rock in the shade.

After a while he said to Ka-wate, " We will run a
race. The one who wins will have all the hares."

She said, " How could I beat you? Your feet are
so much larger than mine."

Coyote said, " I will allow you the start of me." He
made a torch of the inner shreds of cedar bark and
wrapped it with yucca thread and lighted it. Then
he tied this torch to the end of his tail. He did this
to see that the ka-wate did not escape him.

Ka-wate started first, but when out of sight of Coy-
ots, she slipped into the house of Badger. Then Coyote
started with the fire attached to his tail. Wherever he
touched the grass, he set fire to it. But Ka-wate hur
ried back to the rock, carried all the hares on top ex
cept four tiny ones, and then climbed up on the rock.

Coyote was surprised not to overtake her. He said,
" She must be very quick. How could she run so
fast? " Then he returned to the rock, but did not see
her.

He was tired and sat down in the shade of the rock.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

"Why doesn't she come?" he said. "Perhaps she
will not come before night, her feet are so small."

Ka-wate sat on the rock above and heard all he said.
She watched him take a stick and look into the mound
for the hares. He pulled out a small one which he
threw away. But the second was smaller than the first.
Then a third and a fourth, each tiny, and all he threw
away. " I do not care for the smaller ones," he said.
" There are so many here, I will not eat the little
ones." But he hunted and hunted in the mound of
ashes for the hares. All were gone.

He said, " That woman has robbed me." Then he
picked up the four little ones and ate them. He looked
about for Ka-wate but did not see her because he did
not look up. Then as he was tired and lay down to
rest, he looked up and saw her, with the cooked hares
piled beside her.

Coyote was hungry. He begged her to throw one
down. She threw a very small one. Then Coyote be
came angry. And he was still more angry because he
could not climb the rock. She had gone where he
could not go.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

HOW THE RATTLESNAKE LEARNED TO

BITE

Pima (Arizona)

AFTER people and the animals were created, they
all lived together. Rattlesnake was there, and
was called Soft Child because he was so soft in
his motions. The people liked to hear him rattle and
little rest did he get because they continually poked
and scratched him so that he would shake the rattles
in his tail. At last Rattlesnake went to Elder Brother
to ask help. Elder Brother pulled a hair from his own
lip, cut it in short pieces, and made it into teeth for
Soft Child.

" If any one bothers you," he said, " bite him."
That very evening Ta-api, Rabbit, came to Soft
Child as he had done before and scratched him. Soft
Child raised his head and bit Rabbit. Rabbit was an
gry and scratched again. Soft Child bit him again.
Then Rabbit ran about saying that Soft Child was
angry and had bitten him. Then he went to Rattlesnake
again, and twice more he was bitten.
The bites made Rabbit very sick. He asked for a

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

bed of cool sea sand. Coyote was sent to the sea for
the cool, damp sand. Then Rabbit asked for the shade
of bushes that he might feel the cool breeze. But at
last Rabbit died. He was the first creature which had
died in this new world.

Then the people were troubled because they did not
know what to do with the body of Rabbit. One said,
" If we bury him, Coyote will surely dig him up."

Another said, " If we hide him, Coyote will surely
find him."

And another said, " If we put him in a tree, Coyote
will surely climb up."

So they decided to burn the body of Rabbit, and yet
there was no fire on earth.

Blue Fly said, " Go to Sun and get some of the fire
which he keeps in his house," So Coyote scampered
away, but he was sure the people were trying to get
rid of him so he kept looking back.

Then Blue Fly made the first fire drill. Taking a
stick like an arrow he twirled it in his hands, letting
the lower end rest on a flat stick that lay on the ground.
Soon smoke began to arise, and then fire came. The
people gathered fuel and began their duty.

But Coyote, looking back, saw fire ascending. He
turned and ran back as fast as he could go. When the

people saw him coming, they formed a ring, but he

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

raced around the circle until he saw two short men
standing together. He jumped over them, and seized
the heart of Rabbit. But he burned his mouth doing
it, and it is black to this day.

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

COYOTE AND THE RATTLESNAKE

Sia (New Mexico)

COYOTE'S house was not far from Rattle
snake's home. One morning when they were
out walking together, Coyote said to Rattle
snake,

" To-morrow come to my house."
In the morning Rattlesnake went to Coyote's house.
He moved slowly along the floor, shaking his rattle.
Coyote sat at one side, very much frightened. The
movements of the snake and the rattle frightened him.
Coyote had a pot of rabbit meat on the fire, which he
placed in front of the snake, saying,
" Companion, eat."

" I will not eat your meat. I do not understand your
food," said Rattlesnake.
" What food do you eat? "
" I eat the yellow flowers of the corn."
Coyote at once began to search for the yellow corn
flowers. When he found some, Rattlesnake said,
" Put some on top of my head so that I may eat it."
Coyote stood as far of! as he could and placed the
pollen on the snake's head.

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

The snake said, " Come nearer and put enough on
my head so that I may find it."

Coyote was very much afraid, but after a while he
came nearer and did as he was told.

Then the snake went away, saying,

" Companion, to-morrow you come to my house."

"All right," said Coyote. "To-morrow I will

come."

Coyote sat down and thought about the morrow. He
thought a good deal about what the snake might do.
So he made a small rattle by placing tiny pebbles in
a gourd and fastened it to the end of his tail. He shook
it a while and was much pleased with it.

The next morning he started for the snake's house.
He shook the rattle on the end of his tail and smiled,
and said to himself,

" This is good. When I go into Rattlesnake's house,
he will be very much afraid of me."

Coyote did not walk into Snake's house, but moved
like a snake. But Coyote could not shake his rattle as
the snake shook his. He had to hold it in his hand.
But when he shook his rattle, the snake seemed much
afraid, and said,

" Companion, I am afraid of you."

Now Rattlesnake had a stew of rats on the fire, and

he placed some before Coyote. But Coyote said,

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

" I do not understand your food. I cannot eat it
because I do not understand it."

Rattlesnake insisted upon his eating, but Coyote re
fused. He said,

" If you put some of the flower of the corn on my
head, I will eat. I understand that food."

The snake took some corn pollen, but he pretended
to be afraid of Coyote and stood off some distance.
Coyote said,

" Come nearer and place it on top my head."

Snake replied, " I am afraid of you."

Coyote said, " Come nearer. I am not bad."

Then the snake came closer and put the pollen on
top of Coyote's head.

But Coyote did not have the long tongue of the snake
and he could not get the pollen off the top of his head.
He put out his tongue first on one side of his nose and
then on the other, but he could only reach to the side
of his nose. His efforts made the snake laugh, but the
snake put his hand over his mouth so Coyote should
not see him laugh. Really, the snake hid his head in
his body.

At last Coyote went home. As he left the snake's
house, he held his tail in his hand and shook the rattle.

Snake cried, "Oh, companion! I am so afraid of

you! " but really the snake shook with laughter.

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

When Coyote reached his home he said to himself,
" I was such a fool. Rattlesnake had much food to
eat and I would not take it. Now I am very hungry."
Then he went out in search of food.

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

ORIGIN OF THE SAGUARO AND PALO
VERDE CACTI

Plma (Arizona)

ONCE upon a time an old Indian woman had two
grandchildren. Every day she ground wheat
and corn between the grinding stones to make
porridge for them. One day as she put the water-olla
on the fire outside the house to heat the water, she told
the children not to quarrel because they might upset
the olla. But the children began to quarrel. They up
set the olla and spilled the water and their grandmother
spanked them.

Then the children were angry and ran away. They
ran far away over the mountains. The grandmother
heard them whistling and she ran after them and fol
lowed them from place to place, but she could not
catch up with them.

At last the older boy said, " I will turn into a sa-
guaro, so that I shall live forever and bear fruit every

summer."

The younger said, " Then I will turn into a palo

verde and stand there forever. These mountains are

182

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

so bare and have nothing on them but rocks, I will
make them green."

The old woman heard the cactus whistling and rec
ognized the voice of her grandson. So she went up to
it and tried to take the prickly thing into her arms, but
the thorns killed her.

That is how the saguaro and the palo verde came
to be on the mountains and the desert.

183

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE THIRSTY QUAILS

Pima (Arizona)

A QUAIL once had more than twenty children,
and with them she wandered over the whole
country in search of water and could not find
it. It was very hot and they were all crying, " Where
can we get some water? Where can we get some wa
ter? " but for a long time they could find none.

At last, way in the north, under a mesquite tree, the
mother quail saw a pond of water, but it was very
muddy and not fit to drink. But the little quails had
been wandering so many days and were so tired they
stopped under the shade of the mesquite tree, and by
and by, one by one, they went down to the water and
drank it. But the water was so bad they all died.

184

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE BOY AND THE BEAST

Pima (Arizona)

ONCE an old woman lived with her daughter
and son-in-law and their little boy. They were
following the trail of the Apache Indians.
Now whenever a Pima Indian sees the trail of an
Apache he draws a ring around it; then he can catch
him sooner. And these Pimas drew circles around the
trail of the Apaches they were following, but one night
when they were asleep, the Apaches came down upon
them. They took the man and younger woman by the
hair and shook them out of their skins, just as one would
shake corn out of a sack. So the boy and the old
woman were left alone.

Now these two had to live on berries and anything
they could find, and they wandered from place to place.
In one place a strange beast, big enough to swallow
people, camped in the bushes near them. The grand
mother told the boy not to go near these bushes. But
the boy took some sharp stones in his hands, and went
toward them. As he came near, the great monster be
gan to breathe. He began to suck in his breath and

185

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

he sucked the boy right into his stomach. But with
his sharp stones the boy began to cut the beast, so that
he died. Then the boy made a hole large enough to
climb out of.

When his grandmother came to look for him, the
boy met her and said, " I have killed that monster."

The grandmother said, " Oh, no. Such a little boy
as you are to kill such a great monster! "

The boy said, " But I was inside of him. Just look
at the stones I cut him with."

Then the grandmother went softly up to the bushes,
and looked at the monster. It was full of holes, just
as the little boy had said.

Then they moved down among the berry bushes and
had all they wanted to eat.

186

Putnam & Valentine

IN THE PETRIFIED FOREST OF ARIZONA

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

WHY THE APACHES ARE FIERCE

Pima (Arizona)

ELDER BROTHER, Coyote, and Earth Doctor,
after the flood vanished, began to create people
and animals. Coyote made all the animals, El
der Brother made the people, and Earth Doctor made
queer creatures which had only one leg, or immense
ears, or many fingers, and some having flames of fire
in their knees.

Elder Brother divided his figures of people into four
groups. One of the Apaches came to life first. He
shivered and said, " Oh, it 's very cold," and began to
sway back and forth. Then Elder Brother said, " I
did n't think you would be the first to awake," and he
took all the Apaches up in his hand and threw them
over the mountains. That made them angry, and
that is why they have always been so fierce.

187

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

SPEECH ON THE WARPATH

Pima (Arizona)

WE have come thus far, my brothers. In the
east there is White Gopher, who gnaws with
his strong teeth. He was friendly and came
to me. On his way he came to the surface from the
underground four times. Looking in all four di
rections, he saw a magic whitish trail. Slowly fol
lowing this, he neared the enemy, coming to the
surface from the underground four times during the
journey. Their power stood in their land like a moun
tain, but he bit it of! short, and he sank their springs
by biting them. He saw that the wind of the enemy
was strong and he cut it up with his teeth. He
gnawed in short pieces their clouds. They had
good dreams and bright false-seeing, good bow
strings and straight-flying reeds, but these he grasped
and bit off short. The different belongings lying about
he took with him, turning around homeward. On his
way homeward over the whitish trail, he came to the
surface four times, and magic fire appeared around the
edges. Then he came to his bed. He felt that the land

roared rejoicingly with him.

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

In the south was Blue Coyote and there I sent my cry.
He was friendly and came to me from his blue dark
ness, circling around and shouting, four times, on his
journey, making magic fire everywhere. When he ar
rived, he looked in four directions, then understood. A
whitish magic trail lay before him. He cast his blue
darkness upon the enemy and slowly approached them,
circling around and shouting four times on the way.
Like a mountain was their power in the land, and he
sucked it in. The springs of water under the trees he
sucked in. The wind that was blowing he inhaled.
He sucked in the clouds. The people dreamed of a
white thing, and their dreams he sucked in, with their
best bow strings and the straight-flying reeds. All the
different belongings which lay around he gathered and
slowly turned back. Hidden in the blue darkness, he
came to me, circling around, shouting, four times on
his journey. Then he homeward took his way, circling,
howling, four times, and shouting reached his bed.
With pleasure he felt all directions thud. The east
echoed.

In the sunset direction was Black Kangaroo Mouse,
an expert robber. To him I sent my cry. He was
friendly to me and came hidden in black darkness, sit
ting down four times upon his way. Magic fire covered
the edges of his trail. When he reached me, he looked

189

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

in all directions. The magic trail brightly lay before
him. He threw black darkness around him and slowly
reached the enemy, sitting down four times upon the
trail. He found a bag of the enemy, with much prized
possessions. It was tied one knot on top of another, but
he bit them off. He took from it the blue necklaces,
blue earrings, and the different belongings lying around
gathered up with him. Then he slowly took his way
back on the magic trail, with magic fire everywhere.
Hidden in his yellow darkness, he returned to me. He
left the others at the council and in darkness took his
homeward way, resting four times. He sat on his bed
and felt all directions of the earth rustling in the dark
ness. Darkness lay all around.

I called on Owl, the white blood-sucker. To him I
sent my cry. He was friendly and came down to me
with four thin flys (sailing) on the way. He looked
in all directions. The magic trail brightly before him
lay. He flew, with four thin flys, toward the enemy.
The mountain of their power which stood in the land
he bit off short. The springs he bit off, and their very
good dreams. The best bow strings and the straight-
flying reeds he grasped and cut very short. He bit off
their flesh and made holes in their bones. From the
things gathered, he made a belt from a bowstring.

Then he returned. He came through the whitish mist

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

of dawn in four flights. The people held a council.
Leaving them there, he after four thin flys reached his
bed in the gray dawn mist. Then in all directions he
heard the darkness rattling, as he lay there.

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

THE SPIRIT LAND

Gallinomero (Russian River, Cat.)

WHEN the flames burn low on the funeral
pyres of the Gallinomero, Indian mourners
gather up handfuls of ashes and scatter them
high in air. Thus the good mount up into the air, or
go to the Happy Western Land beyond the Big Water.
But the bad Indians go to an island in the Bitter
Waters, an island naked and barren and desolate, cov
ered only with brine-spattered stone, swept with cold
winds and the biting sea-spray. Here they live always,
breaking stone upon one another, with no food but the
broken stones and no drink but the salt sea water.

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF CALIFORNIA

SONG OF THE GHOST DANCE

Pal Ute (Kern River, Cat.)

The snow lies there — ro-rani!
The snow lies there — ro-rani !
The snow lies there — ro-rani!
The snow lies there — ro-rani!

The Milky Way lies there.

1 This is one of the favorite songs of the Paiute
Ghost dance. . . . It must be remembered that
the dance is held in the open air at night, with the stars
shining down on the wide-extending plain walled in
by the giant Sierras, fringed at the base with dark pines,
and with their peaks white with eternal snows. Under
such circumstances this song of the snow lying white
upon the mountains, and the Milky Way stretching
across the clear sky, brings up to the Paiute the same
patriotic home love that comes from lyrics of singing
birds and leafy trees and still waters to the people of
more favored regions. . . . The Milky Way is the
road of the dead to the spirit world."

THE END

193

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