Creation Myths of Primitive America Part 78

THE FLIGHT OF TSANUNEWA AND DEFEAT OF HEHKU

It is not so easy to decide who Hehku is. Her most usual, if not her regular and normal, form is that of a horned serpent; but she changes herself into various forms. When angry, or rather when raging, she becomes a Putokya,--that is, a skull person, like Hitchinna. These Putokyas seem to be the cyclone or tremendous wind which moves in a narrow path and makes a clean sweep of everything.

The gambling scene in Jupka's sweat-house is good. Hehku has easy work till she meets the master, who to his incomparable power adds deceit.

The game, connected here with Jupka's sweat-house, is played by two persons sitting opposite each other. One of these holds a small "Jupaiauna" bone or stick in one of his closed hands, and the other guesses which hand it is in. The process of playing is as follows:--

Each person has ten little sticks or counters at the opening of the game. One holds the "Jupaiauna," and begins action by placing his hands behind his back and deciding in which hand to hold the bone for that time; next, he closes his hands firmly, and brings them out before his breast. He holds them back downward, the little finger of each hand touching that of the other. The person sitting opposite guesses where the bone is; the other opens both hands then, and shows his palms. If this bone is in the hand indicated by the guesser, he wins; if not, he loses. A game is finished when one side holds the twenty counters; that is, when one side has won the ten little sticks given to the other at the opening of the game.

As Hehku sat with her back to the west, her right hand was south and her left north. When her opponent guessed south, if the bone was in her right hand she sang it into her left (the north),--literally, enchanted it north. If the bone was in her left hand, she let it stay there, and thus she won in every case.

Jupka, by limiting the game to one guess, and by his quibble of words, proved himself a keener trickster than Hehku, whose predicament is described fairly well by the Russian saying, "Kosa nashla na kamen,"

the scythe met a stone; or the biter bitten, as we might say.

THE FIRST BATTLE IN THE WORLD AND THE MAKING OF THE YANAS

The beginning of this myth is somewhat similar to that of "Olelbis." A messenger is sent to invite the Master of Flint to come and show the Mapchemaina, or first people, how to kill deer. Kaltsauna, the owner of flint, is like Katkatchila of the Wintus; he is transformed later into a lizard. In character he is different, being old and testy though liberal, while Katkatchila is affable, but wonderfully tenacious of his weapon, and prizing it so highly that when the flint is stolen he does not hesitate to set the whole world on fire.

Kaltsauna put the various kinds of flint in places where they are found to this day, and taught the first people how to make arrow points.

These hunts of the first people or G.o.ds are, for the Yanas, the great prototypes of hunting. To this day all sorts of game are under the control of certain spirits of the first people, whose favor is essential to success in hunting.

The story of Howichinaipa's change into a little bird gives a good case of forced metamorphosis, and also a good picture of the stern spirit of Indian vengeance inherited from the first people.

Vengeance is a sacred duty which they were not free to neglect under any consideration. "Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, and I will have it."

Machperkami, the tiny dog in the hair of Tuina (the sun), is an exact subst.i.tute for Winishuyat of the Wintus.

The descent of Tuina to the lower side of the earth, his night journey from west to east on the road made by Jupka, is described with clear and precise brevity. There is no doubt as to the nature of the water grizzlies who rise out of the ocean and go to the mountains at the approach of Tuina.

The account of the creation of the Yanas is as concise as possible, and at the same time complete.

WINTU PLACES MENTIONED IN THE MYTHS

Bohema Mem Great water, Sacramento River.

Bohem Buli Great mountain, Bald Mountain.

Bohem Puyuk Great peak, Mount Shasta.

Bohem Tehil Great Tehil.

Bulibok Puyuk Bulibok peak.

Buli Puiwakat Eastern mountain slope.

Dokos Hle Puriton.

Dau Paki Olel Upper side of the dam, above the dam.

Elitsarauton Root flat.

El Hakam In the elbow.

Halat Pom Grapevine land.

Han Buli Fox mountain.

Hin Pom Owl land, now Slate Creek.

Hlihli Puihlut Ton Acorn eastern sweat-house place.

Kahi Buli Wind mountain.

Kaisansi Haraston The road place of Kaisus.

Kawiken Down in Kawi.

Keri Buli Acorn mountain.

Kilitcepin Kenharas Arrow straightener's down-road.

Kinwinis Pom Looking down land.

Lasan Holok Spider's house (or den).

Lorus Pom Sandstone land.

Miol Tapa Tree on the island.

Memnom Kalai Southern water divide.

Nomken Kobalus Waimemton Northern sh.e.l.l water place.

Nomlopi Southern Lopi.

Nophlut Deer's sweat-house.

Norken Mem Water down south, now Little Sacramento.

Norpat Kodiheril Kodi village stand southward.

Norpuiken Down southeast.

Norwan Buli Norwan mountain.

Norwanbulihlut Norwan mountain sweat-house.

Norwinte Seen in the south.

Olpuhlchiton Blowing upward, _i. e._ wishing place.

Panti Tsarau Upper sand flat, now Fall River.

Pas Puisono Nose (promontory) sticking out eastward, now Redding.

Penel Kente.

Pokaitin Mem Woman's talk water.

Pom Wai Hudi Pom Land in the north, rumbling land.

Puidal Pom Land far east.

Puidal Winnem Winnem far east.

Pui Mem Eastern water, now Pit River.

Puitiel Ton In the eastern side (region) place.

Pui Toror Eastern ridge.

Saskewil Sas's dwelling.

Sonomyai At the stones.

Sawal Pom The bathing-place land.

Sudi Sawal The Sudi bathing-place.

Tayam Norel Waiting in the south, now Trinity Centre.

Tcanahl Puyuk White peak.

Tede Puyuk Red peak.

Tehi Buli Tehi mountain.

Tidok Waisono Ant northern nose (nose-promontory).

Toriham Pui Toror Eastern crane place.

Tokuston Rock ridge place.

Tsarau Heril Sandflat village, now Stillwater.

Tsik Tepji White oak whirling-place.

Waiken Pom Pui Humok Pom The land down north, the eastern silent land.