Creation Onondaga - Onondaga

[Okwes]

Creation Onondaga - Onondaga

THE MANNER IN WHICH IT ESTABLISHED ITSELF, IN WHICH IT FORMED ITSELF, IN
WHICH, IN ANCIENT TIME, IT CAME ABOUT THAT THE EARTH BECAME EXTANT

He who was my grandfather was wont to relate that, verily, he had heard the
legend as it was customarily told by five generations of grandsires, and
this is what he himself was in the habit of telling. He customarily said:
Man-beings dwell in the sky, on the farther side of the visible sky [the
ground separating this from the world above it].

The lodges they severally possess are customarily long. In the end of the
lodges there are spread out strips of rough bark whereon lie the several
mats (beds). There it is that, verily, all pass the night. Early in the
morning the warriors are in the habit of going to hunt and, as is their
custom, they return every evening.

In that place there lived two persons, both down-fended, and both persons of
worth. Verily, one of these persons was a woman-being, a person of worth,
and down-fended; besides her there was a man-being, a person of worth, and
down-fended.

In the end of the lodge there was a doorway. On the one side of it the
woman-being abode, and on the other side of it the man-being abode.

Sometime afterward, then, this came to pass. As soon as all the man-beings
had severally departed this woman-being came forth and went thither and,
moreover, arrived at the place where the man-being abode, and she carried a
comb with her. She said: "Do thou arise; let me disentangle thy hair." Now,
verily, he arose, and then, moreover, she disentangled his hair, and
straightened it out. It continued in this manner day after day. Sometime
afterward her kindred were surprised. It seems that the life of the maiden
was now changed. Day after day it became more and more manifest that now s,
he would give birth to a child. Now, moreover, her mother, the ancient one,
became aware of it. Then, verily, she questioned her, saying to the maiden:
"Moreover, what manner of person is to be joint parent with thee?" The
maiden said nothing in reply. So, now, at that time, the man-being noticed
that he began to be ill. For some time it continued thus, when, verily, his
mother came to the place where he lay. She said: "Where is the place wherein
thou art ill?" Then the man-being said in reply: "Oh, my mother! I will now
tell thee that I, alas, am about to die." And his mother replied, saying:
"What manner of thing is meant by thy saying 'I shall die?'" It is said that
they who dwelt there did not know what it is for one to say "I shall die."
And the reason of it was that no one living there on the sky had ever
theretofore died. At that time he said: "And, verily, this will come to pass
when I die: My life will go forth. Moreover, my body will become cold. Oh,
my mother! thus shalt thou do on my eyes: Thou must lay both thy hands on
both sides. And, moreover, thou must keep thy eyes fixed thereon when thou
thinkest that now he is nearly dead. So soon as thou seest that my
breathing is being made to become less, then, and not till then, must thou
think that now it is that he is about to die. And then, moreover, thou wilt
place thy two hands on both my eyes. Now, I shall tell thee another thing.
Ye must make a burial-case. When ye finish the task of making it, then,
moreover, ye must place my body therein, and, moreover, ye must lay it up in
a high place."

Now, verily, she, the ancient one, had her eyes fixed on him. So soon as she
believed that now he was about to die, she placed both her hands on his
eyes. Just so soon as she did this she began to weep. Moreover, all those
who abode in the lodge were also affected in the same way; they all wept.
Sometime after he had died they set themselves to work, making a
burial-case. Moreover, so soon as they had finished their task they placed
his body therein, and also laid it up in a high place. Sometime after they
had laid the burial-case in the high place, the maiden, now a woman-being,
gave birth to a child, which was a female, a woman-being. Then the ancient
one [elder one, the mother of the maiden] said: "Moreover, what manner of
person is the father of the child?" The maiden said nothing in reply. The
girl child grew rapidly in size. It was not long after this that the girl
child was running about. Suddenly, it seems, the girl child began to weep.
It was impossible to stop her. Five are the number of days, it is said, that
the girl child continued to weep. Then the elder one [her grandmother] said:
"Do ye show her the burial-case lying there in the high place." Now, verily,
they carried her person, and caused her to stand up high there. Then the
girl child looked at it [the corpse], and then she ceased her weeping, and
also she was pleased. It was a long time before they withdrew her; and it
was not a long time before she again began to weep. Now, verily, they again
carried her person, and, moreover, they caused her to stand there again. So,
it continued thus, that, day after day, they were in the habit of carrying
her, and causing her to stand there on the high place. It was not long
before she by her own efforts was able to climb up to the place where lay
the dead man-being. Thus it continued to be that she at all times went to
view it.

Some time afterward it thus came to pass that she came down again bringing
with her what was called an armlet, that being the kind of thing that the
dead man-being had clasped about his arms, and, being of the wampum variety,
it was, it is said, fine-looking. The elder one said: "What manner of thing
caused thee to remove it?" The girl child replied, saying: "My father said:
'Do thou remove it. It will belong to thee. I, verily, am thy parent.'" The
elder one said nothing more. It continued thus that customarily, as soon as
another day came, she would again climb to the place where the burial-case
lay. So, now, verily, all those who were in the lodge paid no more attention
to her, merely watching her grow in size. Thus it continued that day after
day, at all times, she continued to go to see it [the corpse]. They heard
them conversing, it is said, and they also heard, it is told, what the two
said. After a while she again came down bringing with her a necklace which
the dead man-being had had around his neck, and which she had removed. She,
it is reported, said: "Oh, my grandmother! My father gave this to me; that
is the reason I removed it." So, it is reported, until the time she was
full-grown, she was in the habit of going to view the place where lay the
burial-case. At that time, it is reported, her father said: "Now, my child,.
verily, thou hast grown to maturity. Moreover, I will decide upon the time
when thou shalt marry." Some time afterward he said: "Thou must tell thy
mother, saying: 'My father said to me, "Now thou must marry."' Now,
moreover, verily, thy mother must make loaves of bread, and it must fill a
large forehead-strap-borne basket. Now, moreover, thou must make the bread,
and thou must have it ready by the time it becomes night."

Truly, it thus came to pass. It became night, and, verily, the elder one had
it all ready. She said: "I have now made it ready. The basket is even now
full of bread." Now, the maiden again climbed up to the place where lay the
burial-case. At that time they heard her say: "My mother has now made
everything ready." He then replied: "To-morrow thou must depart; early in
the morning thou must depart. The distance from here to the place where
lives the one whom thou wilt marry is such that thou wilt spend one night on
thy way thither. And he is a chief whom thou art to marry, and his name, by
repute, is He-holds-the-earth."

Now the next day she dressed herself. As soon as she was ready she then
again ran, going again to the place where lay the dead man-being. Then she
told him, saying: "The time for me to depart has arrived." Now, at that time
he told her, saying: "Do thou have courage. Thy pathway throughout its
course is terrifying, and the reason that it is so is that many man-beings
are traveling to and fro along this pathway. Do not, moreover, speak in
reply if some person, whoever he may be, addresses words to thee. And when
thou hast gone one half of thy journey, thou wilt come to a river there,
and, moreover, the floating log whereon persons cross is maple. When thou
dost arrive there, then thou wilt know that thou art halfway on thy journey.
Then thou wilt cross the river, and also pass on. Thou must continue to
travel without interruption. And thou wilt have traveled some time before
thou arrivest at the place where thou wilt see a large field. Thou wilt see
there, moreover, a lodge standing not far away. And there beside the lodge
stands the tree that is called Tooth. a Moreover, the blossoms this standing
tree bears cause that world to be light, making it light for the man-beings
dwelling there.

"Such, in kind, is the tree that stands beside the lodge. Just there is the
lodge of the chief whom thou art to marry, and whom his people call
He-holds-the-earth. When thou enterest the lodge, thou wilt look and see
there in the middle of the lodge a mat spread, and there, on the mat, the
chief lying down. Now, at that time, thou shalt lay thy basket down at his
feet, and, moreover, thou shalt say: 'Thou and I marry.' He will say
nothing. When it becomes night, he who is lying down will spread for thee a
skin robe at the foot of his mat. There thou wilt stay over night. As soon
as it is day again, he will say: 'Do thou arise; do thou work. Customarily
one who lives in the lodge of her spouse works.' Then, verily, thou must
work. He will lay down a string of corn ears and, moreover, he will say:
'Thou must soak the corn and thou must make mush.' At that time there will
be a kettle of water set on the fire. As soon as it boils so that it is
terrifying, thou must dissolve the meal therein. It must be boiling when
thou makest the mush. He himself will speak, saying: 'Do thou undress
thyself.' Moreover, thou must there undress thyself. Thou must be in thy
bare skin. Nowhere wilt thou have any garment on thy body. Now, the mush
will be boiling, and the mush will be hot. Verily, on thy body will fall in
places the spattering mush. He will say: 'Thou must not shrink back from
it;' moreover, he will have his eyes fixed on thee there. Do not shrink back
from it. So soon as it is cooked, thou shalt speak, saying: 'Now, verily, it
is cooked; the mush is done.' He will arise, and, moreover, he will remove
the kettle, and set it aside. Then, he will say: 'Do thou seat thyself on
this side.' Now then, he will say: 'My slaves, ye dogs, do ye two come
hither.' They two are very large. As soon as they two arrive he will say:
'Do ye two lick her body where the mush has fallen on it.' And their tongues
are like rough bark. They will lick thee, going over thy whole body, all
along thy body. Blood will drop from the places where they will lick. Do not
allow thy body to flinch there from. As soon as they two finish this task he
will say: 'Now, do thou again put on thy raiment.' Now, moreover, thou must
again dress thyself completely. At that time he will take the basket and set
it down, saying, moreover: 'Now, thou and I marry.' So now, so far as they
are concerned, the dogs, his slaves, they two will eat." That is what the
dead man-being told her.

It became night. Now, at that time, they verily laid their bodies down, and
they slept. It became day, and the sun was present yonder when the maiden
departed. She bore on her back by the forehead strap her basket of bread.
Now, verily, she traveled with a rapid gait. It was not long before she was
surprised to find a river. There beside the river she stood, thinking,
verily, "I have lost my way." At that time she started back. Not long
afterward those who abode in the home lodge were surprised that the maiden
returned. She said: "I believe I have lost my way." Now she laid her basket
on the mat, and, moreover, she again ran thither and again climbed up to the
place where lay the burial-case. So soon as she reached it she said: "Oh,
father! I believe that I lost my way." He said: "What is the character of
the land where thou believest that thou lost thy way?" "Where people
habitually cross the river, thence I returned," said the maiden. She told
him everything. She said: "A maple log floats at the place where they
habitually cross the river." He said: "Thou hast not lost thy way." She
replied: "I think the distance to the place where the river is seems too
short, and that is the reason that I think that I lost my way." At that time
he said: "The place that I had indicated is far. But thy person is so
endowed with magic potence, thou hast immanent in thee so much orenda that
it causes thy pace to be swift. Verily, so soon as thou arrivest at the
river, thou shalt cross it and also shalt pass on." At that time the maiden
said: "Oh, my father, now I depart." "So be it. Moreover, do thou take
courage," said the dead man-being in reply. Now she again descended and
again went into the lodge.

There then she placed her basket of bread on her back by means of the
forehead strap. It was early in the morning when she departed. She had been
traveling some time when she was surprised to hear a man-being speak to her,
saying: "Do thou stand, verily." She did not stop. Aurora Borealis it was
who was talking. She had passed on some distance when she heard another
man-being talking to her, saying: "I am thankful that thou hast now again
returned home, my child. I am hungry, desiring to eat food." She did not
stop. It was Fire Dragon of the Storm who was speaking to her. Sometime
after she was again at the place where people customarily crossed the river.
Now, at that place, he, the chief himself, stood, desiring to try her mind,
saying: "Verily, thou shouldst stop here; verily, thou shouldst rest
thyself." She did not stop. She only kept right on, and, moreover, she at
once crossed the river there.

She traveled on for some time, and when the sun was at yonder height she was
surprised that there was spread out there a large field. At that time,
verily, she stopped beside the field. Now she looked, and there in the
distance she saw a lodge--the lodge of the chief. Verily, she went thither.
When she arrived there, she looked, and saw that it was true that beside the
lodge stood the tree Tooth, whose flowers were the source of the light of
the earth there present, and also of the man-beings dwelling there. Verily,
she then entered the lodge. Then she looked, and saw that in the middle of
the lodge a mat was spread, and that thereon, moreover, lay the chief. Now,
at that time, she removed her pack-strap burden, and then she also set the
basket before him, and then, moreover, she said: "Thou and I marry," and
then, moreover, she handed the basket to him. He said nothing. When it
became night, he spread a mat for her at the foot of his mat, and then,
moreover, he said: "Verily, here thou wilt stay overnight." Moreover, it
thus came to pass. Now, verily, they laid their bodies down and they slept.

When day came to them, the chief then said: "Do thou arise. Do thou work,
moreover. It is customary for one to work who is living in the family of her
spouse. Thou must soak corn. Thou must set a pot on the fire. And when it
boils, then thou must put the corn therein. Moreover, when it boils, then
thou must again remove the pot, and thou must wash the corn. As soon as thou
finishest the task thou must then, moreover, pound it so that it will become
meal. Now, moreover, thou must make mush. And during the time that it is
boiling thou must continue to stir it; thou must do so without interruption
after thou hast begun it. Moreover,. do not allow thy body to shrink back
when the mush spatters. That, moreover, will come to pass. Thou must undress
thyself when thou workest. I, as to the rest, will say: 'Now it is cooked.'"

At that time he laid down there a string of corn ears, and the corn was
white. So now, verily, she began her work. She undressed herself, and now,
verily, she was naked. She soaked the corn, and she also washed the corn,
and also pounded it, and she also made meal of it, and, now, moreover, in
the pot she had set on the fire she made mush. She stirred it without
interruption. But, nevertheless, it was so that she was suffering, for,
verily, now there was nothing anywhere on her body. And now, moreover, it
was evident that it was hot, as the mush spattered repeatedly. Some time
after she was surprised that the chief said: "Now, verily, the mush which
thou art making is cooked." At that time he arose to a standing position,
and also removed the pot, and also set it on yonder side. At that time he
said: "Do thou sit here." Now he went forward, and, taking up the basket, he
took the bread therefrom, out of her basket. At that time he said: "Now,
thou and I marry. Verily, so it seems, thou wert able to do it. Hitherto, no
one from anywhere has been able to do it."

Now, at that time he shouted, saying: "My slaves, ye two dogs, do ye two
come hither. It is necessary for me that ye two should lick this person
abiding here clean of the mush that has fallen on her." Verily, she now
looked and saw come forth two dogs, pure white in color and terrifying in
size. So now, they two arrived at the place where she was. Now, verily, they
two licked her entire body. The tongues of these two were like rough bark.
So now, moreover, in whatsoever places they two licked over and along her
body blood exuded therefrom. And the maiden did fortify her mind against it,
and so she did not flinch from it. As soon as they two completed the task,
then he himself took up sunflower oil, and with that, moreover, he anointed
her body. As soon as he had finished this task he said: "Now, verily, do
thou again dress thyself." Now she redressed herself entirely, and she was
again clothed with raiment.

When it became night, he spread a mat for her at the foot of his mat. There
they two passed two more nights. And the third day that came to them the
chief said to her: "Now thou must again depart. Thou must go again to the
place whence thou didst start." Then he took up the basket of the maiden and
went then to the place where he kept meat of all kinds hanging in quarters.
Now, verily, he took up the dried meat of the spotted fawn and put it into
her basket. All the various kinds of meat he placed therein. As soon as the
basket was full, he shook the basket to cause its contents to settle down.
When he did shake it, there was seemingly just a little room left in it.
Seven times, it is said, he shook the basket before he completely filled it.
At that time he said: "Now thou must again depart. Do not, moreover, stand
anywhere in the course of thy path homeward. And, moreover, when thou dost
arrive there, thou must tell the people dwelling there that they, one and
all, must remove the roofs from their several lodges. By and by it will
become night and I will send that which is called corn. In so far as that
thing is concerned, that is what man-beings will next in time live upon.
This kind of thing will continue to be in existence for all time." At that
time he took up the basket and also said: "Now, verily, thou shouldst bear
it on thy back by means of the forehead strap." Now, at that time she
departed.

Now again, as she traveled, she heard a man-being talking, saying: "Come, do
thou stand." She did not stand. It was Aurora Borealis who was talking to
her. She traveled on for some time, when she again heard a man-being
talking, saying: "Verily, do thou stand. Now, verily, thou hast returned
home. I am hungry. My child, I desire to eat food." She did not stop. In so
far as he is concerned, it was White Fire Dragon who was talking to her.
Now, she again arrived where she had crossed the river, and there again,
beside the river, she stood. Now, moreover, she heard again a man-being
saying: "Do thou stand. I desire that thou and I should converse together."
She did not stop. It was the chief who was standing here seeking to tempt
her mind. At once she crossed the river on the floating maple log. It was
just midday when she again arrived at the place whence she departed, and she
went directly into the lodge. As soon as she laid her burden down, she said:
"Oh, my mother, now, hither I have returned." She, the elder one, spoke,
saying: "I am thankful that thou hast arrived in peace." Then the maiden
again spoke and said: "Ye severally must make preparations by severally
removing the roofs from your lodges. There is an abundance of meat and corn
also coming, as animals do come, when it becomes night, by and by." And at
that time she at once went to the place where lay the burial-case of her
dead father, and now, moreover, she again climbed up there. As soon as she
reached the place, she said: "Oh, my father, I have now returned home." He
said, in replying: "How fared it? Was he willing to do it?" She said: "He
was willing." Now, again, he spoke, saying: "I am thankful that thou wast
able to do it, as it seems. Thou art fortunate in this matter. And it seems,
moreover, good, that thou shouldst, perhaps, at once return home, for the
reason, verily, that the chief is immune to magic potence, that nothing can
affect the orenda of Chief-who-has-the-standing-tree-called-Tooth, and whom
some call He-holds-the-earth."

At that time all those who dwelt there undid their lodges by removing the
roofs from all severally. Then, verily, when it became night, as soon as the
darkness became settled, they heard the sounds made by the raining of corn,
which fell in the lodges. Then they went to sleep. When it became day, they
looked and saw that in the lodges corn lay piled up, quite filling them.
Now, moreover, their chief said: "Do ye severally repair your lodges. And,
moreover, ye must care for it and greatly esteem it; the thing has visited
our village which He-who-has-the-standing-tree-called-Tooth has given you to
share with him."

In a short time they were surprised, seemingly, that the maiden was nowhere
to be found. She had again departed. They knew that she had again gone to
the place where stood the lodge of the chief who was her consort. Now,
verily, in reference to him he himself in turn was surprised to see her
return home. When it became day again, the chief noticed that seemingly it
appeared that the life of the maiden, his spouse, had changed. a Thus it was
that, day after day and night after night, he still considered the matter.
The conditions were such that he did not know what thing was the cause that
it [his spouse's condition] was thus, so he merely marveled that it had thus
come to pass.

It is certain, it is said, that it formed itself there where they two
conversed, where they two breathed together; that, verily, his breath is
what the maiden caught, and it is that which was the cause of the change in
the life of the maiden. And, moreover, that is the child to which she gave
birth. And since then, from the time that he [her spouse] let man-beings go
here on the earth, the manner in which man-beings are paired has transformed
itself. This is the manner in which it will continue to be; this will be its
manner of being done, whereby it will be possible for the man-beings
dwelling on the earth to produce ohwachiras of posterity. Thus, too, it
seems, it came to pass in regard to the beast-world, their bodies all shared
in the change of the manner in which they would be able to produce
ohwachiras of offspring here on the earth.

[Okwes]

Thus it was that, without interruption, it became more and more evident that
the maiden would give birth to a child. At that time the chief became
convinced of it, and he said: "What is the matter that thy life has changed?
Verily, thou art about to have a child. Never, moreover, have thou and I
shared the same mat. I believe that it is not I who is the cause that thy
life has changed. Dost thou thyself know who it is?" She did not understand
the meaning of what he, said.

Now, at that time, the chief began to be ill. Suddenly, it seems, she
herself now became aware that her life had changed. Then she said,
addressing the chief: "I believe that there is, perhaps, something the
matter, as my life at the present time is not at all pleasant." He did not
make any reply. Not long thereafter she again said: "My thoughts are not at
all pleasant." Again he said nothing. So it continued thus that she did
nothing but consider the matter, believing that something must be the
matter, perhaps, that the condition of her body was such as it was. It
became more and more evident that she was pregnant. Now it was evident that
she was big with child.

Sometime afterward she again resolved to ask him still, once more. She said:
"As a matter of fact, there must be something the matter, perhaps, that my
body is in this condition. And the thoughts of my mind are not at all
pleasant. One would think that there can be no doubt that, seemingly,
something is about to happen, because my life is so exceedingly unpleasant."
Again he said nothing. When it became night, then, verily, they laid their
bodies down and they slept. So now, verily, he there repeatedly considered
the matter. Now, in so far as the maiden was concerned, she still did not
understand what was about to take place from the changed condition of her
body. Sometime afterward the chief spoke to her, saying: "As a matter of
fact, a man-being (or rather woman-being) will arrive, and she is a
man-being child, and thou must care for her. She will grow in size rapidly,
and her name is Zephyrs." a The maiden said nothing, for the reason that she
did not understand what her spouse told her.

Not long afterward, then, verily, she gave birth to a child. She paid no
attention to it. The only thing she did was to lay it on the place -where
the chief customarily passed the night. After ten days' time she again took
it up there from.

Sometime afterward the chief became aware that he began to be ill. His
suffering became more and more severe. All the persons dwelling in the
village came to visit him. There he lay, and sang, saying: "Ye must pull up
this standing tree that is called Tooth. The earth will be torn open, and
there beside the abyss ye must lay me down. And, moreover, there where my
head lies, there must sit my spouse." That is what he, the Ancient One,
sang. Then the man-beings dwelling there became aware that their chief was
ill.

Now, verily, all came to visit him. They questioned him repeatedly, seeking
to divine his Word, what thing, seemingly, was needful for him, what kind of
thing, seemingly, he expected, through a dream. Thus, day after day, it
continued that they sought to find his Word. After a time the female
man-being child was of fair size. She was then able to runabout from place
to place. But it thus continued that they kept on seeking to divine his
Word. After a while, seemingly, one of the persons succeeded in finding his
Word, and he said: "Now, perhaps, I myself have divined the Word of him, the
ordure, our chief." He who is called Aurora Borealis said this. And when he
told the chief what manner of thing his soul craved, the chief was very
pleased. And when he divined his Word, he said: "Is it not this that thy
dream is saying, namely, that it is direful, if it so be that no person
should divine thy Word, and that it will become still more direful? And yet,
moreover, it is not certain that this is what thy soul craves; that its eyes
may have seen thy standing tree, Tooth as to kind, pulled up, in order that
the earth be torn open, and that there be an abyss that pierces the earth,
and, moreover, that there beside the abyss one shall lay thee, and at thy
head thy spouse shall be seated with her legs banging down into the abyss."
At that time the chief said: "Ku''. a I am thankful! Now, verily, the whole
matter has been fulfilled by thy divining my Word."

During this time. [the duration of the dream feast], a large body of
man-beings, b paid a visit there. He, the Deer, paid a visit there. He, the
Great-horned Deer [the Buck], paid a visit there. He, the Spotted Fawn, paid
a visit, and was there seeking to divine the Word of the chief. He, the
Bear, also paid a visit. Now, he also, the Beaver, paid a visit. And he, the
Wind-who-moves-about-from-place-to-place, paid a visit also. And now, also,
he, the Daylight, paid a visit. Now she also, the Night, the Thick Night,
paid a visit. Now also she, the Star, paid a visit. Now, also, he, the
Light-orb [the sun] paid a visit. And, too, the Water-of-springs, she paid a
visit. Now, also, she, the Corn, paid a visit. Now, also, she, the Bean,
paid a visit. Now, also, she, the Squash, paid a visit. Now, also, she, the
Sunflower, paid a visit. Now, also, the Fire Dragon with the body of pure
white color, he paid a visit. Now, also, the Rattle paid a visit. Now, also,
he, the Red Meteor, paid a visit. Now, also, he, the Spring Wind, paid a
visit. Now, also, he, the Great Turtle, paid a visit. Now, also, he, the
Otter, paid a visit. Now, also, he, the Wolf, paid a visit. Now, also, he,
the Duck, paid a visit. Now, also, he, the Fresh Water, paid a visit. Now,
also, he, the Yellowhammer, paid a visit. Now, also, he, the Medicine, paid
a visit. Moreover, all things that are produced by themselves, that produce
themselves, that is, the animals, and, next to them, the small animals, the
flying things, of every species, all paid a visit. Now, sometime afterward,
he, the Aurora Borealis, paid a visit. And, verily, he it was who divined
the Word of the chief. Verily, he said: "The great standing tree, the Tooth,
must be uprooted. And wherever it has a root there severally they must
stand, and they must severally lay bold of each several root. And just then,
and not before, shall they be able to uproot the standing tree. The earth
will be torn open. Moreover, all persons must look therein. And there,
beside the abyss, they must lay thee. Now, moreover, there at thy head she
with whom thou dost abide must sit with her legs hanging down into the
abyss." Then, verily, the chief replied, saying: "Ku''. I am thankful that
ye have divined my word. Now all things have been fulfilled."

Verily, it did thus come to pass that they did uproot the standing tree,
Tooth, that grew beside the lodge of the chief. And all the inhabitants of
that place came thither with the intention of looking into the abyss. It did
thus come to pass that everyone that dwelt there did look therein. At that
time the chief then said, addressing his spouse: "Now, too, let us two look
into the abyss. Thou must bear her, Zephyrs, on thy back. Thou must wrap
thyself with care." Now, moreover, he gave to her three ears of corn, and,
next in order, the dried meat of the spotted fawn, and now, moreover, he
said: "This ye two will have for provision." Now he also broke off three
f*gots of wood, which, moreover, he gave to her. She put them into her
bosom, under her garments. Then, verily, they went thitherto the place. They
arrived at the spot where the earth was torn up, and then he said: "Do thou
sit here." There, verily, she sat where the earth was broken off. There she
hung both legs severally into the abyss.

Now, in so far as he was concerned, he, the chief, was looking into the
abyss, and there his spouse sat. Now, at that time he upraised himself, and
said: "Do thou took hence into the abyss." Then she did in this manner,
holding with her teeth her robe with its burden. Moreover, there along the
edge of the abyss she seized with her hands, and, now, moreover, she bent
over to look. He said: "Do thou bend much and plainly over." So she did do
thus. As soon as she bent forward very much he seized the nape of her neck
and pushed her into the abyss. Verily, now at that time she fell down
thence. Now, verily, the man-being child and the man-being mother of it
became one again. When she arrived on earth, the child was again born. At
that time the chief himself arose and said, moreover: "Now, verily, I have
become myself again; I am well again. Now, moreover, do ye again set up the
tree."

And the chief was jealous, and that was the cause that he became ill. He was
jealous of Aurora Borealis, and, in the next place, of the Fire Dragon with
the pure white body. This latter gave him much mental trouble during the
time that he, the chief, whom some call He-holds-the-earth, was married.

So now, verily, her body continued to fall. Her body was falling some time
before it emerged. Now, she was surprised, seemingly, that there was light
below, of a blue color. She looked, and there seemed to be a lake at the
spot toward which she was falling. There was nowhere any earth. There she
saw many ducks on the lake [sea], whereon they, being waterfowl of all their
kinds, floated severally about. Without interruption the body of the
woman-being continued to fall.

Now, at that time the waterfowl, called the Loon shouted, saying: "Do ye
look, a woman-being is coming in the depths of the water, her body is
floating up hither." They said: "Verily, it is even so." Now, verily, in a
short time the waterfowl [duck] called Bittern [Whose
eyes-are-ever-gazing-upward], said: "It is true that ye believe that her
body is floating up from the depths of the water. Do ye, however, look
upward." All looked upward, and all, moreover, said: "Verily, it is true."
They next said: "What manner of thing shall we do?" One of the persons said:
"It seems, then, that there must be land in the depths of the water." At
that time the Loon said: "Moreover, let us first seek to find someone who
will be able to bear, the earth on his back by means of the forehead pack
strap." All said, seemingly: "I shall be able to bear the earth by means of
the forehead pack strap." He replied: "Let us just try; it seems best."
Otter, it seems, was the first to make the attempt. As soon, then, as a
large bulk of them mounted on his back, verily, he sank. In so far as he was
concerned, he was not able to do anything. And they said: "Thou canst do
nothing." Now many of them made the attempt. All failed to do it. Then he,
the Carapace, the Great Turtle, said: "Next in turn, let me make the
attempt." Then, verily, a large bulk of them mounted on his back. He was
able to bear them all on his back. Then they said: "He it is who will be
able to bear the earth on his back." Now, at that time, they said: "Do ye go
to seek earth in the depths of the water." There were many of them who were
not able to obtain earth. After a while it seems that he, the Muskrat, also
made the attempt. He was able to get the ground thence.

Muskrat is he who found earth. When he came up again, he rose dead, holding
earth in his paws, and earth was also in his mouth. They placed all of it
upon the carapace of the Turtle. Now their chief said: "Do ye hurry, and
hasten yourselves in your work." Now a large number of muskrats continued to
dive into the depths of the water. As fast as they floated to the surface
they placed the earth on the back of the Turtle. Sometime thereafter then,
verily, they finished covering the carapace with earth. Now, at that time,
the carapace began to grow, and the earth with which they had covered it
became the Earth.

Now, also, they said: "Now, moreover, do ye go to see and to meet this
woman-being whose body is falling hither." At once a great number of the
large waterfowl flew hence, joining their bodies together, and there on
their joined bodies her person impinged. Then slowly the large waterfowl
descended, and also they placed the woman-being there on the carapace.
Moreover, the carapace had now grown much in size. Now, moreover, they said:
"Now, verily, we are pleased that we have attended to the female man-being
who has appeared in the same place with us."

The next day came, and she looked and saw lying there a deer, also fire and
firebrands, and also a heap of wood, all of which had been brought thither.
At that time she kindled a fire, using for this purpose the three f*gots
which she had slipt into the bosom of her garment, and of which he [the
chief] had said: "Ye two will have this for a provision." At that time she
laid hands on the body of the deer. She broke up its body, some of which she
roasted for food. She passed three nights there, when she again gave birth,
again becoming possessed of a child. The child was a female. That, verily,
was the rebirth of Zephyrs. Now the elder woman-being erected a booth,
thatching it with grasses. There the mother and daughter remained, one being
the parent of the other.

Now the earth was large and was continually increasing in size. It was now
plain where the river courses would be. There they two remained, the mother
attending to the child, who increased in size very rapidly. Some time
afterward she then became a maiden. And they two continued to remain there.

After a while, seemingly, the elder woman-being heard her offspring talking
with someone. Now, verily, the elder woman-being was thinking about this
matter, wondering: "Whence may it be that a man-being could come to talk
with her." She addressed her, saying: "Who is it, moreover, who visits
thee?" The maiden said nothing in reply. As soon as it became night and the
darkness was complete, he, the man-being, again arrived. And just as the day
dawned the elder woman-being heard him say: "I will not come again." Verily
he then departed. Not long after this the life of the maiden was changed.
Moreover, it became evident that she was about to give birth to a child.
After a time, when, seemingly, the maiden had only a few more days to go,
she was surprised, seemingly, to hear two male man-beings talking in her
body. One of the persons said: "There is no doubt that the time when
man-beings will emerge to be born has now arrived." The other person
replied: "Where, moreover, does it seem that thou and I should emerge?" He
replied, saying: "This way, moreover, thou and I will go." Now, again, one
of them spoke, saying: "It is too far. This way, right here, is near, and,
seemingly, quite transparent." At that time he added, saying: "Do thou go
then; so be it." Now, he started and was born. The child was a male. Then,
so far as the other was concerned, he came out here through her armpit. And
now, verily, he killed his mother. The grandmother saw that the child that
was born first was unsurpassedly fine-looking.

At that time she asked, saying: "Who, moreover, killed your mother, now
dead?" Now, he who did it replied, saying: "This one here." Verily, he told
a falsehood. Now, the elder woman-being seized the other one by the arm and
cast his body far beyond, where he fell among grasses. Now, she there
attended to the other one. It is said that they grew rapidly in size. After
a while, seemingly, he was in the habit of going out, and there running
about from place to place. In like manner they two grew very rapidly.

Now the child who lived out of doors kept saying: "Do thou tell thy
grandmother, who, verily, is grandmother to us two, that she should make me
a bow, and also an arrow." Now, verily, he told her what manner of thing the
other person desired. The only result was that she. got angry, saying:
"Never will I make him a bow and also an arrow. It is he, verily, who killed
her who was the mother of you two." It continued thus that the two brothers
played together. They were in the habit of making a circuit of the island a
floating there. And, as rapidly as they made a circuit of it, so rapidly did
the earth increase in size. When, it is said, the island had grown to a
great size, then he who had been cast out of doors kept saying: "Man-beings
b are about to dwell here." The other person kept saying: "What manner of
thing is the reason that thou dost keep saying, 'Man-beings are about to
dwell here?'" He said: "The reason that I say that is that it is a matter of
fact that man-beings are about to dwell here. And it is I, the Sapling, who
say it." So then, this other person began to say: "I shall be called Flint."

When they two had nearly grown to maturity, it is said, then he, the
Sapling, made himself a lodge, erecting a booth. And when he had completed
it, he departed. He went to hunt. He shot at a bird, but he missed it, and
his arrow fell into the water. Verily, he then resolved: "I will take it out
of the water again." Now, there into the water he cast himself, plunging
into the water. He was surprised that, seemingly, he fell there beside a
doorway. Then, moreover, from the inside of the lodge a man-being spoke to
him, saying: "Do thou come in, my child; I am thankful that thou hast
visited my lodge. I purposely caused thee to visit the place where my lodge
stands. And the reason that it has thus come to pass is that my mind was so
affected by what thy grandmother keeps saying. And, moreover, I desired to
give thee a bow and also an arrow which thou dost need, and which, by and
by, thy brother will see, and then he will ask, saying: 'Whence didst thou
get this?' Thou must say: 'My father has given it to me.'" Now, furthermore,
he gave both to him. At this time he bestowed another thing; it was corn. At
that time he said: "This corn, as soon as thou arrivest at home, thou must
at once roast for food for thyself; and at that time thou must continue to
say: 'In this manner will it continue to be that man-beings, who are about
to dwell here on the earth, will be in the habit of eating it.' Thy brother
will visit thy lodge, and at that time Flint will ask, saying: 'Whence didst
thou get this kind of thing?' Thou must say, moreover: 'My father has given
it to me.'"

Moreover, it did thus come to pass when he arrived at his home. At that time
he husked the ear of corn and also laid it beside the fire; he roasted the
ear. So soon as it became hot, it emitted an odor which was exceedingly
appetizing. They, his grandmother's people, smelled it. She said: "Flint, do
thou go to see what the Sapling is roasting for himself, moreover." He, the
Flint, arose at once, and he ran thither. When he arrived there, he said:
"Whence didst thou get that which thou art roasting for thyself?" He said in
replying: "It is a matter of fact that my father gave it to me. And it is
this that the man-beings who are about to dwell here on the earth will be in
the habit of eating." Then Flint said: "My grandmother has said that thou
shouldst share some with her." The Sapling replied, saying: "I am not able
to do it, and the reason is that she desires to spoil it all. I desire, as a
matter of fact, that man-beings, who are about to dwell here on the earth
shall continue to eat it, and that it shall continue to be good." Then,
verily, the lad returned home. When he arrived there, he told what he had
learned, saying: "The Sapling did not consent to it." She arose at once and
went thither to the place where the booth of the Sapling stood. Arriving
there, she said: "What kind of thing is it that thou art roasting for
thyself?" He replied, saying: "It is corn." She demanded: "Where is the
place whence thou didst get it?" He said: "My father gave it to me. And it
is this which the man-beings who are about to dwell here on this earth will
continue to eat." She said: "Thou shouldst give a share, verily, to me." He
answered and said: "I can not do it, and the reason is that thou desirest to
spoil it." At that time she said: "It is but a small matter, and thou
shouldst pluck off a single grain of corn and give it to me." He said: "I
can not do it." She said: "It is a small matter, if thou shouldst give me
the nubbin end of the corn ear." He said: "I can not do it. I desire that it
shall all be good, so that the man-beings shall continue to eat it." At that
time she became angry and she came forward, and, taking up some ashes, cast
them on what he was roasting, and that was now spoiled. She said: "Thou
desirest that that which they will continue to eat shall continue to be
good. There, it will now be different." Thrice did she repeat the act that
spoiled it. Then the Sapling said: "Why hast thou done that deed?"

Now again, another thing: he had a pot wherein he heated water. Then from
the ear of corn he plucked a single grain of corn, and he put it therein,
saying: "Thus shall man-beings be in the habit of doing when they prepare
food for eating." Then he placed the corn in a mortar, and also said: "In
this manner also shall man-beings, who are about to dwell here on the earth,
continue to do." Then he took from its stand the pounder and brought it down
once, and it became finished perfect meal. He said: "Thus it shall continue
to be; thus shall be the manner of preparing meal among the man-beings who
are about to dwell here on the earth." At that time she, his grandmother,
came forward and heard what he was saying. She arrived there, and said:
"Sapling, thou desirest that the man-beings shall be exceedingly happy." She
went forward, and, taking off the pot from the fire, put ashes into the hot
water. Now, moreover, she took the ear of corn, shelled it, and put the corn
into the hot water. She said: "This, moreover, shall be their manner of
doing, the method of the man-beings." At that time the Sapling said: "Thou
shouldst not do thus." His grandmother did not obey him. Thence, it is said,
originated the evil that causes persons customarily to speak ill when they
prepare food. And, it is said, she stated her wish, thus: "This, as a matter
of fact, shall be the manner of doing of the man-beings." It so continued to
be. The Sapling kept saying: "The way in which thou hast done this is not
good, for I desire that the man-beings shall be exceedingly happy, who are
about to dwell here on this earth."

[Okwes]

Now at that time the Sapling traveled about over the earth. Now there was a
large expanse of earth visible. There was a mountain range, visible river
courses, and a high clay bank, near which he passed. Now, verily, he there
pondered many times. Then he made the bodies of the small game, the bodies
of birds. All were in twos, and were mated, in all the clans [kinds] of
birds. The volume of the sound made by all the various kinds of bird voices
as they talked together was terrifying. And the Sapling kept saying: "Thus
this shall continue to be, whereby the man-beings shall habitually be made
happy." And now he made the bodies of the large game animals. He finished
the bodies of two deer, and the two were mates. "There, that is sufficient
to fill the whole earth," he said. He made all the various kinds of animals
severally. All were in twos, and they, each pair, were mates [male and
female]. At that time he, the Sapling, again traveled. Now the earth had
grown to a very great size, and continued to grow. So now Flint became aware
that the animals were ranging about. After a while then Flint concealed all
the bodies of the animals. There in the high mountain was a rock cavern
whereinto he drove all the animals. And then he closed it with a stone. Then
Sapling became aware that the animals no longer roamed from place to place.
Now, at this time, he again traveled over the entire earth. He saw on this
side a mountain range. He went thither, and he arrived where the opening of
the cavern was. And he then took up the great stone and opened it again.
Now, he looked therein and saw that the animals abode in that place. "Do ye
again go out of this place," he said. Then they came out again. And it was
done very quickly. And all those that fly took the lead in coming out. At
that time they, his grandmother and Flint, also noticed that the animals
again became numerous. And then Flint ran, running to the place where the
rock cavern was. He reached the place while they were still coming out. And
he, by at once pulling down the stone again, stopped up the cavern. Verily,
some of them failed, and they did not get out, and at the present time they
are still there. And it came to pass that they were changed, becoming otgon
[malefic] a, and the reason that it thus came to pass is that some
customarily put forth their orenda for the purpose of ending the days of the
man-beings; and, moreover, they still haunt the inside of the earth.

At this time Sapling again traveled about. Then he was surprised that,
seemingly, a man-being came toward him, and his name was Hadu'i' b. They two
met. The man-being Hadu'i', said: "Where is the place whence thou dost
come?" The Sapling said: "I am going out viewing the earth here present.
Where is the place whence on dost come?" Hadu'i' said: "From here do I come.
I amgoing about traveling. Verily, it is I who am the master of the earth
here present." At that time the Sapling said: "I it is who finished the
earth here present. If it so be that thou art the master of the earth here
present, art thou able to cause yonder mountain to move itself hither?"
Hadu'i' said: "I can do it." At that time, he said: "Do thou, yonder
mountain, come hither." Then they two faced about. Sometime afterward they
two now faced back, and, moreover, saw that the mountain had not changed its
position. At that time Sapling said: "Verily, thou art not the master of the
earth here present. I, as matter of fact, am master of it. Now, next in
time, I will speak." He said: "Do thou, yonder mountain, come hither." Now
they two faced about. And as quickly as they two faced about again the
mountain stood at their backs, The Sapling said: "What sayst thou? Am I
master of it?" Then Hadu'i' said: "It is true that thou art master of it.
Thou hast finished the earth here present. Thou shouldst have pity on me
that I may be suffered to live. I will aid thee, moreover. Verily, thou dost
keep saying: 'Man-beings are about to dwell here on the earth here present.'
In this matter, moreover, will it continue to be that I shall aid and assist
thee. Moreover, I will aid the man-beings. Seeing that my body is full of
orenda and even otgon, as a matter of fact, by and by the man-beings will be
affected with mysterious ills. Moreover, it will be possible for them to
recover if they will make an imitation of the form of my body. I, who was
the first to travel over the earth here present, infected it with my orenda.
And, verily, it will magically conform itself to [be marked by] the
lineaments of my body. Moreover, this will come to pass. If it so be that a
man-being becomes ill by the contagion of this magic power, it is here that
I will aid thee. And the man-beings will then live in contentment. And,
moreover, they must customarily greet me by a kinship term, saying: 'my
Grandfather.' And when, customarily, the man-beings speak of me they must
customarily say: 'our Grandfather'; thereby must they designate me. And I
shall call the man-beings on my part by a kinship term, saying: 'my
Grandchildren.' And they must make customarily a thing of wood which shall
be in my likeness, being wrought thus, that will enable them to go to the
several lodges, and, moreover, they who thus personate me shall be hondu'i'.
a They must employ for this purpose tobacco [native tobacco]. It will be
able to cause those who have become ill to recover. There, moreover, I shall
take up my abode where the ground is wild and rough, and where, too, there
are rock cliffs. Moreover, nothing at all obstructs me [in seeing and
hearing or power]. So long as the earth shall be extant so long shall I
remain there. I shall continue to aid the man-beings for that length of
time." There, it is said, is the place wherein all kinds of deadly ills
begot themselves--fevers,. consumptions, headaches--all were caused by
Hadu'i'.

Now, at that time the Sapling again traveled. He again arrived at his lodge,
and he marveled that his grandmother was angry. She took from its fastening
the head, which had been cut off, of his--the Sapling's--dead mother, and
she carried it away also. She bore the head away with her. When she had
prepared the head, it became the sun, and the body of flesh became the
nocturnal light orb. As soon as it became night, the elder woman-being and,
next in order, Flint departed, going in an easterly direction. At the end of
three days, then said Sapling: "I will go after the diurnal orb of light.
Verily, it is not good that the human beings who are about to dwell here on
the earth should continue to go about in darkness. Who, moreover, will
accompany me?" A man-being, named Fisher, spoke in reply, saying: "I will
accompany thee." A man-being, another person, said: "I, too, will accompany
thee." It was the Raccoon who said this. Another man-being, whose name is
Fox, said: "I, too, will accompany thee." There were several others, several
man-beings, who, one and all, volunteered to aid Sapling. At that time
Sapling said: "Moreover, who will work at the canoe?" The Beaver said:
"Verily, I will make it." Another man-being, whose name was Yellowhammer,
said: "I will make the hollow of it." At that time there were several others
who also gave their attention to it. And then they worked at it, making the
canoe. There Sapling kept saying: "Do ye make haste in the work." In a short
time, now, verily, they finished it, making a canoe. Quickly, now, they
prepared themselves. At that time they launched the canoe into the water.
Then Sapling said: "Moreover, who shall steer the canoe?" Beaver said: "I
will volunteer to do it." Otter also said: "I, too." Now they went aboard
and departed. Then Sapling said: "In steering the canoe, thou must guide it
eastward." Now, it ran swiftly as they paddled it onward. It was night; it
was in thick darkness; in black night they propelled the canoe onward. After
a while, seemingly, they then looked and saw that daylight was approaching.
And when they arrived at the place whither they were going it was then
daylight. They saw that there was there, seemingly, an island, and they saw
that the trees standing there were very tall, and that some of them were
bent over, inclining far over the sea, and there in the water where the tree
tops ended the canoe stopped. Then Sapling said: "Moreover, who will go to
unfasten the light orb [the sun] from its bonds yonder on the tree top?"
Then Fisher said: "I will volunteer." Then Fox said: "I, too [will
volunteer]." At that time Fisher climbed up high, and passed along above
[the ground]. He crossed from tree to tree, going along on the branches,
making his way to the place where the diurnal light orb was made fast;
thither he was making his course. But, in regard to Fox, he ran along below
on the ground. In a short time Fisher then arrived at the place where the
diurnal light orb was made fast.

At once he repeatedly bit that by which it was secured, and, severing it, he
removed the sun. Now, moreover, he cast it down to his friend, Fox, who
stood near beneath him. He caught it, and now, moreover, they two fled. When
they two had run half the way across the island, then Flint's grandmother
noticed what had taken place. She became angry and wept, saying: "What,
moreover, is the reason, O Sapling, that thou hast done this in this
manner?"

Then she, the elder woman-being, arose at once, and began to run in pursuit
of the two persons. Fox ran along on the ground and, in turn, Fisher crossed
from tree to tree, running along the branches. Now, the elder woman-being
was running close behind, and now she was about to seize Fox, who now,
moreover, being wearied, cast the sun up above. Then Fisher caught it. Now,
next in turn, she pursued him. And he, next in turn, when she came running
close behind him and was about to seize him, being in his turn wearied, cast
the sun down, and then Fox in his turn caught it. Thus, verily, it
continued. Fisher was in the lead, and he at once boarded the canoe. And
close behind him was Fox, holding the sun in his mouth, and he, too, at once
got aboard of the canoe. Now, moreover, the canoe withdrew, and, turning
around, it started away. Now, moreover, it was running far away as they
paddled it onward when the elder woman-being arrived at the shore of the
sea; and she there shouted, saying: "O Sapling, what, moreover, is the
reason that thou hast done this thing in this manner? Thou shouldst pity me,
verily, in that the sun should continue to pass thence, going thither [in
its orbit, giving day and night]." He, Sapling, said nothing. She said this
three times in succession. Now she exclaimed: "O thou, Fox, effuse thy
orenda to cause the sun to pass habitually thence, going thither."

Fox said nothing in reply. Thrice, too, did she repeat this speech. Now,
again, she said: "O thou, Fisher, effuse thy orenda whereby thou canst make
the sun to pass habitually thence, going thither." He said nothing. Thrice
did she repeat this saying. And all the other persons, too, said nothing.
She said: "O thou, Beaver, thou shouldst at this time have pity on me; do
thou effuse thy orenda; moreover, thou hast the potence to cause the sun to
pass thence habitually, going thither." He said nothing. Thrice, too, did
she repeat this speech. All said nothing. Now, there was there a person, a
man-being, whose orenda she overmatched. She said: "O thou, Otter, thou art
a fine person, do thou effuse thy orenda wherein thou hast the potence to
ordain [forethink] that the sun thence shall come to pass, going thither."
He said: "So be it." Instantly accompanying it was her word, saying: "I am
thankful." At that time Beaver said: "Now, verily, it is a direful thing,
wherein thou hast done wrong." And now, moreover, he took the paddle out of
the water and with it he struck poor Otter in the face, flattening his face
thereby.

As soon as they arrived home Sapling said: "I am pleased that now we have
returned well and successful. Now, I will fasten it up high; on high shall
the sun remain fixed hereafter." At that time he then said: "Now, the sun
shall pass over the sky that is visible. It shall continue to give light to
the earth." Thus, moreover, it too came to pass in regard to the nocturnal
light orb [the moon].

Now, Sapling traveled over the visible earth. There was in one place a river
course, and he stood beside the river. There he went to work and he formed
the body of a human man-being. a He completed his body and then he blew into
his mouth. Thereupon, the human man-being became alive. Sapling said: "Thou
thyself ownest all this that is made." So, now, verily, he repeatedly looked
around, and there was there a grove whose fruit was large, and there,
moreover, the sound of the birds talking together was great. So, now came
another thing. Thus, in his condition he watched him, and he thought that,
perhaps, he was lonesome. Now, verily, he again went to work, and he made
another human man-being. Next in time he made a human woman-being. He
completed her body, and then he blow into her mouth, and then she, too,
became alive. He said, addressing the male man-being: "Now, this woman-being
and thou marry. Do thou not ever cause her mind to be grieved. Thou must at
all times hold her dear." At that time he said, addressing her who was
there: "This human man-being and thou now marry. Thou must hold him dear.
And ye two shall abide together for a time that will continue until death
shall separate you two. Always ye two must hold one the other dear. Ye two
must care for the grove bearing large fruit. For there are only a few trees
that belong to you two." He said: "Moreover, do ye two not touch those which
do not belong to you two. Ye two will do evil if it so be that you two touch
those which do not belong to you two."

Thus, in this manner, they two remained together, the man-being paying no
attention to the woman-being. The male human man-being cared not for the
female human man-being. Customarily, they two laid themselves down and they
two slept. Now sometime afterward, he who had completed their bodies was
again passing that way, and, seeing the condition of things, thought of what
he might do to arouse the minds of the two persons. Then he went forward to
the place where lay the male person sleeping, and having arrived there he
removed a rib from the male person, and then, next in turn, he removed a
small rib from the sleeping female man-being. And now, changing the ribs, he
placed the rib of the woman-being in the male human man-being, and the rib
of the male human man-being he set in the human woman-being. He changed both
alike. At that timer the woman-being awoke. As soon as she sat up she at
once seized the place where was fixed the rib that had been hers. And, as
soon as, she did this, then the man-being, too, awoke. And now verily, they
both addressed words the one to the other. Then Sapling was highly pleased.
He said: "Now I tell you both that, in peace, without ceasing ye both must
hold one the other dear. Thou wilt do evil shouldst thou address unkind
words to the one who abides with thee in this particular place. And, next in
turn, he addressed the male human man-being, saying: "Do not thou ever come
to dislike her with whom thou dost abide. The two human man-beings that I
have made are sufficient. The ohwachira [blood-family, offspring of one
mother] which ye two will produce will fill the whole earth." Then he again
separated from them. It thus came to pass that he noticed that his brother,
Flint, was at work far away. Then he ordered one, saying: "Go thou after him
who is at work yonder; he is my brother, Flint." At that time a person went
thither, and said: "i have come for thee. Thy brother, Sapling, has sent me
to bring thee with me. Then Flint said: "I am at work. By and by I shall
complete it, and then, and not before, will I go thither." He again
departed. He arrived home, and moreover, he brought word that Flint had
said, "I am at work. I shall complete it by and by, and then, not before,
will I go thither to that place." He said: "Go thou thither again. I have a
matter about which I wish to converse with him." Again he arrived there, and
he said: "He would that thou and he should talk together." He replied,
saying: "Verily, I must first complete my work, and not until that time will
I go thither." Then he again departed thence. Again he arrived home, and he
said: "He yonder did not consent to come." At that time Sapling said: "He
himself, forsooth, is a little more important than I. Moreover, I verily
shall go thither." Thereupon Sapling went to that place. Flint did not
notice it. When he arrived there, he said: "Thou art working for thyself,
art thou, in thy work?" He replied, saying: "I am working. I desire to
assist thee, for that it will take a long time for the man-beings to become
numerous, since thou hast made only two." At that time Sapling said:
"Verily, as a matter of fact, the two man-beings that I have completed are
sufficient. And, in so far as thou art concerned, thou art not able to make
a human man-being. Look! Verily, that which thou believest to be a man-being
is not a true one." He saw standing there a long file of things which were
not man-beings. There sat the beast with the face of a man-being, a monkey;
a there next to him sat the ape; a and there sat the great horned owl. And
there were other things also seated there. Then they all changed, and the
reason of it is that they were not man-beings. Sapling said, when he
overmatched their orenda: "Verily, it is good that thou, Flint, shouldst
cease thy work. It is a direful thing, verily, that has come to pass." He
did not consent to stop. Then Sapling said: "It is a marvelously great
matter wherein thou hast erred in not obeying me when I forbade thy
working." At that time Flint said: "I will not stop working, because I
believe that it is necessary for me to work." Then Sapling said: "Moreover,
I now forsake thee. Hence wilt thou go to the place where the earth is
divided in two. Moreover, the place whither thou wilt go is a fine place."

At that time he cast him down, and he fell backward into the depths of the
earth. There a fire was burning, and into the fire he fell supine; it was
exceedingly hot. After awhile Flint said: "Oh, Sapling! Thou wouldst
consent, wouldst thou not, that thou and I should converse once more
together?" Sapling replied, saying: "Truly, it shall thus come to pass.
Moreover, I will appoint the place of meeting to be the place where the
earth is divided in two." And Flint was able to come forth from the fire. At
that time then Sapling went thither, going to the point designated by him.
He arrived there, and, moreover, he stood there and looked around him. He
looked and saw afar a cloud floating away whereon Flint was standing.
Sapling said: "What manner of thing has come to pass that thou art departing
hence away?"

Flint answered: "I myself did not will it." Sapling said: "Do thou come
thence, hitherward." At that time the cloud that was floating away returned,
and again approached the place where Sapling stood. Then this one said: "How
did it happen that it started away?", Flint, replying, said: "It is not
possible that I personally should have willed it." Sapling rejoined: "How
did it happen that thou didst not will it?" Then Flint said: "I did not do
that." Sapling said: "It is true that it is impossible for thee to do it.
Moreover, thou and I, verily, are again talking together. What kind of thing
desirest thou? What is it that thou needest, that thou and I should again
converse together?" Flint then said: "It is this; I thought that, perhaps,
thou wouldst consent that the place where I shall continue to be may be less
rigorous. And thou didst say: 'Thou art going to a very fine place.' And I
desire that the place where thou wilt again put me be less rigorous than the
former." Sapling said: "It shall thus come to pass. I had hoped that, it may
be, thou wouldst say, 'I now repent.' As a matter of fact it did not thus
come to pass. Thy mind is unchanged. So, now, I shall again send thee hence.
I shall send thee to the bottom of the place where it is hot." Now, at that
time his body again fell downward. The place where he fell was exceedingly
hot. At that time Sapling said:. "Not another time shalt thou come, forth
thence." Then Sapling bound poor Flint with a hair. And he bound him with it
that he should remain in the fire as long as the earth shall continue to be.
Not until the time arrives when the earth shall come to an end will he then
again break the bonds. Then Sapling departed thence.

Moreover, it is said that this Sapling, in the manner in which he has life,
has this to befall him recurrently, that he becomes old in body, and that
when, in fact, his body becomes ancient normally, he then retransforms his
body in such wise that he becomes a new man-being again and again recovers
his youth, so that one would think that he had just then grown to the size
which a man-being customarily has when he reaches the youth of man-beings,
as manifested by the change of voice at the age of puberty.

Moreover, it is so that continuously the orenda immanent in his body--the
orenda with which he suffuses his person, the orenda which he projects or
exhibits, through which he is possessed of force and potency--is ever full,
undiminished, and all-sufficient; and, in the next place, nothing that is
otkon a or deadly, nor, in the next place, even the Great Destroyer, otkon
in itself and faceless, has any effect on him, he being perfectly immune to
its orenda; and, in the next place, there is nothing that can bar his way or
veil his faculties.

Moreover, it is verily thus with all the things that are contained in the,
earth here present, that they severally retransform or exchange their
bodies. It is thus with all the things [zoic] that sprout and grow, and, in
the next place, with all things [actively zoic] that produce themselves and
grow, and, in the next place, at, the man-beings. All these are affected in
the same manner, that they severally transform their bodies, and, in the
next place, that they (actively zoic) retransform their bodies, severally,
without cessation.