THE MYTH OF THE EARTH-GRASPER 



[i. e., of De'hae°'hiyawa"kho"''] 



Thus verily it came to pass in ancient times. This is the manner 

 in which the earth formed itself and became in this place. Here in 

 this very place was the home of a kindred group who were at all times 

 few in number, and they had no one who had mystic power who could 

 have been able to outraagic the orenda of whatever kind of thing or 

 being might put in an appearance on the earth. Always, then, also 

 it was so with them that one would think they were very destitute. 



That was the cause then that the Elder One decided to make the 

 attempt to do in the manner of the saying of the time that if one is 

 down-fended that one has mystic power and can not fail in anything, 

 because indeed one is a wizard. He himself, De'hae'"hyondy6'so°k, 

 the Elder Man Ln his kindred group, had two sisters' children. One 

 of the children was a man child and the other was a woman child in 

 her turn. And that came to pass that the Elder Man said, "That 

 verily so it is, is the custom from early times, and then you two 

 children, of whom I am your uncle (mother's brother), that then I 

 make a rule for you two, and that is that I will conceal your persons 

 during the period of your youthhood. Never shall a human being 

 see you until the time that you two grow to manhood and woman- 

 hood, and not until then shall you two mingle among people." 



Then he concealed their bodies, the old man saying, " And that 

 state to which I give you up is called by the name down-fended. 

 And that signifies that you two shall possess goodness of mind and 

 that then you two shall not have any stain on you of evil. That 

 then shall take place with regard to my life. We shall not again see 

 one another, and the reason that this shall come to pass is that 

 there is a matter outstanding of ill omen toward me. That then 

 shall take place when I will die that my body shall lie at the top of 

 the very highest tree; thereon shall my body lie. Then no one 

 dwelling in this place will be able to enchant me. 



"That moreover shall be that whichever one of these you two 

 persons, of whom I am your mother's brother, will feel the need 

 perhaps of hearing my voice again, it will be possible that that shall 

 take place." 



Then the smaller of these two children, the woman child, she 

 began to weep, saying, "In what manner of way shall I do to see 

 thee again, my mother's brother? Not very well, poor me, can I be 

 able to climb the place where you shall be?" 



At that time the Elder Man said, " Thou shalt be able indeed if 

 thou shalt be a good child." At that time they separated. 

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