BEwiTTl MYTH OF THE EARTH-GRASPER 473 



thou didst send me, for that thou desirest that her offspring should 

 come and be present at thy feast?" Then this Hoda"he' said, 

 "Now verily all, as many as dwell here, have paid a visit here. So 

 then not one of thy family has yet paid a visit to this place. It is 

 possible, I think, that j'ou and they have the power to give the answer 

 to the workings of my mind." 



Then this woman said, "What persons then are they whom you 

 say have visited this place?" Then this Hoda"he' said, "I believe 

 now that all persons have been here. Now verily those who have 

 been here are the Sun (the globe of day) and the Moon (the globe of 

 night) and the Star and the Tree and the Bush and the Grass and 

 the Animals and the Birds (flyers) and those who run about over 

 the earth and the Springs of Water and the Flowing Waters and the 

 Light and the Clouds and the Corn and the Squash and the Tobacco 

 and the Night and the Daylight and the Thunders and the Water 

 and the Meteor or Fu-e Dragon and the Blue Sky and the Air. And 

 that is the reason I think all have now come. There is verily only 

 one still lacking. The Wind has not yet visited this place, of all 

 those who have been here. And I desire that that perhaps should 

 come to pass that one should reveal to me my word. I intend prob- 

 ably that I will thrust through the ground all the things which this 

 place holds, and this shall take place because now, it is known, verily 

 they have failed to aid me here in tliis world. 



"It is probable, now, it will be possible that it will aid the others, 

 the new things that will sprout up of all those things which have life 

 which are not subject to the lethal powers of the earth. 



"That then will come to pass here on this earth. All shall be 

 changed, new things in their turn will sprout up." Then this woman 

 replied, "I suppose that it will not be long when the time will come 

 if, as you know, it may be done in turn, that my several offspring 

 should seek to reveal thy word. I have two children, and the only 

 thing is that they are still small children." 



Then this Hoda"he' spoke, saying, "Just so, too, it will be all right. 

 I will verily wait." Then he continued and he again gave utterance 

 to his voice, saying, "Look thou verily at the space of time that 

 this standing tree still has; now verily all its blossoms are in bloom, 

 and until the time comes that these blossoms fall off, that is the term 

 when this my feast will come to an end. And the only thing that 

 keeps things in good order is that those who are enjoying themselves 

 give diversion to my mind." 



Then the woman said, "Now then I will return to my home. 

 That then shall come to pass. Truly, I suppose, my two children 

 shall make the attempt when I think that the time has come." 

 Then, of course, she went home. 

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