ECSSELL] MYTHS 215 



up in his hand and tlirow thorn over the mountain. That made tlieni 

 angry, anil that is wliy they have always been so fierce. 



These were the Indian people of which there were four tribes: 

 Tlie Wii-aki Ap," the Apaches, the Maricopas, and, lastly, the Pinias, 

 though they were given superior qualities — such as a knowledge of 

 the seasons, the power to bring down rain from the sky, the ability 

 to cure sickness, and the like. 



These people occujiied this country from that time forward and 

 multiplied in numliers. The Yimias and Maricopas were at first 

 united, but the Maricopas left the Yumas and joined the Pimas, 

 finally settling in the Salt Kiver valley, where they formed perma- 

 nent settlements. They tried to build canals, but were not successfid, 

 on account of the hard rocks and soil. 



The Maricopas asked Elder Brother for advice or assistance. He 

 caused the ground to become soft for a while, but it hardened again, 

 and upon being a])pcaled to a second time he said he could do no 

 more for them, but told them to go and see Toa'koa-atam Aks, 

 White-eater-old-woman, Elder Brother's sister, who also had great 

 power. She finished all the work in a single night, but Elder Brother 

 refused to do anything more for the people. From that time on he 

 began to do mischief, such as marrying the young women and then 

 deserting them for others. The people began to be jealous of him 

 and planned to destroy him. 



For a time after the creation of the four tribes of men and the 

 animals they were confined in a great house together. Rattlesnake 

 was there, and was known as Ma'ik Sol'atc, Soft Child. The people 

 liked to hear him rattle, and little rest or peace could he obtain because 

 of their continual prodding and scratching. Unable to endure it 

 longer, he went at last to Elder Brother to ask help of him. Elder 

 Brother took pity upon him and pulled a hair from his own lip to cut 

 in .short pieces to serve as teeth for Soft Child. "Now," said he, "if 

 anyone bothers you again, bite him." In the evening TS,-api, Rabbit, 

 came to Soft Child as he sat at the door and scratched him as he had 

 so often done before. Soft Child raised his head and bit his tor- 

 mentor as Elder Brother had instructed him to do. Feeling the bite, 

 Rabbit scratched SoftCliild again, and again was bitten; then he ran 

 about telling that Soft Child was angry and had bitten him twice. 

 Again he went to him and again he was bitten twice. During the 

 night his body swelled and the fever came upon him. All through 

 the dark hours he suffered and throughout the next day; often he 

 called to those around him to prepare a place that might give him 

 rest. No bed that they could make brought any ease to his stricken 

 frame. He asked for sea sand that he might lie upon it and cool his 



a " Go in Ap." An unknown tribe that is believed by the Pimas to have lived somewhere in the 

 northw^est, perhaps the lluahipis [Walapai.] 



