388 ZUNI CREATION MYTHS. [ETu.Aira.lJ 



kwe or the Great Knife i)eople, makers aud defenders of pathways for 

 the people; and Newe-kwe, keepers of magic medicines aud knowl- 

 edge invincible of poison and other evil, whose first great father was 

 Paiyatiima, God of Dew aud the Dawn, himself. Out of these and 

 of other clans were formed in later days by wisdom of the Father of 

 Medicines aud Kites (the great Poshaiyaijk'ya, when he returned, all 

 as is told in otlier talk of our oldeu speech) all other societies, both 

 that of the Middle, aud tbe Twain for each of all the other six regious 

 {tem'halatekwiwe,) the Tabooed and Sacred Thirteen. But when all 

 was new, men did not know the meanings of their possessions, or even 

 of the commaudmeuts [haitoshnrnve) ; even as children know not the 

 l)rayers {teusupenawe). These they must first be taught, that in later 

 days, when there is need therefor, tliey may know them and not be 

 poor. 



THE UNRIPENESS AND INSTABILITY OF THE WORLD WHEN 



STILL YOUNG. 



As it was with men and the creatures, so with the world; it was 

 young and unripe {1cH/aii/Hna). Unstable its surface was, like that 

 of a marsh; dank, even the high places, like the floor of a cavern, so 

 that seeds dropped on it sprang forth, aud even the substance of offal 

 became growing things. 



Earthquakes shook the world and rent it. Beings of sorcery, 

 demons and monsters of the under-world fled forth. Creatures turned 

 fierce, becoming beasts of prey, wherefore others turned timid, becom- 

 iug their quarry; wretchedness aud hunger abounded, black magic, 

 war, and contention entered when fear did into the hearts of men and 

 the creatures. Yea, fear was everywhere among them, wherefore, 

 everywhere the people, hugging in dread their precious possessions, 

 became wanderers they, living on the seeds of grasses, eaters of dead 

 and slain things! Yet still, they were guided by the Two Beloved, 

 ever in the direction of the east, told and taught that they must seek, 

 in the light and under the jjathway of the Sun, the middle of the 

 world, over which alone could they find the earth stable, or rest them 

 and bide them in jieace. 



THE HARDENING, OF THE \A^ORLD, AND THE FIRST SETTLE- 

 MENT OF MEN. 



When the tremblings grew stilled for a time, the people were bidden 

 to gather and pause at the First of Sitting places, which was named 

 K'^yatiwankwi (Place of upturning or elevation). Yet still poor and 

 defenseless and unskilled were the children of men, still moist and 

 ever-anon unstable the world they abode in. Still also, great demons 

 aud monsters of prey fled violently forth in times of earthquake (dnu- 

 kwaik^yanalch/a) and menaced »11 wanderers and tiinid creatures. 

 Therefore the Beloved Twain took counsel one with the other and with 



