394 ZUXI CREATION MYTHS. [eth.anx.13 



were likeued to the seven bright stars ami iire sung of in the songs of 

 the Seed people and told of in their stories. They, too, were chosen . 

 and breathed upon by all the fathers and matrons of the Seed, and 

 with the youth Yi'ipotuluha, instructed in the precious rites and incan- 

 tations of their custom. And during all the time of preparation rain 

 fell as before, only gently and warm, and on the eighth day the matrons 

 and fathers led the maidens aiul youtli, all beautifully arrayed, down 

 into the plain before the bower where watched the people and grew 

 the grasses. And there they danced and were breathed of the sacred 

 medicine seeds. All through the night backward and forward danced 

 they to the song line of the elders, and in accordance therewith by 

 the side of the growing plants, motioning them upward with their 

 magic wands and plumes, as we, with implements of husbandry, 

 encourage the growth upward of the corn plants today. As time 

 went on, the matron of the dance led the youth and the first maiden 

 apart, and they grasped, one on either side, the first plants, dancing 

 around chem, gently drawing them upward as they went, even as the 

 Two Beloved had caused to grow the canes of the under- world. So 

 also did the youth and each maiden in turn grasp the other idants in 

 their turn, until all had grown to the tallness of themselves and were 

 jointed where they had grasped them; yea, and leaved as with waving 

 plumes of the macaw himself. And now, in tlie night, the keepers 

 of the great shells (of the Badger kin), brought forth fire with their 

 hands from roots, and kindled it in front of the bower toward the east, 

 that its heat might take the jjlace of the Sun and its light shine brightly 

 on the dancers, making their acts verily alive; and as the dawu 

 approached, the youth and first maiden were led apart as before by the 

 Mother-making matron, and together embraced the first of the full 

 grown plants, and so, in turn, the youth and each of the other maidens 

 embraced the other plants. 



And as they embraced the first plant, the fire flamed brightly, with 

 the first catching and flush of the wood, and yellow was its light; and 

 as they embraced the second plant, the flames were burning smokily with 

 the fuller grasping of the wood, and blue was the light; and as they 

 were embracing the third plant, the fire reaehed its fullness of masterj^ 

 over the wood, and red was its light; and as they were embracing the 

 fourth plant, the fire was fumeless and triumphant over the wood, and 

 white was its light; and as they were embracing the fifth plant, the fire 

 gave up its breatli in clouds of sparks, and streaked, of many colors, 

 was its light; and as they were embracing the sixth plant, the fire 

 swooned and slept, giving more heat, as 'twere, than light, thus somber 

 was the light, yet, as they were embracing the seventh plant, it 

 wakened afresh, did the fire, in the wind of the morning, and glowed 

 as does the late fire of the wanderer, with a light of all the colors. 



Now, when the day dawned, lo ! where the mid-persons of the youth 

 and the maidens had touched most unitedly and warmly tlie iilants. 



