402 ZUNl CREATION MYTHS. [eth.ann. 13 



Then there is Pi'hlan Shiwani (Bow Priest-warrior). So cowardly 

 he that he dodges behind ladders, thinking them tree.s no donbt, and 

 lags after all the others, whenever frightened, even at a fluttering leaf 

 or a crijjpled sj)ider, and looks in every direction but the straight one, 

 whenever danger threatens! 



There is fishotsi (the Bat) who can see better in the sunlight than 

 any of them, but would maim himself in a shadow, and will avoid a hole 

 in the ground as a woman would a dark place, even were it no bigger 

 than a beetle burrow. 



Also there is Muiyapona (Wearer of the Eyelets of Invisibility). He 

 has horns like the catfish, and is knobbed like a bludgeon-squash. 

 But he never by any chance disappears, even when he hides his head 

 behind a ladder rung or turkey quill, yet thinks himself quite out 

 of sight. And he sports with his countenance as though it were as 

 smooth as a damsel's. 



There is Potsoki (the Pouter), who does little but laugh and look 

 bland, for grin he can not; and his younger brother, Nii'hlashi (Aged 

 Buck), who is the biggest of them all, and what with having grieved 

 and nearly rubbed his eyes out (when his younger brother was cap- 

 tured and carried off by the K 'y^mak'yakwe or Snail Ka'ka of the 

 South), looks as ancient as a horned toad; yet he is as frisky as a 

 fawn, and giggles like a girl ; yea, and bawls as lustily as a smalt boy 

 playing games. 



The next brother, Itseposa (the Glum or Aggrieved), mourned also 

 for his nearest brother, who was stolen by the Ka'ka, too, until his eyes 

 were dry utterly and his chin cha])ped to protrusion; but nathless 

 he is lively and cheerful and ever as ready indeed as the most complai- 

 sant of beings. 



K'yii'lutsi (the Suckling) and Tsa'hliishi (Old-youth), the youngest, 

 are the most wilfully important of the nine, always advising others 

 and strutting like a young priest in his first dance, or like unto the 

 jouthful warrior made too aged-thinking and self-notioned with early 

 honoring. 



And while the father stands dazed, with his head bowed and his 

 hands clasped before him or like to broken bows hanging by his sides, 

 these children romp and play (as he and his sister did when turned 

 childish), and verily are like to idiots, or to dotards and crones turned 

 young again, inconstant as laughter, startled to new thought by every 

 flitting thing around them; but, in the presence of the Kii'ka of old, 

 they are grave what though so uncouth. And they are the oracles of 

 all olden sayings of deep meanings; wherefore they are called the 

 Ka'yemashi (Husbandmen of the Ka'ka or sacred drama-dance); and 

 they are spoken of, even by the Fathers of the People, as the A'hliishi 

 Tsewashi (Sages of the Ancients). And most precious in the sight of 

 the beings and of men are they! But for their birth and the manner 

 thereof, it is said that all had been difi'ereut; for from it many things 



