412 ZUNI CREATION MYTHS. [eth.ann. 13 



And worshipped of mortals 

 For keeping unbroken 

 The Tale of Creation, 

 Yea, all we shall tell thee 

 Of past days and future. 



So said Pdutiwa, cloud-sender and sun-priest of souls, and his 

 brothers younger of the regions all, joined in so saying. 



Then K'yiik'lu sat him down and bowed his head, and calling to the 

 Duck, who had guided him, stretched forth his hand and upon it she 

 settled, as upon a wave-crest or a wood bough. 



THE COUNCIL OF THE KA'KA, AND THE INSTRUCTION OF 

 K'YAK'LU BY THE GODS. 



The gods sent forth their runners, the Sillamopia and the timid, 

 fleet-footed Hehea, to summon all beings, and then, gathering them- 

 selves in a sacred soug-circle, called in from the several chambers dancers 

 in semblance of the Ka'kokshi, or Dance of Good. And with these 

 came, behold ! the little ones who had sunk beneath the waters, well and 

 beautiful and all seeming wonderfully clad in cotton mantles and pre- 

 cious neck jewels. And these played, sad only with the sadness of their 

 mothers, but resting therefrom when in dreams, above, these rested. 



And when the dancers i>aused, the.gods turned to K'yiik'lu and said: 

 "Lo! we begin, given thou be ready." 



And K'yiik'lu said : " It is well ; I am ready ; yea, even my heart listen- 

 eth," and iu cadence to their speech following, he moved the Duck with 

 her tinkling, talking shells, as a master of song moves his baton, or a 

 dancer his rattle, and iu solemn, ceaseless tone, as iu singing yet with 

 speech more steady, the gods, one by one, told to K'yiik'lu the things 

 each best knew, whereof he so wondrously speaks when come amongst 

 us for the welfare of our little children, bringing them the sacred breath 

 of the Ka'kii itself, and to their elders these same speeches of the gods. 



When, after long time, they had done, they further charged him 

 ■with a message of comfort to the mourning mothers, and with com- 

 mandments and instructions to men and the beings. 



Then they brought forth the sacred cigarette, and the master priest- 

 gods smoked in relationship with K'yiik'lu to all the six regions, and, 

 rising, he was led iu turn to the portal of each chamber, first to the 

 noi-thern, then to the western, southern, eastern, upper, and lower, and 

 he placed his fingers on the sill of each, thf i in aftertiines he should 

 know, though but dim of sight, or in the dark, the places of worship 

 (which men built then but poorly ) from others, and in such alone, and 

 to chosen few who hold the rites of the Kii'ka, should therein tell and 

 do the customs and words of the gods and tell of other such like pre- 

 cious ancient things. 



Then the Sil'lamopia lifted the ladder and guided upward K'yak'lu 

 and the Duck, showing them safely to the shore of the lake. When 



