416 . ZUNI CREATION MYTHS. |eth.axn. 13 



Long did the people abide therein, prosperously; but with waxing 

 ever wiser and stronger their condition changed, so that little suited to 

 it — with their tails and beast clothing — were our wonderful, magical, 

 yet rude, ugly fathers. Being beast-like, they were sore inconven- 

 ienced both at home and abroad, in the chase or at war; for now and 

 again they still in their wanderings met older nations of men and man- 

 beings, with whom they needs must strive, so they thought, forsooth, 

 thereby gaining naught save great danger with increase of anger and 

 stubbornness. Thus, not any longer in fear only of the gods and great 

 monsters, but in fear now of the wars they themselves provoked, con- 

 tending the world with their own kind and with man-beings, changed 

 yet otherwise were they. Of the elders of all their folk-kins the gods 

 therefore called a council. 



THE WARNING-SPEECH OF THE GODS, AND THE UNTAILING OF 



MEN. 



"Changed, verily and yet more changed shall ye be, oh our chil- 

 dren !" cried the Twain gods in such fashion and voice that none failed 

 of heeding in all that great council : 



Men now, shall ye be, 



Like the men of first nations, 



Like the perfect Corn Maidens ; 



Walking straight in tlie pathways 



And full in the sunlight; 



Clothed in garments, and tailless 



(That ye straight sit in council 



And stand the more seemly). 



And your feet shall be webless. 



And hands void of talons, 



Yet full-furnished, for fighting. 



Then ranged were the clans 



In processions like dancers; 

 First, the fronts of their faces 



Were shorn of their forelocks 

 By the Twain with their weapons, 



And fires of the lightning, 

 That the Sun on his journeys 



Might know them, his children, 

 And warn them of shame. 



Again in processions. 

 Their t.alons were severed 



And webbed fingers slitted; 

 And again in processions 



Their webbed toes were parted 

 With the knives of the lightnings. 



Then sore was the wounding 

 And loud cried the foolish ; 



But the Gods bade them " bear if 

 That they and their children 

 " Be fitter as men." 



