430 ZUXI CRKATION MYTHS. [eth.ann. 13 



earthquake; even the keepers of tlie great navel-shell were summoned 

 as having canny aud magic skill. And as now we do in observing the 

 custom of the Middle-arriving, all the people fastiug, all the fires close 

 kept, so then, for ten days they made ready, and on the last night the 

 shell was laid by the sacred fire in Hein Kiwitsiua of the i^"orth, and 

 watched all the night through, by its keepers and tlie fathers foremost, 

 and the I'riests of the Bow. Meanwhile the incantations of dread 

 meaning, taught of the Twain in Hanthlipiijk'ya, were chanted, yet the 

 world only rumbled deeply and afar down, but it trembled not, neither 

 did the Seven Fell Ones breathe destruction — only storms. Then, said 

 the fathers, " O, thanks! In peace-expecting mood may we kindle 

 afresh the fires of our hearths for the year that is dawning.'' And they 

 sent forth new fire to all houses, causing the old to be cast out as is 

 seen and known to us all in the custom of this day of the Middle- 

 arriving! 



So, happily abode the people, they and their brothers round about 

 them at the Middle, for surely now the sacred things were resting over 

 the stable middle of the world, and were the foundations of HiUona 

 Itiwana or the Midmost place of Favor (or fortune). 



THE CHERISHING OF THE CORN MAIDENS AND THEIR CUSTOM 



AS OF OLD. 



jSTow when thus, after long ages of wandering, the tabernacles of 

 the precious seed-things were resting over the Middle at Zuiii (they, 

 the fathers of the people and also the Corn tribes and their other chil- 

 dren), then, as in the olden time, men turned their hearts rather to the 

 cherishing of their corn and Corn maidens than to the wasting of lives 

 in war with strange men and the Akaka. Again they loved, cheerfully 

 too, the custom of the beautiful Corn maidens, and this, year after year, 

 they practiced that the seed of seeds might ever be renewed and its 

 abundance be maintained. 



THE MURMURING OF THE FOOLISH ANENT THE CUSTOM OF THE 



CORN MAIDENS. 



And whereas this was well, yet, forsooth ! there were not wanting 

 those who grew weary of the custom at last, aud said that it was not 

 as in the olden time it bad been. Then, said they, the fathers of the 

 people had performed their custom, and the fathers of the people of 

 Dew theirs, the one awaiting the other, as it were, and both joining in 

 the sight of the people all. Others said that the music was not as that 

 of the olden time; that better far was that wliich of nights they some- 

 times heard (oftener toward morning) as they wandered up and down 

 the trail by the river; wonderful music this, as of liquid voices in 

 caverns or the echo of women's laughter in water- vases. And this 

 music, they said, was timed with a deep-toned drum, and seemed to 

 come forth from the very bowels of the Mountain of Thunder. Lo ! 



