388 SKETCHES OF C RE ATI OK 



grew. Thus, verily, took place the creation as the earth 

 came into being. 'Earth,' said they; and the earth existed. 

 Like a fog, like a cloud was its formation ; as huge fishes 

 rise in the water, so rose the mountains ; and in a moment 

 the high mountains existed." 



The foregoing extract is from the history of the first cre- 

 ation. It can not be necessary to point out the parallels 

 between this passage and the pictures drawn by the classic 

 poets — especially Ovid — nor even to direct attention to the 

 points of coincidence with the Mosaic account of chaos and 

 incipient order. The following passage is from the account 

 of the fourth and last creation : 



" Hear, now, when it was first thought of man, and of 

 what man should be formed. At that time spake he who 

 gives life, and he who gives form, the Maker and Moulder, 

 named Tepen, Gucumatz : c The day draws near ; the work 

 is done ; the supporter, the servant is ennobled ; he is the 

 son of light, the child of whiteness ; man is honored ; the 

 race of man is on the earth ;' so they spake. * * * Imme- 

 diately they began to speak of making our first mother 

 and our father. Only of yellow corn and of white corn 

 were their flesh, and the substance of the arms and legs of 

 man. They were called simply beings, formed and fash- 

 ioned ; they had neither mother nor father ; we call them 

 simply men. Woman did not bring them forth, nor were 

 they born of the Builder and Moulder, of Him who fecun- 

 dates and of Him who gives being. But it was a miracle, 

 an enchantment worked by the Maker and Moulder, by 

 Him who fecundates and Him who gives being. 



" Thought was in them ; they saw ; they looked around ; 

 their vision took in all things ; they perceived the world ; 

 they cast their eyes from the sky to the earth." 



"Then they were asked by the Builder and Moulder, 

 'What think ye of your being? See ye not? Understand 



