The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-24
AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY,
RELIGION AND ROMANCE :
Tales of Creation and of
Legendary Heroes.
FROM THE INDIANS IN CALIFORNIA.
MEx1co. AND GUATEMALA.
ny JEREMIAH CURTIN.
Copyright. 1890, bv Jeremiah Curtin.

II IA worthy of note that wnidadikit, who
called the great assembly, has become a trout.
q dwoller In water, and that Hnwt, tho great
musician, Is identified with water In q spe.
cial and peculiar manner.
In the Yana mythology IInwt, who Ia called
Tirdkala tlamrrey cell, widcncd the spaces
between mountains, dcepened the valleys,
made oil kinds OF streams, rivers. and swamps.
lie snng always whilo no labored. never rested,
and nevor ate. His two grent assistants wero
Hapawlla, now n water snake. and P6kalai
Jawichi. now n water lizard.
Tir1kala or IIawt was simply u form to rep
resent water in action. the Water of the World
in one place and person visible at ono timo to n
single spectator.
In Wintu Hawt WINS represented rs in this
case making music with his wi body, just
as water does. Never has there been on earth
80 great a musician rs water, II II DO consid-
cred in its ~totnlity and represented as a sin
gle person or entity.
The name Wnidadikit is made UP Of waida.
in the far north. dikIt. to steal up In the night
to attack a sleeping person.
HAwT CLAMPREY EEL.
On tho south side of Bohem Puyuk [Grcat
Mountain is n small mountain called Tedo
Puyuk tRed Mountainl. Near that small
mountain lived Waidadikit Kiemila dolly VAR
den trout old mani. He lived all alone, with
out neighbors. There was no house near his.
lie lived long in that place. thinking what was
best to be done. thinking, thinking. After a
great while ho thought: THE best thing to do
is to build a sweat house"
He built a sweat house about a mile west
of where he WAS living. When he had fin
ished this house he took n kind of.red earth
and painted the eastern half of the house red
on the outside. The western half no painted
green with paint made from leaves OF bushes.
After he had painted the western half all the
different kinda OF bushes whose leaves he had
used for paint grew out of that side OF tho
sweat house.
The sweat house ives ready for use now. and
Waldndikit went to see q man, Tsnroki Snka
acknowledgement snakel, who lived further
south.
My grandson said Wa,Gadikit. II wish
you would come up and stay with me. l have
no one TO keep me company. wish you would
come and live In my house."
II will go with you" said Tsaroki Saka, and
he went to live with the old man.
Waidadikit had not told Tsaroki of building
the sweat house, aud he took him to the old
house. After two or three nights Waidadi-
kit said:
My grandson, what shall we dor What
would you like to dor What will be best for
us7 We must talk about something. There
should be something for us to talk about. We
must have something to say"
We'll" said Tsaroki. II think that which
you want is best; you want TO see somebody,
gee something. ! think that Is what you want.
l think l know what you want. The best way
to get what you want is to build a sweat
house."
That is wise talk, my grandson l like to
hear you say It. l have q sweat house built
all finished"
where is it?" asked Tsaroki.
II will show 1t to you soon,'' ans xered Wal
dadikit.
Putting his hand behind him he picked up a
small basket, took out yellow paint with his
thumb and forefinger, and drew a yellow
streak from Tsaroki's head down his back.
young man had been pure green: now
there was yellow on his back. Next Waidadi-
kit took n not woven OF grass fibre, like a wo-
mans hair net, and put 1t on Tsaroki's head.
''You are ready now" said he. Then he led
him out of the house and said, pointing to the
Look! There is our sweat house. Now,
my grandson, l am going to take you to that
house. The east side is painted red. When we
are there don't you go near the sweat house on
this eastern side; pass by. but not too near. n
lltLlo way OH. men we ED III i Will tukS
the eastern half and stay on that side; you will
take the other half and stay on the western
eide, where there Is green paint. That is
where you are to lie, on the green side"
They started. Tho old man walked ahead.
Whom they went in waidadikit took the east
ern half of the house and Tsaroki the western.
The young man sat down, and then Waidadikit
took a pipe which was In the sweat house.
MY grandson" said he, you will find o
pipe right there on your side of the house md
n sack OF tobacco. You may smoke IL you
have the wish"
Tsaroki took the pipe. looked at It. liked It
well. This pipe was from Waihola Puyuk
Northern Pipe Mountain.l When he inhaled
the smoke and pulled It out the first time It
Allied the whole house so that nothing could DO
seen. Waidadikit put his head outside the
door. There was smoke everywhere outside.
He could see nothing. Then he turned back
and said:
MY grandson, you are a good man. You
are a strong man. You smoke well. This
will do for the first time"
IF he does that again" thought the old man,
there will DO nothing seen In this world; all
be in smoke" and he said: "You are Il
strong man that is enough for this time"
~ would like to know why he says. That is
enough I'd like TO know what he wan.s to
10 with me-" thought Tsaroki. Maybe lie Is
trying me In some way"
MY grandson said the old man after "a
while. II should like to see somebody. | should
ike to see something, see people. have fun lad
games OF some sort"
~ should like TO see them too" ans wered
rsaroki; II should like TO 500 them, my grand
'ather. You ara older than /; II you tell me
What TO do l will do It,"
MY grandson. can you play anythingH"
IL should like to play II you would teach
ne, " said Tsaroki.
The old man put his hand behind him for "A
Of things, drew out a flute and save II
% Tsaroki. who took II quickly, he was so glad.
lie snt down, crossed his legs, and before ha
lad blown into tho flute, before he had brought
I to his lips, beautiful sounds came out.
The young man was glad, wonderfully glad.
The old man, who sat looking at hun, asked:
How do you like tho tiute2"
II like II WE'LL" said Tsaroki.
II am glad TO hear you play, my grandson;
am glad when you do something good. When
was young | used 10 say nice things, ! used