The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-29

present race Of men the tales have IN view In
dians only. This first people lived in harmony
for a period Of Indefinite, unimaglnable dura.
ton, without division or dissension, undirer.
entiated, so 90 speak. This was the golden age
OF existence, a nirvana preliminary to life as
we know II at present. a nirvana ~ the gods, as
the Buddhist extinction of self is TO be the mir
vana Of Just men when all shall be ono In all.
and one in one. At last n time came when
character appeared, and with II differences and
conflicts. When the conflicts were past and
the battles fought out. the majority OF the first
people were turned into oil the animated things.
walking, creeping. crawling. swimming, flying.
that have ever been seen on the earth. In the
water. or the air. They were turned also into
trees and plants ~ every kind some into heav-
emily bodies. others into remarkable stones and
rocks, Just as In the Hebrew Bible, Lots wife
was turned into a pillar Of salt.
According TO this theory every individual
existence which we see in the world around us.
is a Transformed or fallen god. Every beast,
bird. reptile, fish. insect, ur plant was at one
time n divinity " high or low degree. an I'M
created person who had lived in harmony with
his fellows from the beginning Of eternity till
the timo when variety of character, or indi-
viduality. appeared. With individuality came
conflicts; when those conflicts were over. crea-
ton was finished.
~ ~ nv VI chCn particular 'bliISt thc WV
tor turned By means OF a word the vanquished
into the thing which embodied HIS character.
The vanQuishe1 on his part had q similar com.
Polling word, aud changed his opponent into
the beast. bird. or other existence which de-
scrlbed him; in other terms. he gave his oppo-
nent the physical form. the outward seeming.
which correspondent to the nature Of his spirit.
Besides these metamOrphosed or fallen dirini-
ties, there is in the Indian mythologies a group.
a minority. which was not changed, but left
this world. going out under the sky at the
west TO live in harmony and delight. and they
live in that way yet. Sometimes this group. or
a part Of It, went % live above the sky.
The Indian creation III yths all relate TO the
adventures and exploits OF the first people. che
gods: none relate TO human beings, and none
touch on anything lone since man appeared
on earth. They are accounts OF what took
place in the world when there was an order
different from the present, and ~xplain how
the present order rose from the first.
Such, in substance. is the foundation OF
American religious sy stems. and the method
OF most of them So far a. examined. The
Wintu is different from many others in its
method. though the result Is the same.
Olelbis dispose OF the first people, retains
with himself whomsocver he likes, sends TO the
earth and transforms those whom he thinks
more useful below than above, and gives the
example Of a single ruling divinity which,
without being all powerful or NIL wise. man
ages through the knowledge and services OF
others TO bear rule over the world. The name
Olelbis is formed of OF. up; ell, in and bis. dwell
ling. or rather sitting. Olelpanti Is Olel. with
the addition Of pan. on top. and Ii. side. The two
old grandmothers. Pakchu or Pokaila, are at
present the PakChu stone, which seems OF VOL
canic origin. Pokaila means old woman.
The sweat house OF a chief among tho Wintus
was the great assembly building. All public
concerns were discussed there. The title
Hertz means a young man. Kiemile an old
man. I.oimis a young woman. Pokaila an old
woman. Pokte refers to a woman of middle
age who has children.
PERsoNAGEs.
Eau. red fox: Hilit, common house fly: Kahit. wind;
Ksisus. gray squirrel; knrili. coon. kntKatchila- swift
"a lizard kirii. loon; klabus. mole; Kuntihle, small |
fish hawk: Lutchi, hunming bird: Mem Lolmis,
water; Mem Tult. beaver: 0Ielbis. sitting on
high; Pnkchu so Pokaiia, the pakchu stone; Pat
Sotchet- badger; Poharamas. shooting star; POhila,
fire child Sosini. a small web-footed bird: Shtunut.
black eagle: Tede VIII, a small bird. Tilichi. a small
water bird; Tilikus herit. fire drill: Titrhelis. ground
squirrel: Toxic. sunhsh; T6rihas. crane: Tsaroki "a.
kahl, green snake OF quick movement ,%Tumukus,
thunder: iilahl, gopher: iohol NIT. frog; ionot PoS'
Ia, buckeye bush.