Evening journal., 1912-07-29
QUAINT INDIAN IDEA
OF CREATION TOLD

CARLISLE, Pa, July 29.-The
quaint conception of the creation, as
It has been handed down from gener-
alton to generation by the Hopi In
dians of Arizona, has been revealed
here by Joshua Hermeysva, a hear
man and snakeman of the desert
tribe. The Hopi belief relative 10 the
origin Of the white man is both start
ling and unique.
Joshua, with 10 other Hopis, was
brought here virtually as a prisoner
of war five years ago. AT that time
he was a crude and hostile savage, a
worshipper Of the sun and sternly op-
posed TO education. The white mans
melting pot has transformed him, and
today he is a regular attendant at
Methodist Church services an admir-
Rr of the White Father at Washing
ton, and as a student has received
considerable commendation from the
Carlisle Indian School authorities.
He has acquired a liberal use Of the
English language.
AS the Hopis here are the first who
have abandoned tribal traditions and
have become acquainted with the Ian
guage of their white brothers, this is
probably the first time that the under
lying legends Of Hopi mythology have
been presented TO the world. Joshua,
as a representative Of his race, will
be studied by the Bureau of Ethnolo-
gy during the next six weeks, prior
to returning to his home in the West.
Belief Never Written.
Joshua's grandfather first told him
Of the creation, and the belief has
never been written in any language.
IL consumed the time OF many days
and nights to complete the narration
of the ancient story.
Oddly enough, the Hopi legend is
probably the only historical confirma-
ton OF the views of the unique cult
which has had its inception at Chi
cago and which is now being directed
from the coast of Florida under the
auspices of the Koreshan Unity which
AYERS that the earth is hollow.
To the Hopis the earth has always
existed, and in the beginning the tribe
lived in the middle of the earth, the
human race, instead of being ere
ated. generating from the earth.
There is no garden of Eden in Hopi
mythology, and the snake is suppos-
ed by them to be the symbol Of hon.
esty, and the reptile forms one of the
big features of the tribes religious
rites.
The Hopis, living in the bowels oi
the world, believed that there was a
hole somewhere which let I'm the air
This opening they called the Sipapu
One day the Mochinsey bird found the
hole and emerged into the outer air
The bird found only one man living
on the surface, and he was red man
with no hair and his eyes sunk deer
in his skull Il was dark on the earth
and the Mochinsey bird dropped back
into his old home.
About that time" says Joshua
I've make too much trouble and no
body behave and all fight; then the
chief tell us we going to move, and We
try 20 find Sipapu."
First the pigeon was sent, bu
failed. The dog-bird and several othel
winged creatures tried next, but theil
efforts were futile. Then the chic
called the Mochinsey bird, and, hav
ing been through the opening before
it. found It easily On coming out O
the hole the bird turned into a mar
aud was Hospitality entertained by tho
original Indian who occupied the outel
earth by himself
After reporting favorably to the
chief the Mochinsey bird was sent ,
second time aud an invitation was OK
tended TO the earth dwellers TO com,
out. Several kinds Of trees were
planted. but thcy could not reach tho
hole Finally a water tree shot NJ
IN rapid growth and reached through
the Sipapu All the bad Indians wer'
forced TO remain below. and the gooC
ones. with the chief climbed up The
tree and into the open.
"The Yappa bird gave us the Ian
cuagc." relates. Joshua. The frs
man out was HOpi Tho Yappa bird h'
say Now you are the tribe of Hopis,
and gave us our speech. Tho secOnl
one out the Yappi bird called al
American. and he give him the Engllsl
language. Now, he says to the Hopis
This American. your uncle, YOU
brother. he watch out for you, he fi'
sou up"
Next came other Indian tribes. an,
soon. as Joshua says, the good Ian
puagcs were all gone.
when the rest Of them came out,
continued tho red man "Nappa bir'
he tell the INTO talk funny and he giv'
them funny talk like Chineo."
The original man ON the earth il
credited with having made the moor
and the sun. but each time The SUI
reached the zenith il stopped moving
and would NOT bulge until an Indial
died. After two Indians went TO thei
happy hunting grounds. the SUI
moved regularly. The Hopi Heaven il
a happy chamber down in the earth
The Americans made the domestic ami
mails, and the reindeer, with its ant
lors. formed the canyons and th
mountains By ripping up the EARTH
surface with his sharp prongs.