Creation Myths of Primitive America. Jeremiah Curtin

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      “My sister, thrust these through your hair, just above your forehead, one on each side. These feathers will begin to sing in the morning early; you will know by them at what time you must begin to dance.”

      He stretched his hand again to the southeast, and took buri luli, which is a little red blossom that grows in spring on a plant about a foot high. He gave the blossoms to Norwan and said—

      “Roll this in your hands, crush it, put the juice on your face, and make your cheeks red.”

      Olelbis turned then to his grandmothers, who were standing near by, and asked if they had acorns.

      “We have,” said they. “We have plenty.”

      Olelbis took a handful, gave them to his sister, and said—

      “When you shell these acorns, rub them between your palms and hold your hands open; blow the dust which scatters; you will see it rise high into the trees, and acorns will come on them.”

      It was on the first morning after she had come to Norwan Buli that Olelbis gave Norwan the staff, feathers, blossoms, and acorns. On the second morning very early the feathers began to sing; then flocks of birds of their kind came flying toward the sweat-house, and Norwan heard a voice far up in the sky calling to her, and saying—

      “My brother’s daughter, you have come upon earth before the Wintu people, and are dancing. When you dance you must not look toward the west, nor the north, nor the south, but turn your face and look toward Hlihli Pui Hlutton in the southeast, the place from which your staff and your paint came.”

      While this man was talking, Norwan looked up and saw him sitting with one leg crossed upon the other. He was holding a handful of white-oak acorns in his hand, and was sitting over the door of the sweat-house in Olelpanti. It was Kar Kiemila.

      “Now, my brother,” said Olelbis to Hessiha, who lived with him in Olelpanti, “I think it is best for you to go down to our sister and stay with her. Live with her always. When your feathers drop away or are pulled off hereafter, they will become like you, and there will be hessihas on the earth everywhere. Our sister will tell you what to do. You will stay with her, never leave her. The people will call our sister Bastepomas, because she is the food-giving woman. When you see anything, let her know; when you hear anything, tell her; when you want to do anything, ask leave of her.”

      Hessiha went down to live with his sister. Next day he saw a woman coming from the east and going west. He told Norwan, and she said—

       “Watch which way she goes, my brother. Perhaps she will come to us here.”

      He watched. She came straight to Norwan Buli.

      “My younger sister,” said she to Norwan, “I came out in the east, but I don’t like to live there. I have left that place, and am going far away to the west. In the evening look westward, a little after sunset, you will see a red, yellow, and white person, Nomdal Lenas Loimis. I am she. I shall look nice. That is the kind of person that I am. I shall live in the west always, and you will see me there as streaks of colored light. I will turn my face to the east every evening on pleasant days, and all the Wintu people will say when they see me, ‘Winis Nomdal Lenas Loimis’ ” (look at Nomdal Lenas Loimis).

      “Very well,” said Norwan, “I am glad to hear what you say, my elder sister.”

      Nomdal Lenas went off to the west. She was an immensely large woman with a big face, her hair was cut across her forehead, and this made it look beautiful. She was the first woman in the world who cut her hair in that fashion. Her face was painted in streaks of red, yellow, and white.

      Next morning Hessiha saw another woman coming from the east. She stopped at Norwan Buli, and said—

      “My younger sister, we came upon this earth at the same time, before the Wintu people. I am going to the west a little distance. I came out in the east, but I did not like the place there. I am going to Bohem Buli. I will stay there and live on the north side of the mountain. I will be a mountain woman. My name is Kukupiwit Pokte.”

      She went to Bohem Buli.

      Norwan danced always during daylight, never stopped in the daytime, never rested till evening.

      Norbis Kiemila, the white oak which rolled to the southeast, looked toward the northwest and saw Norwan. “I see my wife on this earth,” said he.

      One evening Hessiha and Norwan were in the sweat-house, and Hessiha said—

      “My sister, I have heard news to-day from Norbis Kiemila. He says that you are to be his wife.”

      She said nothing, and Hessiha talked on: “My sister, I heard a man say that he would come to see you. He lives at Sonomyai—he is Sedit, Sedit of Sonomyai.”

      “My brother,” said Norwan, “what are you telling me?”

      “I am telling you, my sister, what I have heard. Sedit is coming.”

      “Why does he come? I don’t like him. He has a bad breath.”

      Next morning Norwan rose and began to dance.

      “My sister,” said Hessiha, that evening, “I hear that a man is coming from Chanahl Puyuk, a good man. His name is Kaukau Herit. He is coming to see you.”

      “Why does he come here?” asked Norwan. “His neck is too long, his legs are too long.”

       “Well, my sister, I have heard that a man who lives far away west is coming to see you, Kobalus Herit. He is a good man. He lives at Nomken Kobalus Waimemton.”

      “That man has a crooked nose,” said Norwan, “and a crooked mouth. I don’t like him, he is all twisted.”

      Next evening Hessiha said—

      “There is a man who lives at the same place as Kobalus Herit. He wants to see you. His name is Tsanteris Herit.”

      “That man has a hollow breast,” said Norwan. “I don’t like him.”

      “A man from the far north is coming, Keli Herit.”

      “I don’t like him,” said Norwan; “he has a bad odor. He smells like the earth.”

      “A man from way down south, Bisus Herit, is coming to see you.”

      “Oh, I don’t like him; his legs are too short; he eats bony fish.”

      “My sister, a man is coming who lives a short distance south of us, Tede Wiu Herit.”

      “I don’t like him; he has too much breast; it sticks out too much.”

      “My sister, Katsi Herit is coming.”

      “I know him,” said Norwan. “He is too quick-tempered: he gets angry too easily.”

      “Chati Wai Halina Herit is coming to see you.”

      “I don’t like him; he smells of pitch always.

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