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第47节

the grand canyon of arizona-第47节

小说: the grand canyon of arizona 字数: 每页4000字

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orning Dove People。 All that region belonged to the Puma; Antelope; Deer and other Horn people; and To…hi…a (puma) led my people; the Tohi…nyn…muh; to To…ko…na…bi (Navaho Mountain); and the Sand people and the Horn people also dwelt in the same region。

〃We built many houses at To…ko…na…bi; and lived there many days; but the springs were small; the clouds were thin; rain came seldom; and our corn was weak。 The Ki…mon…wi (village chief) of the To…hi…nyn…muh had two sons and two daughters; and his eldest son was known by the name of Tiyo (the youth)。 He seemed to be always melancholy and thoughtful; and was wont to haunt the edge of the cliffs。 All day he would sit there; gazing down into the deep gorge (of the Grand Canyon); and wondering where the ever…flowing water went; and where it finally found rest。 He often discussed this question with his father; saying; 'It must flow down some great pit; into the underworld; for after all these years the gorge below never fills up; and none of the water ever flows back again。' His father would say; 'Maybe it flows so far away that many old men's lives would be too short to mark its return。' Tiyo said; 'I am constrained to go and solve this mystery; and I can rest no more till I make the venture。' His family besought him with tears to forego his project; but nothing could shake his determination; and he won them to give their sorrowful consent。

〃The father said; 'It is impossible for you to follow the river on foot; hence you must look for a hollow cottonwood…tree; and I will help you make a wi…na…ci…buh (timber box) in which you may float upon the water。' Tiyo found a dry cottonwood…tree; which they felled; and cut off as long as his body; and it was as large around as they both could encompass with their outstretched arms。 They gouged and burned out all of the inside; leaving only a thin shell of dry wood like a large drum; small branches and twigs were fitted in the ends to close them; and the interstices were pitched with pinion gum。 All this work was done with the stone axe and the live ember。

〃The father then announced that in four days Tiyo should set forth; and during that time the mother and her two daughters prepared kwip…do…si (a kind of corn meal made from corn which has been dried and then ground。 A thin gruel is made of it) for food; and the father made prayer emblems and pahos。 On the morning of the fifth day the father brought the emblems to Tiyo and laid them on a white cotton mantle; but before he wrapped them up; he explained their significance。 He also gave him a wand to be used in guiding his box…boat; after which Tiyo crept into the box; received from his mother and sisters the food; and then his father closed the end of the box; gave it a push with his foot; and it floated away; bobbing up and down。

〃In one of its ends there was a small circular aperture; through which he thrust his wand; and pushed away from the rocks which were encountered。 The spray splashed through the opening; and this he caught in his basin when he wished to drink or to mix his kwip…do…si; and he was also provided with a plug to close the hole when he neared the roaring waters。 He floated over smooth waters and swift…rushing torrents; plunged down cataracts; and for many days spun through wild whirlpools; where black rocks protruded their heads like angry bears。

〃When the box finally stopped Tiyo drew the plug; and looking out saw on one side a muddy bank; and on the other nothing but water; so he pushed out the end; and taking his paho mantle in his hand passed to the dry land。 He had gone but a little way when he heard the sound of 'hist! hist!' coming from the ground; and when this had been repeated four times; he descried a small round hole near his feet; and this was the house of Spider…Woman。* 'Um…pi…tuh;' said the voice ('you have arrived;'the ordinary Hopi greeting)。 'My heart is glad; I have long been expecting you; come down into my house。' 'How can I;' said Tiyo; 'when it will scarce admit the point of my toe?' She said; 'Try;' and when he laid his foot upon the hole; it widened out larger than his body; and he passed down into a roomy kiva。〃

* Spider…Woman is an important figure in Hopi mythology。 She it is who weaves the clouds so that rain may come。 Hence in many Hopi ceremonies; where rain is prayed for; she is especially propitiated。


The legend then goes on to describe how Tiyo is taken and guided by the Spider…Woman to various places; where he learned all about the ceremonies that the Hopis now perform at their Snake Dance to produce rain。 He met the Sun and the Great Snake (Go…to…ya); and Mu…i…yin…wuh (a divinity of the underworld who makes all the germs of life); and each taught him something he needed to learn。 Finally; after many wonderful adventures; he was lifted out of the underworld as he sat in a ho…a…pah; a kind of wicker pannier; with two beautiful maidens of the snake kiva; by Spider…Woman; who carried him over the country and deposited him at his home。 He married one of the maidens and thus founded the Snake Clan; and his brother married the other and founded the Snake…Antelope Clan。 These two clans each year perform the ceremonies that produce rain in the desert land; where still live the descendants of Tiyo and his brother。

Wallapai Legend of the Canyon。 The Wallapais say that it was one of their cultus…heroes; Pack…i…tha…a…wi; who made the Grand Canyon。 There had been a big flood; and the earth was covered with water。 No one could stir but Pack…i…tha…a…wi; and he went forth carrying a big knife he had prepared of flint; and a large; heavy; wooden club。 He struck the knife deep into the water…covered ground and then smote it deeper and deeper with his club。 He moved it back and forth as he struck it further into the earth; until the canyon was formed through which all the water rushed out into the Sea of the Sunset。 Then; as the sun shone; the ground became hard and solid; as we find it to…day。

The Havasupai Legend of the Canyon。 The Havasupais also have a legend connected with the making of the Grand Canyon; and the reader will observe with interest the points of the story that are similar to points in the Hopi story just given。 This story was told to me by O…dig…i…ni…ni…na; one of the old men story…tellers of the Havasupais。

〃The two gods of the universe are Tochopa and Hokomata。 Tochopa he heap good。 Hokomata he heap badhanatopogiall same white man's devil。 Him Hokomata make big row with Tochopa; and he say he drown the world。

〃Tochopa was full of sadness at the news。 He had one daughter whom he devotedly loved; and from her he had hoped would descend the whole human race for whom the world had been made。 If Hokomata persisted in his wicked determination; she must be saved at all hazard。 So; working day and night; he speedily prepared the trunk of a pinion tree by hollowing it out from one end。 In this hollow tree he placed food and other necessaries; and also made a lookout window。 Then he brought his daughter; and telling her she must go into this tree and there be sealed up; he took a sad farewell of her; closed up the end of the tree; and then sat down to await the destruction of the world。 It was not long before the floods began to descend。 Not rain; but cataracts; rivers; deluges came; making more noise than a thousand Hackataias (Colorado Rivers) and covering all the earth with water。 The pinion log floated; and in safety lay Pu…keh…eh; while the waters surged higher and higher; and covered the tops of Hue…han…a…patch…a (the San Francisco range); Hue…ga…woo…la (Williams Mountain); and all the other mountains of the world。

〃But the waters of heaven could not always be pouring down; and soon after they had ceased; the flood upon the earth found a way to rush to the sea。 And as it dashed down; it cut through the rocks of the plateaus; and made the deep Chic…a…mi…mi (canyon) of the Colorado River Hackataia。 Soon all the water was gone。

〃Then Pukeheh found the log no longer floating; and she peeped out of the window Tochopa had placed in her boat; and; though it was misty and almost dark she could see in the dim distance the great mountains of the San Francisco range。 And near by was the Canyon of the Little Colorado; and to the west and north was Hackataia; and to the west was the Canyon of the Havasu。

〃The flood had lasted so long that she was grown to be a woman; and; seeing the water gone; she came out and began to make pottery and baskets; as her father had long ago taught her。 But she was a woman。 And what is a woman without a child in her arms or nursing at her breasts? How she longed to be a mother! But where was a father for her child? Alas! there was not a man in the whole universe?

〃Day after day; longing for maternity filled her heart; until one morning glorious morning for Pukeheh and the Havasu racethe darkness began to disappear; and in the far…away east soft and new brightness appeared。 It was the triumphant Sun; coming to conquer the long night and bring light into the world。 Nearer and nearer he came; and; at last; as he peeped over the far…away mesa summits; Pukeheh arose and thanked Tochopa; for here; at last; was a father for her child。 She conceived; and in the fullness of time bore a son; whom she d

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