Myths and Legends of California and the Old Southwest | Page 6

foam and it fell downward in fine mist and
spray.
Then Earth-mother spoke:
"Even so shall white clouds float up from the great waters at the
borders of the world, and clustering about the mountain terraces of the
horizon, shall be broken and hardened by thy cold. Then will they shed

downward, in rain-spray, the water of life, even into the hollow places
of my lap. For in my lap shall nestle our children, man-kind and
creature-kind, for warmth in thy coldness."
So even now the trees on high mountains near the clouds and
Sky-father, crouch low toward Earth mother for warmth and protection.
Warm is Earth-mother, cold our Sky-father.
Then Sky-father said, "Even so. Yet I, too, will be helpful to our
children." Then he spread his hand out with the palm downward and
into all the wrinkles of his hand he set the semblance of shining yellow
corn-grains; in the dark of the early world-dawn they gleamed like
sparks of fire.
"See," he said, pointing to the seven grains between his thumb and four
fingers, "our children shall be guided by these when the Sun-father is
not near and thy terraces are as darkness itself. Then shall our children
be guided by lights." So Sky-father created the stars. Then he said,
"And even as these grains gleam up from the water, so shall seed grain
like them spring up from the earth when touched by water, to nourish
our children." And thus they created the seed-corn. And in many other
ways they devised for their children, the soul-beings.
But the first children, in a cave of the earth, were unfinished. The cave
was of sooty blackness, black as a chimney at night time, and foul.
Loud became their murmurings and lamentations, until many sought to
escape, growing wiser and more man-like.
But the earth was not then as we now see it. Then Sun-father sent down
two sons (sons also of the Foam-cap), the Beloved Twain, Twin
Brothers of Light, yet Elder and Younger, the Right and the Left, like
to question and answer in deciding and doing. To them the Sun-father
imparted his own wisdom. He gave them the great cloud-bow, and for
arrows the thunderbolts of the four quarters. For buckler, they had the
fog-making shield, spun and woven of the floating clouds and spray.
The shield supports its bearer, as clouds are supported by the wind, yet
hides its bearer also. And he gave to them the fathership and control of
men and of all creatures. Then the Beloved Twain, with their great

cloud-bow lifted the Sky-father into the vault of the skies, that the earth
might become warm and fitter for men and creatures. Then along the
sun-seeking trail, they sped to the mountains westward. With magic
knives they spread open the depths of the mountain and uncovered the
cave in which dwelt the unfinished men and creatures. So they dwelt
with men, learning to know them, and seeking to lead them out.
Now there were growing things in the depths, like grasses and vines. So
the Beloved Twain breathed on the stems, growing tall toward the light
as grass is wont to do, making them stronger, and twisting them upward
until they formed a great ladder by which men and creatures ascended
to a second cave.
Up the ladder into the second cave-world, men and the beings crowded,
following closely the Two Little but Mighty Ones. Yet many fell back
and were lost in the darkness. They peopled the under-world from
which they escaped in after time, amid terrible earth shakings.
In this second cave it was as dark as the night of a stormy season, but
larger of space and higher. Here again men and the beings increased,
and their complainings grew loud. So the Twain again increased the
growth of the ladder, and again led men upward, not all at once, but in
six bands, to become the fathers of the six kinds of men, the yellow, the
tawny gray, the red, the white, the black, and the mingled. And this
time also many were lost or left behind.
Now the third great cave was larger and lighter, like a valley in starlight.
And again they increased in number. And again the Two led them out
into a fourth cave. Here it was light like dawning, and men began to
perceive and to learn variously, according to their natures, wherefore
the Twain taught them first to seek the Sun-father.
Then as the last cave became filled and men learned to understand, the
Two led them forth again into the great upper world, which is the
World of Knowing Seeing.
The Men of the Early Times Zuni (New Mexico)

Eight years was but four days and four nights when the world was new.
It was