f t Native American Vorces 1 / Myths and Tales 55 When the animals and plants were first made—we do not know by whom—they were told to watch and keep awake for seven nights, just as young men now fast and keep awake when they pray to their medicine They tried to do this, and nearly all were awake through the first night, but the next night several dropped off to sleep, and the third night others were asleep, and then others, until, on the seventh night, of all the animals only the owl, the panther, and one or two more were still awake. To these were given the power to see and to go about in the dark, and to make prey of the birds and animals which must sleep at night. Of the trees only the cedar, the pine, the spruce, the holly, and the laurel were awake to the end, and to them it was given to be always green and to be greatest for medicine, but to the others it was said: “Because you have not endured to the end you shall lose your hair every winter.” Men came after the animals and plants. At first there were only a brother and sister until he struck her with a fish and told her to multiply, and so it was, In seven days a child was born to her, and thereafter every seven days an- other, and they increased very fast until there was danger that the world could not keep them. Then it was made that woman should have only one child in a year, and it has been so ever since. 1900 THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER AND WINTER! Long ago, when the world was young and people had not come out yet, there lived in the warm southland a family of five brothers and their sister. They were surrounded by sunshine and flowers and the music of birds. The brothers, who were hunters, were always successful. They never went hunting without bringing back some meat. Their sister stayed at home, mending their clothes and preparing their meals, She was always nicely dressed in buckskin that she had ornamented with elks’ teeth and had painted with yellow powder. In the northland there lived a family of five brothers and their sister. They lived in the midst of ice and snow. These brothers also were hunters, but they had so little success that they were often hungry. One time when their food supply was almost gone, the brothers said to their sister, “You will have to go to the five brothers in the southland. When you reach them, you will say, ‘We are all very hungry. My brothers have sent me to ask for food from you.’” At first the girl refused to go, but her brothers insisted. After many persu: sive words from them, she started south, carrying in her hands some large i cles, Her brothers used icicles as spears. As she approached the southland, uaveling in the form of a large black cloud, the five southern brothers saw her. The oldest said to their sister, “Paint yourself gorgeously with yellow pow- der, and sprinkle over your dress the perfumes of flowers. When the girl from the north comes close, go out and meet her. When you get to her, shake yourself.” *Magic powers. ‘A myth of the Yakima Indians of the Pacific Northwest,56 The Literature of Colonial America “Yes, my brother,” she replied. When she was ready, the girl of the south walke from the north. The black cloud made the ait ch The girl of the south smiled gently and shook her dress: Frans it flew fine dry powder and the sweet fragrance of summer flowers. Instantly the icicles which the northern girl planned to use as weapo : ns fell to the ground, The black cloud scattered. Soon the particles of what remained were lost to sight. How the girl returned home is not known, but when she told her brothers what had happened, they were angry. “Let us challenge the southern bony) ers to wrestle with us,” they said to each other, They sent their challenge, and the’ five southern brothers accepted it y ig : When it was almost autumn, the two families met halfway between their homes. The sister in each group took with her five buckets. In the bucketecr the southern girl was hot water; in the buckets of the northern girl were ice and cold water Each planned to throw the contents of her buckets at the feet of the wrestlers. When everything was ready, the oldest northern brother wrestled with the oldest southern brother. They were so evenly matched that for a long time neither was able to throw the other. Suddenly both heard the sound of rush- ing water. The northern girl emptied one of her buckets, and the cold water made.the northern man fight harder. Then the girl from the south threw hot water at the feet of the wrestlers. The ice melted, and immediately the south- ern man overcame his rival. The oldest brother from the north lay on the round dead, : / eat once thé ‘next’oldest from the northem family ran up to the victor and began to wrestle with him. In a short but fierce struggle he overcame the southern brother. The oldest brother from the southland also lay on the round dead. One by one the brothers from each tribe wrestled with a Erother from the other tribe. After a while, only the youngest in.each family was left alive. . , the led, neither of them able to overcome th For Ae a ee iar the southern boy got ited and-almost fel, but in coor cttw nay he regained his feet, Then they decided to stop for a somie jun! i for five moons. home and stayed there while, The Souther oy et eted north and met the northern brother a At the.end:of-thet Sa taht before. This time the southern boy easily the place where they had fo¥8M rove him far back into the cold land. For defeated the northern boy ane brother had possession of the lands of the about six moons the’ Sov of six moons the northern boy returned, and the 7 d ects a ‘shole moon. This time the southern boy was defeate two wres' ‘ . en the we aaah ‘the two continue to wrestle for mastery of the lan. Me ven thern one, we have su Pr defeats the northe! Q ‘i battles are Senter es defeats the souther one, we have conquers the Lo northe! ing, the southern boy : t before spring, Bach rules waged every year Je northern boy conquers the southern boy: Ea boy; in ‘ 16 the land for a few months. 106 ed out to meet the girl illy and uncomfortable,