The North American Indian Part 4

Datilye was told to make a circuit of the earth and report what he saw. He started off toward the east, circled south, west, north, and back from the east. All was well; the earth was most beautiful, very smooth, and covered with water on the western side.

But the Earth was not still; it kept s.h.i.+fting and rolling and dancing up and down, so Kuterastan made four great posts-colored black, blue, yellow, and white-to support it. Then he directed Stenatlihan to sing a song. She sang, "The world is made and will soon sit still." These two then stood and faced Chuganaai and Hadintin Skhin, when into their midst came Nilchidilhkizn, who dashed away to the cardinal points with the four posts, which he placed under the sides of the earth; and upon them it sat and was still. This pleased Kuterastan, so he sang a song, repeating, "The world is now made and sits still."

Then Kuterastan began another song, referring to the sky. None existed as yet, and he felt there ought to be one. Four times he chanted the song, at the end of the fourth time spreading his hands wide before him, when lo!

there stood twenty-eight men and women ready to help make a sky to cover the earth. He next chanted a song for the purpose of making chiefs for the sky and the earth, and at its close sent Ndidilhkizn, the Lightning Maker, to encircle the world. Ndidilhkizn departed at once, but returned in a short time with three very uncouth persons, two girls and a boy, whom he had found in the sky in a large turquoise bowl. Not one of them had eyes, ears, hair, mouth, nose, or teeth, and though they had arms and legs, they had neither fingers nor toes.

Chuganaai at once sent for Doh, the Fly, to come and erect a _kache?_, or sweat-house. It took but a short time to put up the framework, which Stenatlihan covered closely with four heavy clouds: a black cloud on the east, a blue one on the south, a yellow one on the west, and a white one on the north. Out in front of the doorway, at the east, she spread a soft red cloud for a foot-blanket after the sweat. Twelve stones were heated in a fire, and four of them placed in the _kache?_. Kuterastan, Stenatlihan, Chuganaai, and Hadintin Skhin each inspected the sweat-house and p.r.o.nounced it well made. The three newcomers were bidden to enter and were followed by Chuganaai, Nilchidilhkizn, Ndidilhkizn, Nokuse, and Doh. The eight sang songs as their sweat began. Chuganaai led, singing four songs, and each of the others followed in turn with the same number. They had had a good sweat by the time the songs were finished, so Stenatlihan removed the black cloud and all came out. She then placed the three strangers on the red-cloud blanket, and under the direction of Kuterastan made for them fingers, toes, mouth, eyes, ears, hair, and nose. Then Kuterastan bade them welcome, making the boy, whom he called Yadilhkih Skhin, Sky Boy, chief of the sky and its people. The second he named Nigostu?n Nali?n, Earth Daughter, and placed her in charge of the earth and its crops; while to the third, Hadinin Nali?n, Pollen Girl, was a.s.signed the care of the health of the earth's people. This duty also devolved upon Hadintin Skhin, but each looks more to the welfare of his own s.e.x than to that of the other.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Among the Oaks - Apache]

Among the Oaks - Apache

_From Copyright Photograph 1903 by E.S. Curtis_

The earth was smooth, flat, and barren, so Kuterastan made a few animals, birds, trees, and a hill. Then he sent agocho, the Pigeon, to see how the world looked. Four days later agocho returned and said all was beautiful, but that in four days more the water on the opposite side would rise and flood the land. Kuterastan at once created a pinon tree. This Stenatlihan skilfully tended until it grew to be of gigantic size at the end of four days. Then with four great limbs as a framework she made a very large water bottle, _tus_, covering it with gum from the pinon. When the water appeared as predicted, Kuterastan went up on a cloud, taking his twenty-eight helpers with him, while Stenatlihan summoned all the others and put them into the _tus_, into which she climbed last, closing the mouth at the top.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Mescal Camp - Apache]

Mescal Camp - Apache

_From Copyright Photograph 1903 by E.S. Curtis_

The flood completely submerged the earth for twelve days. Then the waters subsided, leaving the _tus_ on the summit of the hill Kuterastan had made.

The rush of the waters had changed the once smooth, level plain into series of mountains, hills, rivers, and valleys, so that Stenatlihan hardly knew where they were when she opened the _tus_ and came out. Tazhi, the Turkey, and G?ge, the Crow, were the first to make a tour of the land.

At the base of the hill they descended into a small muddy alkaline creek, in which the Turkey got the tips of his tail-feathers whitened, and they have been white ever since. On return they reported that all looked beautiful as far as they had travelled. Stenatlihan then sent agocho to make a complete circuit and let her know how things appeared on all sides.

He came back much elated, for he had seen trees, gra.s.s, mountains, and beautiful lakes and rivers in every direction.

Directing the others to remain where she left them, Stenatlihan summoned Hadintin Skhin, Hadintin Naln, Ndidilhkizn, and agocho, and took them up in a cloud, in which they drifted until they met Kuterastan and his band of workers, who had completed the sky during the time of the flood. The two clouds floated to the top of the hill on which stood the _tus_. All descended to the valley below, where Stenatlihan marshalled them into line, that Kuterastan might talk to them. He briefly told them that he was going to leave them and wished each one to do his part toward making the world perfect and happy. "You, Ndisagochan, shall have charge of the clouds and the water. You, Yadilhkih Skhin, I leave in charge of the sky.

Nigostu?n Nali?n, you are to look after the crops of our people; and you, Hadintin Skhin, must care for their health and guide them." He then called Stenatlihan to him and placed her in charge of all.

The people stood in line facing their G.o.d, with hands extended as if in supplication. Kuterastan and Stenatlihan stood facing each other. Each rubbed their thighs with their hands, then cast their hands downward, and there arose between them a great pile of wood. Stenatlihan knelt and slipped a hand under it, and as she did so Kuterastan pa.s.sed his hand over the top. Great white billowy clouds of smoke at once issued forth, rising straight skyward. Into these Kuterastan disappeared. All the other G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses soon followed, leaving the twenty-eight whom Kuterastan had made to build the sky to remain upon the earth and people it. Chuganaai went east to travel with the sun; Stenatlihan departed westward to make her home in clouds on the horizon, while Hadintin Skhin and Hadinti?n Nalin sought homes among the clouds in the south, and Nokuse may still be seen in the northern sky at night.

The Apache is inherently devoutly religious; his life is completely moulded by his religious beliefs. From his morning prayer to the rising sun, through the hours, the days, and months-throughout life itself-every act has some religious significance. Animals, elements, every observable thing of the solar system, all natural phenomena, are deified and revered.

Like all primitive people, not understanding the laws of nature, the Apache ascribe to the supernatural all things pa.s.sing their understanding.

The medicine-men consider disease evil, hence why try to treat evil with drugs? Disease is of divine origin, so to the beneficent and healing G.o.ds the Apache naturally make supplication for cure.

The Apache, even if willing, could not directly impart their religious beliefs or their philosophy. It is only by study of their myths, myth songs, and medicine practices, and by close observance of their life, that a comprehensive idea of such beliefs can be gained.

A concise outline of the mythology of the Apache is given in the following description of the painted medicine skin(2) shown in the accompanying plate.

A-The nucleus of the universe, called Chalhke?lh Naliin, Night Girl. In the beginning it was merely a spot of color in which, during the course of time, a form appeared, and later emerged. This was Kuterastan, the Creator.

B-Kuterastan, the Creator of All, is standing on the clouds, his first home, holding lightning in each hand. To his left is the _tus_, or water bottle, in which the people of the earth took refuge from the flood shortly after their creation. Above him are four clouds, those into which he departed when leaving the earth for his celestial abode. He first created several a.s.sistants, who in turn created others by rubbing sweat and small particles of cuticle from the face and body.

C-Stenatlihan, the chief G.o.ddess, first helper of Kuterastan, is seen standing on the clouds. In her right hand is a pinon tree, from the branches and gum of which the large _tus_ was made at the time of the deluge. Above her flies Datilye, the Humming-bird, who was sent as a messenger about the world to note how its creation progressed.

D-Chuganaai Skhin was the second person created by Kuterastan. He followed Stenatlihan, and is therefore third in importance of the many deities. Not only does he give light to the day, but he has the power to relieve and cure disease with the aid of the first beams of his morning light. The Apache ask his blessing before sunrise, generally imploring his beneficence "as soon as you look upon me." The serrated circles typify the abodes of these G.o.ds, which are protected by insurmountable barriers.

E-Here the sun as first made by the great creator is pictured. As time wore on, it grew to become the full round disc it now is.

F-The moon as first made by Stenatlihan, at the behest of Kuterastan, who asked that she make something to illumine the night. The streaks represent catamenia, and the gradual growth of the moon is a.s.sumed to be parallel with prenatal growth.

G-This single symbol, a maltese cross, represents the four personages who made the stars. They have to do with the stars only, and are not prayed to as deities having power over the people on earth.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Sacred Buckskin - Apache]

Sacred Buckskin - Apache

_From Copyright Photograph 1903 by E.S. Curtis_

EXPLANATION OF PLATE

A-Chalhke?lh Nalin, Night Girl B-Kuterastan, The One Who Lives Above C-Stenatlihan, Woman Without Parents D-Chuganaai Skhin, Sun Boy E-Chuganaai, The Sun F-Kleganaai, The Moon G-Yadilhkih Binalze, Sky Messengers H-Nigostu?n Bika Binalze, Earth Messengers I, J-Naste?lh, Makers of Dreams and Visions K-Hadilhkih, Lightning

Disc L 1-Naye?nezgani, Slayer of Alien G.o.ds 2-Dutli?s.h.i.+ Skhin, Turquoise Boy 3-Yolkai Skhin, White-Sh.e.l.l Boy 4-Hadintin Skhin, Pollen Boy

Disc M 1-Tubadzischi?ni, Born From Water 2-Yadilhkih Skhin, Sky Boy 3-Yolkai Skhin, White-Sh.e.l.l Boy 4-Hadintin Skhin, Pollen Boy

Disc N 1-Yolkai Nali?n, White-Sh.e.l.l Girl 2-Dutli?s.h.i.+ Nali?n, Turquoise Girl 3-Enasho Dilu?hkli?shen, Black Alien Talker 4-Hadintin Nali?n, Pollen Girl

Disc O 1-Hadintin Nali?n, Pollen Girl 2-Nilchidilhkizn, The Wind 3-Yolkai Nalii?n, White-Sh.e.l.l Girl 4 -Yakosha Skhin, Frost Boy

P-Gauncho - G.o.ds Q-Gaunchine? - G.o.ds R-Gaun - G.o.ds S-Gaunchi - G.o.ds

H-Another maltese cross, symbolizing four spirits of the air, who act as messengers of the G.o.ds. They are supposed to communicate with the medicine-men, bringing to them words of wisdom from the several G.o.ds as they sit and chant in ceremony, or when they are fasting. Their name, Nigostu?n Bika Binalze, Earth Messengers, indicates that their powers extend to both the earth and the sky.

I and J symbolize spirits of the air who reveal to the medicine-men the wonders they claim to know in a priestly way. Such revelations are made to them in visions as they sit and drum and sing when endeavoring to discover some new cure for an affliction, or to initiate new customs that might be pleasing to the G.o.ds. The priests often take a medicine skin of this sort and go out into the mountains, where they fast and sing over it for hours at a time, awaiting the coming of the spirits.

K-It is supposed that any of the various G.o.ds have the power of calling on the lightning to carry messages from one to the other. Wherever shown in the symbolism of the Apache, lightning lines are drawn to indicate communication from one G.o.d to another.

Disc L 1-Naye?nezgani is the first son of Stenatlihan, who was made to conceive by the sun's rays as she lay asleep on the eastern slope of a mountain. He is the War G.o.d and miracle performer, the culture hero who in parallel legends appears in many North American aboriginal cults. Great monsters in the form of giant antelopes, rolling stones, and beasts of hideous conception are supposed to have inhabited the earth for a time, destroying its people. These monsters typify only the evils of this life; in fact death itself is spoken of in many legends as one of the monsters, in such form engaging in a long discussion with the miracle performer to prove that he should not be destroyed; if he were, the earth would become overpopulated. With his bow and arrow and turquoise lance Naye?nezgani banished these curses from earth. He himself was invulnerable as he appeared before these monsters, for the reason that he always buried his veins near a tree before attacking them. After he had killed them all, he and his younger brother, Tubadzischi?ni, quarrelled. The Bluebird revealed to the latter the spot where Naye?nezgani kept his veins buried, so he sought them out and shot arrows into them, thus killing him. Other myths relate how Naye?nezgani was later resurrected, and he is still prayed to as the chief War G.o.d.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Apache Girl]

Apache Girl

_From Copyright Photograph 1906 by E.S. Curtis_

2-Dutli?s.h.i.+ Skhin was created within the blue clouds at the time they were made, and emerged from them. He took part in the creation, a.s.sisting Kuterastan and Stenatlihan in finis.h.i.+ng their work. At their direction he made a few people and many birds and animals.

3-To Yolkai Skhin is attributed the creation of all white things. He himself was brought into existence in the white cloud, and on emerging therefrom immediately began the work of making white rock and sh.e.l.ls under the direction of Kuterastan and Stenatlihan.

4-Hadintin Skhin is the G.o.d of Disease and Health. It is he who causes much sickness and he who can cure any disease, if he be so disposed.

Especial care is taken by the Apache not to arouse his displeasure, and he is supplicated and propitiated whenever disease appears among them.