Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 25, 2025
"Payuchi," said Gesnip, eagerly, "carry my basket for me and I will tell you some good news." "No," replied Payuchi, shaking his head, "it is a girl's place to carry the basket." "Just this little way, and it is such good news" urged Gesnip. "It will, make your heart glad." "Very well, then, tell it quickly," said the boy, changing the basket of mussels to his own broad back.
"Yes, I am tired," said the little girl, leaning her head against her mother's shoulder, "but I am warm in my rabbit-skin dress. We all have warm dresses now. Please tell me a good-night story," she begged. "We have been good and brought in much food." "Yes, tell us how the hawk and coyote made the sun," said Gesnip. "Very well," said the mother, "only you must be quite still."
Then it sank slowly over upon its side; but it struck so fiercely at the hunter who ran up to kill it with his horn knife that he drew back and shot it again. "Where is the third elk?" asked Cleeta, looking around. "Over there," said Gesnip, pointing across the plain. "Then they have lost it," said the child, with disappointment. "No, I think not. It is wounded.
For a long while the children watched in silence the patient fingers at their work; then Gesnip asked, "Is it true, mother, that when you were a little child your father and mother and many of your tribe died of hunger?" "It is true," replied Macana, sadly, "but who told you?" "Old Cotopacnic, but I thought it was one of his dreams. Why were you all so hungry?" asked the girl.
I saw the blood on its side," said the sister. "See, one of the men is following it, and it is half a mile behind the herd. I am sure he will get it." "This has been a lucky day," said Gesnip. "So much food. Our stomachs will not ache with hunger for a long time." "That is because mother wove a game basket to Chinigchinich so he would send food," said Cleeta.
By the time the party had traveled two miles, Gesnip, with her load, and Cleeta, whose bare brown legs were growing very tired, lagged behind. "O dear," said the elder sister, "we shall surely be too late to go into camp with uncle." Just then a whoop sounded behind them, and a boy of thirteen, dressed in a rabbit-skin shirt, carrying a bow in his hand, came panting up to them.
After a time Gesnip, looking up from her play, exclaimed, as she saw the black diamond pattern the weaver was making: "Mother, why are you weaving a rattlesnake basket?" "I am making it to please Chinigchinich that he may smile upon me and guard you, children, and Cuchuma from the bite of the rattlesnake. There are so many of them here this year, and I fear for you."
Then, as the sunlight struck full on the boats "Yes, yes, I am sure of it, for one is red, and no on else has a boat of that color; all others are brown." "Mother said he would bring abalone when he came," cried Cleeta, dancing from one foot to the other; "and she said they are better than mussels or anything else for soup." "He will bring fish," said Gesnip, "big shining fish with yellow tails."
On their heads they placed ollas, or water jars, of serpentine from quarries which may be seen in Santa Catalina to-day, the marks of the tools of workmen of, that time still in the rocks. There were also strings of bits of abalone shell which had been punctured and then polished, and these Sholoc hung around his neck. "Uncle," exclaimed Gesnip, touching one of these strings, "how much money!
"We had such a good time at the rabbit drive," said Payuchi. "And such a big feast afterwards, nearly as good as last night," said Gesnip. "Tell me about the rabbit drive," said Cleeta, squatting down beside the children in front of the fire. "It was in the big wash up the river toward the mountains," began Payuchi.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking