Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/47

 Trique Theogony. 39

the earth-god, is not a very strong god. Which of you steps forth to give him help and strength ? "

None of them, however, voluntarily steps forth. He therefore addresses the god of light, saying : " You, my son Cuhui, you the heat of my body, descend to dry and bake that heap of slime and mud."

The god of light, obedient to the mandate, descends, but so much does he heat the earth that Nexhequiriac begins to fear he may con- sume it entirely. He exclaims : " You, my son Cunma, you god of the water, make haste and help your brother to extinguish this great conflagration. Here, take my arms, the thunder and the lightning, and I give you also thy brother, the frost-god, for a companion."

Water and Frost go now to work as they were bidden. And, behold, the mountains, the hills, the ravines, the forests, and the rivers make their appearance.

But the frost-god on the summits of the sierra and the rain-god in the valleys were seen to overwork themselves in their labors, too. The one makes the earth too cold, too stiff, while the other makes it too wet, and Nexhequiriac, who fears an inundation, now dis- patches the air-god to dry up the world by the sweep of his mighty lungs.

All this being done, Nexhequiriac declares the world is now cre- ated.

To make the work a perfect one, the great creator then proceeds to send down the sun-god and the moon-god, so that the earth may also have its own light and enjoy illumination.

The sun-god takes his course and runs his aerial way without halting. Not so the moon-god. He feels hungry. A rabbit crosses the path. To catch it, he spends precious time. When caught, more time is lost by stopping to eat it. He crams the rab- bit in his mouth, it chokes his throat, he loses his breath, and, lo ! he notices his brother is far ahead of him, and that he nevermore is able to join his company.

This is the reason, says the legend, why the sun is observed to be always ahead, and the moon behind. It is the reason also why the sun looks always fresh and red, while the moon looks sick and pale, and shows a rabbit dangling from her mouth. For, as they started on their journey, both were of the same complexion and color.

Nexhequiriac now longs for seeing the earth embellished with a mantle of green vegetation. To perform this work, all the nine gods together are summoned, and all obey except the god of death and the god of hell. They excuse themselves peremptorily to partici- pate in so wasteful a sort of work.

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