Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/48

 40 Journal of American Folk-Lore.

The earth, it is told, was then seeded by the seven gods. They spread on it the germs of all kinds of trees and plants, and finally also men made their appearance. The male was called Ndaja, or brother. The female is called Nima, which means the heart.

When men now were enjoying and making use of the benefits presented them by the gods, the latter approach the male and tell him : " Brother Ndaja, here is a crown for you. But never must thou forget him who gave it to thee. If thou forgettest, thou art lost." And the same was also said to the female. Men propagate. They are promised eternal life as long as following the precepts of the gods.

The god of hell, however, cannot refrain from interfering and growing meddlesome with poor humanity. Nexhequiriac becomes aware of it. He, of course, foresees that calamity and final ruin must result from the influence that the fiendish interloper had been gradually gaining over mankind. The good god decides upon inter- vention, and how he succeeds in carrying out his benevolent inten- tions is gracefully narrated as follows : He calls the god of hell to his side. He tells him that he has resolved upon celebrating a great festival. All mankind should come and attend it, the purpose being to receive from men, on this occasion, universal thanks that he has made them so happy as they are. To aid him in the preparations for this festival, he charges Chunguy (the god of hell) with the hon- orable task to convoke the chorus and the orchestra of the whole orb. A mission, however, like this, was wholly against Chunguy's malicious temper. He disobeys. Now Nexhequiriac, in order to punish him and have the festival take place without him, convokes the singers and the musicians by his own voice. He bids them put strings crosswise before their mouths and those of their instruments, and then to blow with all their might. Terrified by the frightful discord that fills the air, Chunguy, we are told, rushes away to hide in the depths of his cavern. It is only at night-time that he dares to come forth and trouble mankind with the appearance of dreadful visions and spectres.

Notwithstanding, in the course of time, mankind deteriorates. Nexhequiriac, who wants to have his children pure, and grateful to him, resolves upon the plan of a new creation. He orders the four gods, of Water, Air, Death, Fire, to destroy mankind, and leave alive only one male and one female. The destruction proceeds. The two human beings are put in a wooden box. They are allowed to provide themselves with certain seeds of plants and with some pairs of animals. They thus escape annihilation. If the box be not big enough to hold all varieties of plants and animals, the gods will take care later for their reproduction. The box and its contents, we are

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