ORIGIN OF LIGHT

_Wyandot_

After the earth was formed on Big Turtle’s shell, there was not

enough light, so the animals said. Big Turtle called a council. When

the council met, Big Turtle said that because the island had been

made for the woman, there should be more light. Someone said that a

light hung in the sky would be well. Then Small Turtle at once

answered, “If I could climb into the sky, I could gather together

some of the lightning, and make a ball of it.” Big Turtle said, “Oh,

yes. Try to climb up. You have great power.”

At once Small Turtle made medicine, and soon there was a great

storm. A cloud full of lightning rolled down towards the council,

with a great noise. There were broken rocks and trees in the cloud.

It came so near that Small Turtle climbed into the cloud, and went

upward with it.

When she reached the Sky Land, Small Turtle gathered much lightning

together. She made a ball out of it, and hung it in the sky. After

that there was light on the island because the sun shone. Small

Turtle also made moon.

Myths and Legends of British North America · 第 18 / 107 题