This world was destroyed five times. The first time by a whirlwind; the
second, by immense hail stones; the third, by smallpox, when each pustule
covered a whole cheek; the fourth, all was destroyed by coughing; the
fifth time Naiyenesgony and Tobaidischinni went over the earth slaying all
enemies.
These two boys were born at Tohatkle (where the waters are mated), near
Ute Mountain, in Utah; they were the children of Ahsonnutli. Ahsonnutli
and Yolaikaiason (the white-shell woman) were the creators of shells.
Ahsonnutli had a beard under her right arm and Yolaikaiason had a small
ball of flesh under her left arm from which they made all shells. The eyes
of Naiyenesgony and Tobaidischinni were shells placed on their faces by
Ahsonnutli; the shells immediately becoming brilliant the boys could look
upon all things and see any distance without their eyes becoming weary. A
stick colored black was placed to the forehead of Naiyenesgony and one
colored blue to that of Tobaidischinni. When Naiyenesgony shook his head
the stick remained firm on the forehead, but he felt something in the palm
of his hand, which proved to be three kinds of seeds, and he said, "We
must go by this." When Tobaidischinni shook his head the stick dropped off
the forehead and they thought a long time and said, "We must go by this."
This is why the deer sheds his horns. In ceremonials the breath is drawn
from sticks which are made to represent the originals; the sticks are also
held to wounds as a curative.
These two boys grew from infancy to manhood in four days and on the fourth
day they made bows and arrows; on the fifth day they began using them.
Although they were the children of Ahsonnutli they did not know her as
their mother, but supposed her to be their aunt. Frequently they inquired
of her where they could find their father. She always told them to stop
their inquiries, for they had no father. Finally they said to her, "We
know we have a father and we intend to go and look for him." She again
denied that they had a father, but they were determined and they journeyed
far to the east and came to the house of the sun. The house was of white
shell, and the wife of the sun (Yolaikaiason) was also of white shell. The
wife inquired of the youths where they were from, and, said she, "What do
you want here?" They replied, "We came to hunt our father." When the sun
returned to his home in the evening he discovered the youths as soon as he
entered his house and he asked, "Where are those two boys from?" The wife
replied, "You say you never do anything wrong when you travel; these two
boys call you father and I know they are your children." The wife was very
angry. The sun sent the boys off a distance and threw a great roll of
black clouds at them intending to kill them, but they were not injured,
and they returned to the house. He then pushed them against a sharp stone
knife, but they slipped by uninjured. Four times they were thrust against
the knife, but without injury. The sun finding his attempts unsuccessful
said, "It is so, you are my sons." The sun then ordered Hasjelti and
Toneennili (these two were special attendants upon the sun) to build a
sweat house and put the boys in, that they might die from the heat.
Toneennili made an excavation inside of the sweat house, put the boys into
the hole, and placed a rock over the hole and built a fire over the rock.
When the rock became very hot the sun ordered Toneennili to sprinkle it
four times with water, being careful to keep the entrance to the sweat
house closely covered. After a time he uncovered the entrance and removing
the rock the sun commanded the boys to come out. He did not expect to be
obeyed, as he thought and hoped the boys were dead, but they came out
unharmed. The sun then said, "You are indeed my own children; I have tried
in vain to destroy you." The boys wished to return to the woman whom they
supposed to be their aunt. Before departing the sun asked them what they
wished; they said, "We want bows and arrows, knives, and good leggings.
There are people around the world eating our people (the Navajo). Some of
these people are great giants and some are as small as flies; we wish to
kill them with lightning." The sun gave the youths clothing that was
invulnerable, and he gave them lightning with which to destroy all
enemies, and a great stone knife. They then went over the world.
Naiyenesgony killed with the lightning arrows and Tobaidischinni scalped
with his knife. After all enemies had been destroyed Naiyenesgony and
Tobaidischinni said to the Navajo, "Now we will leave you and return to
our home in the Ute Mountains, where the waters are mated, but before
leaving you we will give to you the ten songs and prayers that will bring
health and good fortune to your people. Tobaidischinni is the parent of
all waters."