_From Copyright Photograph 1903 by E.S. Curtis_
The flood completely submerged the earth for twelve days. Then the waters
subsided, leaving the _tus_ on the summit of the hill Kuterastan had made.
The rush of the waters had changed the once smooth, level plain into
series of mountains, hills, rivers, and valleys, so that Stenatlihan
hardly knew where they were when she opened the _tus_ and came out. Tazhi,
the Turkey, and Gage, the Crow, were the first to make a tour of the land.
At the base of the hill they descended into a small muddy alkaline creek,
in which the Turkey got the tips of his tail-feathers whitened, and they
have been white ever since. On return they reported that all looked
beautiful as far as they had travelled. Stenatlihan then sent Agocho to
make a complete circuit and let her know how things appeared on all sides.
He came back much elated, for he had seen trees, grass, mountains, and
beautiful lakes and rivers in every direction.
Directing the others to remain where she left them, Stenatlihan summoned
Hadintin Skhin, Hadintin Naln, Ndidilhkizn, and Agocho, and took them up
in a cloud, in which they drifted until they met Kuterastan and his band
of workers, who had completed the sky during the time of the flood. The
two clouds floated to the top of the hill on which stood the _tus_. All
descended to the valley below, where Stenatlihan marshalled them into
line, that Kuterastan might talk to them. He briefly told them that he was
going to leave them and wished each one to do his part toward making the
world perfect and happy. "You, Ndisagochan, shall have charge of the
clouds and the water. You, Yadilhkih Skhin, I leave in charge of the sky.
Nigostu{~COMBINING BREVE~}n Nali{~COMBINING BREVE~}n, you are to look after the crops of our people; and you,
Hadintin Skhin, must care for their health and guide them." He then called
Stenatlihan to him and placed her in charge of all.
The people stood in line facing their god, with hands extended as if in
supplication. Kuterastan and Stenatlihan stood facing each other. Each
rubbed their thighs with their hands, then cast their hands downward, and
there arose between them a great pile of wood. Stenatlihan knelt and
slipped a hand under it, and as she did so Kuterastan passed his hand over
the top. Great white billowy clouds of smoke at once issued forth, rising
straight skyward. Into these Kuterastan disappeared. All the other gods
and goddesses soon followed, leaving the twenty-eight whom Kuterastan had
made to build the sky to remain upon the earth and people it. Chuganaai
went east to travel with the sun; Stenatlihan departed westward to make
her home in clouds on the horizon, while Hadintin Skhin and Hadinti{~COMBINING BREVE~}n
Nalin sought homes among the clouds in the south, and Nokuse may still be
seen in the northern sky at night.
The Apache is inherently devoutly religious; his life is completely
moulded by his religious beliefs. From his morning prayer to the rising
sun, through the hours, the days, and months--throughout life itself--every
act has some religious significance. Animals, elements, every observable
thing of the solar system, all natural phenomena, are deified and revered.
Like all primitive people, not understanding the laws of nature, the
Apache ascribe to the supernatural all things passing their understanding.
The medicine-men consider disease evil, hence why try to treat evil with
drugs? Disease is of divine origin, so to the beneficent and healing gods
the Apache naturally make supplication for cure.
The Apache, even if willing, could not directly impart their religious
beliefs or their philosophy. It is only by study of their myths, myth
songs, and medicine practices, and by close observance of their life, that
a comprehensive idea of such beliefs can be gained.
A concise outline of the mythology of the Apache is given in the following
description of the painted medicine skin(2) shown in the accompanying
plate.
A--The nucleus of the universe, called Chalhke{~COMBINING BREVE~}lh Naliin, Night Girl. In
the beginning it was merely a spot of color in which, during the course of
time, a form appeared, and later emerged. This was Kuterastan, the
Creator.
B--Kuterastan, the Creator of All, is standing on the clouds, his first
home, holding lightning in each hand. To his left is the _tus_, or water
bottle, in which the people of the earth took refuge from the flood
shortly after their creation. Above him are four clouds, those into which
he departed when leaving the earth for his celestial abode. He first
created several assistants, who in turn created others by rubbing sweat
and small particles of cuticle from the face and body.
C--Stenatlihan, the chief goddess, first helper of Kuterastan, is seen
standing on the clouds. In her right hand is a pinon tree, from the
branches and gum of which the large _tus_ was made at the time of the
deluge. Above her flies Datilye, the Humming-bird, who was sent as a
messenger about the world to note how its creation progressed.
D--Chuganaai Skhin was the second person created by Kuterastan. He followed
Stenatlihan, and is therefore third in importance of the many deities. Not
only does he give light to the day, but he has the power to relieve and
cure disease with the aid of the first beams of his morning light. The
Apache ask his blessing before sunrise, generally imploring his
beneficence "as soon as you look upon me." The serrated circles typify the
abodes of these gods, which are protected by insurmountable barriers.
E--Here the sun as first made by the great creator is pictured. As time
wore on, it grew to become the full round disc it now is.
F--The moon as first made by Stenatlihan, at the behest of Kuterastan, who
asked that she make something to illumine the night. The streaks represent
catamenia, and the gradual growth of the moon is assumed to be parallel
with prenatal growth.
G--This single symbol, a maltese cross, represents the four personages who
made the stars. They have to do with the stars only, and are not prayed to
as deities having power over the people on earth.
[Illustration: Sacred Buckskin - Apache]