Reading Week 11b: Marriage Tales B

Native American Marriage Tales B

Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson (1929) Source.

The Dog Husband

• There was a girl who had a dog she took everywhere and at the time it was normal for dogs to sleep at the foot of the bed of young girls
• every night the dog changed into human form and lie with the girl then would turn back in the morning
• eventually the girl became pregnant and the family were so ashamed knowing it was the dog who caused it. 
• they called the town and had them tear down the house and put out the fires and moved away leaving the girl to die
• Crow had pity on her and took some coals she placed them between two clam shells and told the girl that she would hear crackling and to follow the sound to a fire
• after a while the girl heard a noise and did as Crow said and found a fire. 
• Not long after she gave birth to five dog pups and as her father had killed her dog lover she had to care for them alone. she gathered clams and shellfish from the beach
• 4 boys and 1 girl grew fast under the care of their mother and soon she noticed that whenever she went out she heard singing and dancing from the house. she did this four times and on the fifth she  stuck her clam digger in the sand and put her clothes on it to make it look like she was working
• then she crept around the back of the house and looked through the crack and saw the boys singing and dancing and the girl watching where the mother was supposed to be digging clams, all in human form
• she took a moment then caught them in human form and scolded them saying they should have been in human form the whole time since it was because of them being dogs that she had been shamed
• she tore down the dog blankets and burned them and they remained in human form from then on. 
• when the boys were old enough she made little bows and arrows for tem and taught them how to shoot birds starting with the little wren and working up to large birds. then she taught them how to make large bows and arrows to hunt larger game starting with small fur animals all the way to elk.
• she made them bathe daily to try to build skill at hunting whales then after that the hair seal to make floats of its skin
• the mother then made harpoons from elk bones and lines of sinew and cedar and attached floats to the end of the line and the boys went whaling bringing in so many that the beach began to stink.
• Crow noticed a huge fire from across the water where the old village had stood. she came over secretly to see what was up but before she got there she could smell the whale carcasses and saw them, some that haven't even been cut.
• when she reached the house she saw the children grown and they welcomed her and gave her food but told her she could not take anything with her and to just come back when she needed more
• on her way home Crow saw the original girl who told her that she was to return home and weep so people would think they were all dead
• instead Crow told everyone what happened but they did not believe her and even brought a piece of whale meat with her and fed it to her children after lights out but one of them ate so fast that she choked and coughed a piece on the ground. 
• other villagers saw it and then believed Crow and decided to go back and the boys became chiefs and kept the village well supplied

The Youth Who Joined the Deer

Young Fawn Source

• there was a man who was a great deer hunter and always thought and dreamed of deer. they were friends to him. They were likely his manitou
• he had two wives one who bore no children and another who bore a male
• one day while hunting he followed young doe and fawn tracks which led to a knoll where a young woman and child sat
• he asked them if they had seen any deer pass and they said no. but he could not see the tracks continue and insisted they have seen them since the tracks were fresh
• the woman laughed and told him not to worry about the tracks and that she has loved and longed for him for a long time and to go home with her
• unable to resist her he followed but thought of how it is not right that he is leaving his wives and child at home waiting 
• she told him not to worry or regret anything as she will be her husband and he wont regret it
• after a long travel they reached a hilly region and the man saw an underground entrance that lead to a large house of people who looked like native americans and were both sexes and all ages. they were well dressed and wore deerskin robes
• that night the woman said that he is her husband and he may sleep with her and hug her but not have intercource before rutting-season. she told him he can also do so with his sisters but the rutting season is only once a year for a month and no sexual connections any other time
• so he slept and the next day the people asked him to hunt for them since they have no meat. so he went hunting. two young deer (his brothers in law) ran ahead and stood on a knoll he saw them and killed them and carried them home wasting nothing.
• he told the chief to waste nothing and they were all glad and saved every bone
• the chief then asked the man to take the bones and the bones of an earlier hunt and throw them in the river. he did so but wondered where his BILs went and assumed they were hunting. when he returned the BIL and another man were there
• the deer people lived by hunting and killing each other then surviving. 
• The hunter lived with his new wife and their people and hunted when needed and never failed to kill since some of the young deer were anxious to be killed to help their people
• Rutting season came and the chief gave the hunter the body of a large old buck and he went out with his wife
• but a young deer beat him to it and felt sad and everyone was talking about it so the chief gave him large antlers and the body of a deer in his prime and this time he beat the rival bucks and mated with his wife, her sisters, and her cousins. He hurt many deer brethren but the Deer People had shamans who healed wounds throughout the season.
• this lasted the whole rut and soon his wife gave birth to a son. but she said it was not fair that they only stayed with her people and wanted the son to live with the hunter's people as well.
• she compressed deer fat to the size of a handful and did the same with dried venison and deer skin
• she and her child and husband hunted on the way and killed one of his BIL when they needed to and always but the bones in the water. they traveled like people but the woman thought this was too slow. soon they transformed into deer to travel and soon reached the country of the hunter's people 
• she said not to approach the people at first or he will die. he had to bathe in decoctions of herbs for 8 days. 
• soon they saw a young woman he recognized as his sister and showed himself but told him no one can know or come near him for 8 days and then he will visit and that they should clean the homes so there is nothing old or smelly
• his childless wife had remarried. 
• after the hunter became like other people he went to his lodge with his new wife and son and his wife pulled out the deer fat and threw it on long feast mats and it grew back to its original dimensions. she did the same with the skins and dried meat which now almost filled the home
• the people feasted and were pleased. they stayed for a long time and whenever they needed meat he gave his arrows to his son and told him to hunt and the youth always took with him his half brother from the first wife. they killed deer since they were the deer son's relatives and wanted to be killed. they threw the bones in the water and the deer came  back to life. the Deer-Boy taught his half brother how to hunt and shoot deer and how to cut and preserve the meat and always stressed the importance of throwing the bones back in the water so they can revive.
• the Deer wife wanted to go home and offered the people to visit with them but they said they did not have enough deer skin to make proper footwear, in response the woman threw some deer skin on the ground and it grew to original size and the women worked all night making moccasins 
• they then set off to the deer land. the hunter sent his son out in deer form and hunted him but people began to miss him so he threw the bones in the water and he returned. He did the same the next night with his deer wife who then told him to avoid suspicion he should just hunt his BILs and he did so always throwing the bones in the water.
• the hunter's people were welcomed warmly and spent some time there before returning home. the Deer Boy returned with them and became a great NA and hunter and the people learned from him how to treat deer. He told them to always put the bones in the water so they could revive but if that was not possible to burn the bones and although the deer would be dead forever, they would not be angry. but if they were to just toss the bones that the deer would never come around and that they will have no luck hunting and would starve.

The Girl and the Turkeys

• long ago the ancients did not have sheep, horses, or cattle but they had other domestic animals like Turkeys
• In Salt City there were many wealthy families who possessed large flocks of Turkeys and it was their custom to have their slaves or local poor people herd in the plains around Thunder Mountain
• at this time in on the outskirts of town a rundown single room house lived a very poor girl who's closed were tattered and dirty and after a long life of neglect and ill fare she was shameful to look at. 
• however, she was not ugly but very beautiful under all the dirt. she had bright eyes but herded turkeys for a living and was given little except food and occasionally worn out clothing
• like many poor people, she was humble and was kind even when she received no kindness. she was especially kind to the turkeys and treated them well, the turkeys appreciated this and were obedient and loved her so much that they would always come when called by her and followed her wherever 
• one day she was driving her turkeys down the plains and passed Old Zuni (the middle ant  hill of the world) and as she walked past she heard the herald priest proclaiming from the housetop that the Dance of the Sacred Bird ( which is a blessed festival everyone was welcome to, especially youths and maidens) would take place in 4 days
• the girl had never been allowed to join in or even watch town festivities and naturally longed to attend. but she cast it aside and thought it would be impossible given how ugly and dirty she was. then she talked to her Turkeys as it was her habit and drove them home and returned them to their cages around the edge of town
• everyday after the girl would drive the turkeys and see the town preparing for the festival she could not attend. she talked to the turkeys mindlessly not thinking they understood her
• but it seemed that they understood more than she spoke and on the day of the festival as everyone set forth to Zuni she wondered the plains alone with the Turkeys and one of the big gobblers strutted up to her fanning his tail and wings and spoke "maiden mother, we know what your thoughts are, and truly we pity you , and wish that, like the other people of Matsaki, you could enjoy this holiday. we decided among ourselves that after you put us in our cages at night that 'you are more worthy than anyone in this town to enjoy yourself.' Now listen carefully as i speak the words of my elders: if you drive us in early afternoon while people are busty dancing we can help make you get dressed prettier than any man, woman, and child.  many young men will wonder where you came from and wish to hold your hand in the circle that forms around the altar. Maiden mother, would you like to go to the dance and even join it and be merry with your people?"
• the girl was surprised but it did seem natural for turkeys to talk to her since she did to them. she sat down and looked at them "My beloved turkeys, how glad i am we can speak together! but why are you telling me things that you have intent to do but with do means?"
• "trust us. i speak for my people and when we begin to call and gobble and turn home to matsaki follow us and we will show you. but no one know how much happiness and good fortune will come to you if you even temporarily enjoy the pleasures we enable you to join. but if in the excess of enjoyment, you forget about us, your friends who depend on you, we will think ' our maiden mother, once poor and humble, when she was more prosperous she became how others treated her.'"
• "Don't worry turkeys I will be obedient to you as you have been to me" as the sun just began to set, the turkeys went home and the girl followed. they all had rehearsed their plan and went to their places. when they all entered they called to the maiden to enter and sit and give them her clothing to see if they can fix them up.
• the maiden did so and the old gobbler began to pick  at it and strut upon it puffing then laid it down by the girl, it had become a beautiful white embroidered cotton mantle. she did the same for each article of clothing until all were new and beautiful
• before she got dressed the turkeys danced and clucked around her brushing her with their wings and she looked clean and smooth with bright skin and soft wavy hair
• finally an old turkey who told her the only thing she lacked were ornaments but to wait a moment because they have gathered many small ornaments with their keen eyes that were lost by others
• he spread his wings and walked around and coughed up a beautiful necklace and another turkey earrings and so forth until she was properly adorned
• they wished her well but begged she not forget them and told her they loved her so
• she promised to remember the turkeys and ran to Zuni and went to the dance court as everyone watched her and murmured where she may have come from
• soon the chiefs of the dance hastily came to her with apologies for incompleteness of their arrangements even though they were fine. they invited her  to join the youths and maidens in the center of the plaza
• she stepped in the circle and the youths vied for her hand and she was happy and danced until dark
• she did think of her turkeys but decided to stay a while longer then come back to them
• but time went on and she kept dancing and as the sun set she ran off to the turkeys who thought that she had forgotten them and decided to go to the mountains
• she arrived and saw no turkeys but she saw them leaving singing a song. 
• she called the turkeys in vain who only quickened their step and her dress changed back into the dirt and grime and she returned back to town the poor turkey girl.

The true bride

• a white man married and had a daughter but the wife died and he married a different woman who also bore a daughter. the stepmother hated the older daughter and accused her of being lazy
• in the middle of winter she was told to go pick berries. knowing there could be none in this weather, but wanting to escape her stepmother, she packed a basket and set out to walk until she ran out of food
• she came upon a house with 4 men who unbeknownst to her were relatives. she told her the problem and they gave her a snow shovel and scraper and told her to dig away the snow from the roof. underneath really was earth with berry bushels. 
• when she came down the men asked what they could do for their sister. she said she would accept any help but that she is very poor and only had rags to wear
• the youngest brother told her to spit and now when she spit it became gold. the next brother gave her shoes that never wore out and the next two made a dress and robe in the same way. 
• she thanked them and returned home to the stepmother who was surprised and jealous of her new clothes and gold spitting ability
• she sent her own daughter out to follow the tracks and find out how she did it.
• the girl set out and arrived at the house. the brothers gave her food and asked why she was travelling. she told them her mother demanded berries and that she knew her sister found some here, they showed her how and after receiving the berries they asked what they could do for her
• the youngest asked her to spit but she was vain and haughty and refused. so when she finally did spit she spit toenails that smelled like toe nails
• she returned to her mother who saw no new clothes. she asked her to spit and upon seeing the toenails asked her not to do so again
• one day the chief's son was walking and saw the older daughter washing clothes and he liked how she looked and dressed and told his father of his fondness. Chief told him to visit with her again and confirm his fondness
• he visited her and she coughed a few times and the spit turned to gold and he told his father who also spoke with her and the same thing happened
• once verified it was gold he gave approval for his son to marry the girl
• when people found out the bride to be could spit gold all the white people came to the wedding too and she had spat so much gold guests could bring some home
• in time she became pregnant and when she was going to give birth, her husband was called away for a month. she asked if the mother in law could attend and midwife since the stepmother meant harm. he pushed this aside and insisted on the stepmother
• when she was about to give birth, the step mother made a hole in the floor below the young woman and when the child was born and she cut the cord it fell through the floor boards and handed her a cat instead
• the husband was disappointed but they tried again, the same thing happened and she handed the girl a snake. when the husband came back the stepmother told him that she should kill someone who is giving birth to odd creatures and instead marry her daughter
• so the chief and people held a meeting and decided she should be killed. they bound her in iron and threw her in the lake
• the 4 brothers new what was happening and were ready to intercept her when they saw her and they untied her and told her her real children were alive they transformed her into a goose and she swam around on the lake
• the chief's son did not like his new wife as she was nasty and smelly
• the older daughter had a favorite dog Spioola who she hadn't seen since the birth of her first child. he lived under the house and saw when the stepmother dropped the baby through the hole and raised them as his own
• when the boys were big enough to run around they came out of the house watching the goose that always came up to them crying but spioola told them not to go out when he was gone 
• the stepmother noticed them and tried to catch them but they disappeared under the house and blocked the hole with a rock. so instead she baited them with food and poisoned them
• when spioola came home he could not find the boys and tracked them to the dead bodies and could not resuscitate them. so he ran to the Sun to seek help. several parts of nature asked him to ask questions for the sun.
• after running for days and nights he was at the other side of the earth and swam across a pond to get the the house of the Sun exhausted and nothing but skin and bones. 
• the mother of the Sun met him and acknowledged that he must be in great trouble and requiring wisdom. He told her his story and she fed him with the food of the Sun people and he gained strength
• she then told him to watch The Sun when he spat and to collect the spit and keep them separated allowing the first for the older boy and so on. they must be treated within 4 days but it took spiola twice the time to get there
• He also found the answer to the other questions of nature and they all equated to that they were lazy
• the sun mother told him of another route to take in the morning and he will be home in one day
• he relayed the messages on his way back without stopping and arrived home and rubbed the respective spit on their lips. when they came to life they each had a glowing spot on the forehead, one a sun, the other a moon
• he told them the Goose was their mother and that he must go on another journey to find the wise Bird and that the Goose would warn them of danger and to hide when she called so they would not be killed again
• Spioola ran to the house of the Wise Bird who knew all languages, the future, and never told a lie. he lived on a snowy peak of clear ice and wore down the claws of spioola as he climbed 
• he told the Bird his story, the Bird pitied him and he took the Bird with him to the children who he was glad to see. 
• the next day the father heard talking underneath the house like those of children he found the entrance but could not move the stone
• spioola moved the stone and told him to come in but the father said he would not fit but Spioola told him just to try. He wedged through and found a wellkept room and the Bird which indicated something important was happening 
• spioola explained what had happened and the chief's son felt so bad for killing his original wife and he told his father what had happened and they called a meeting. in the meanwhile he told the toenail woman to stay with her mother and then boarded up the windows and doors 
• Spioola went to the lake and called the Goose and shook her until the goose skin fell off and the Gold sister ws back. 
• she, her sons, the Bird, and Spioola all attended the meeting and the Bird told the story and everyone believed him. then praised spioola for running to the house of the Sun to save the boys
• the chief ordered the women to be publicly hanged and the chief's son took back his wife and they lived in a big house with lots of spit gold
• he became chief after his father then his son after him