Sacred Texts  Native American  Hopi  Index  Previous  Next 
Buy this Book at Amazon.com


The Traditions of the Hopi, by H.R. Voth, [1905], at sacred-texts.com


41.--THE SHONGÓPAVI MAIDEN WHO TURNED INTO A DOG.

In Shongópavi lives a handsome youth whom all maidens ask for. Bad-looking maiden grinds coarse meal, puts it into tray and sings while throwing it to chíro birds. In evening birds assemble at mána's house and after that mána always feeds them. Youth also makes tray and hands it to maidens saying that Who opens it shall get him. No one can open it. Tray comes to bad-looking maiden and Spider Woman tells her to sing. So, secretly singing, maiden opens it and owns youth. Pretty maidens are sad and angry. Youth takes maiden to his house. His mother bathes her and she becomes pretty. They make her bridal costume and she goes home, youth following. They sleep there twice, and second time she does not get up. Mother of maiden goes and tells them to get up, Maiden has turned into dog, which jumps down and runs away.


Next: 42.--The Blind Man and the Lame Man.