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The Dawn of the World

Myths and Weird Tales Told by the Mewan [Miwok] Indians of California

By C. Hart Merriam (1910)


Summary

Recital of the Ancient Myths in the Roundhouse at Night

Presented here are tales of told by Miwok elders to Dr. Merriam, who collected such tales back when there was little or no interest in the matter. The tales in this book were told by Miwok elders of Central California “after the first rains of the winter season, usually in the ceremonial roundhouse and always at night by the dim light of a small flickering fire. They constitute the religious history of the tribe . . .” They were collected between 1890 and 1910. References to First People in this book are to half human, half animal gods that existed in ancient times, before modern people were created.
        — Dan Anderson, 2004



Contents

Part I: Ancient Myths

Hoi-ah'-ko Tales of the Southern Mewuk

 

Part 2: Present Day Myths

Beliefs Concerning Animals

Beliefs concerning Ghosts and the Sign of Death

Beliefs Concerning Natural Phenomena

Beliefs Concerning Witches, Pigmies, Giants, and
other Fabulous Beings

The Rock Giants


Bibliographical Information

Portrait of C. Hart Merriam
C. Hart Merriam

C. Hart Merriam (Clinton Hart Merriam, M.D.), 1855-1942, ed. The Dawn of the World; Tales Told by the Mewan Indians of California, Collected and Edited by C. Hart Merriam (Cleveland: The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1910). 273 p. including plates (some in color). map. color frontispiece. Octavo, 25 cm. Bown in red cloth with gilt lettering on spine. Rough-cut pages, top edge gilt. Library of Congress Call Number E99.M69 M5. LCCN 10-009808. Bibliographies: Clark & Burnet 160, Cowan (2) 425, Rocq. 15596. Note: Mewan is an southern Miwok variation of Miwok and means “people.”

Scanned by J. B. Hare, redactor, at sacred-texts.com, August 2003. These files may be used for any non-commercial purpose, provided this notice of attribution is left intact.

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