The Dawn of the World: Myths and Weird Tales Told by the Mewan Indians of California

# Catalog Note: "Myths and Weird Tales Told by the Mewan Indians of California"

Collected and edited by C. Hart Merriam and published by The Clarke Company (Cleveland, 1910), this ethnographic volume documents the mythology and contemporary beliefs of the Mewan tribes of central California. Part I presents twenty-nine ancient myths featuring the First People—supernatural beings who preceded humans and were eventually transformed into animals, natural phenomena, and celestial bodies. Key tales include the theft of fire and sun by characters like Ah-ha'-le and Tol'-le-loo; the creation of humans by Coyote-man (the Creator); and the exploits of Wek'-wek the Falcon and other divinities. Recurring themes involve magical objects, giants, floods, and the acquisition of fire preserved in the buckeye tree. Part II catalogs contemporary beliefs about animals, ghosts, natural phenomena, witches, and fabulous beings. The volume includes illustrations by E. W. Deming and C. J. Hittell, tribal distribution maps, and indexes of scientific names and bibliography.