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

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

Collected and edited by C. Hart Merriam (1910), this volume documents the mythology of the Mewan tribes of central California. The collection contains two parts: "Ancient Myths" featuring creation narratives and tales of the First People—divine beings including Coyote-man the Creator, Wek'wek the Falcon, and Mol'luk the Condor—and "Present Day Myths" recording contemporary beliefs about animals, ghosts, natural phenomena, and supernatural beings.

Key narratives include the theft of fire and sun, transformations of First People into animals and natural objects, creation of humans from feathers or clay, and acquisition of five fingers. Tales describe adventures of early beings, their struggles against giants and Rock Giants, and the theft and concealment of fire in the buckeye tree. The volume includes beliefs concerning thunder, rainbows, earthquakes, witches, pigmies, water-people, and mermaids, along with tribal variants. Illustrated with paintings by E. W. Deming and C. J. Hittell, plus scientific nomenclature and bibliography.