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

This 1910 collection by ethnologist C. Hart Merriam presents Mewan Indian mythology from central California tribes. Part I contains ancient creation myths and trickster narratives featuring supernatural beings—the FIRST PEOPLE who later transformed into animals and natural phenomena. Key tales include how Coyote-man created present-day Indians; how fire was stolen from distant guardians and preserved in the buckeye tree; how the Falcon-god Wek'-wek acquired supernatural powers; and how Meadowlark-man prevented human immortality. Part II documents contemporary Mewan beliefs about animal behavior, ghosts, natural phenomena like thunder and rainbows, and fabulous beings including giants and water-women. The myths employ recurring motifs: universal primordial darkness, the theft and distribution of fire, transformation of divine beings into natural objects, and a dome-shaped sky with cardinal openings. Illustrated with paintings by E.W. Deming and C.J. Hittell.