c-ray
02-26-2007, 02:02 PM
from http://www.hotcakencyclopedia.com/ho.TobaccoOriginMyth.html
retold by Richard L. Dieterle
Version 1. When Earthmaker created the various spirits, he appointed each to be in charge of some particular power. Man was the very last of his creations, and there was nothing left for him to command. He had almost no power at all: even insects can see four days into the future, but man doesn't even have foreknowledge of the next day. Then Earthmaker created a weed called tanī, "tobacco." He showed the spirits how this was to be used by mashing up the leaves in a pipe and smoking them. All the spirits wanted to be in charge of this weed, and many of the most powerful thought they would surely be given control over it. However, Earthmaker said, "Since man is the only one of my creations that is poor, I shall give him charge of tobacco; and whenever men shall offer tobacco and ask for something, we shall not be able to refuse it." Thus tobacco is the natural possession of man, and he can use it to gain power from the spirits. [1]
Version 2 (of the Nebraska Hotcāgara). After Mā'ūna (Earthmaker) created the world, he fashioned all the living things that inhabit it: the birds, the animals, and the insects. To each of these he assigned a purpose, and ever after they have lived in pursuit of the ends they were given. When he had done with this, Mā'ūna created the two-legged walkers. He gave them free minds with which they could on their own discover their Creator and by which they could learn to do things for themselves. Yet Mā'ūna did not create the two-legged walkers with some specific purpose that they were to fulfill. This they had to find for themselves with their free minds.
It saddened Mā'ūna to see that the creatures with free mind were the lowest and weakest of all creatures, so he set out to bring some balance to the cadenza of his creation. Mā'ūna created a special plant which he gave to the two-legged walkers in order that they might obtains blessings through it. This plant was tobacco. Because of the odor of the smoke of this plant, Mā'ūna instilled in all other creatures a desire for it. He said to all the spirits, "Whenever the two-legged walkers offer you so much as a pipe full of tobacco, you are going to grant their wishes even before you have taken in the smell of its incense. You must bless them with what they request even before you receive their offering. Neither shall you have the power to take the tobacco from him, no matter what forces lie at your disposal. I, Mā'ūna, cannot take this gift from them. This is my promise." [2]
Version 3 (of the Medicine Rite). When Earthmaker created all things he ordained that every one of the spirits, as many as there are, should long for the taste and the aroma of tobacco. The spirits asked one another, "Who shall control this Life-evoking herb? Surely none other but we ourselves," they said. When they met together, Hare stood up among the spirits and said, "It is my aunts and uncles who shall control tobacco. No spirit shall take any tobacco unless something is offered the two-legged walkers in return. Thus has the Creator made things. Indeed, not even he shall receive tobacco except from the humans. So when any of you spirits accept a pipe full of tobacco, smoke it heartily, but do not fail to give the humans something in return. Thus has the Created ordained things." In this way did Our Nephew speak.
The lives of men were short, but by this Life-evoking herb did the Creator extend the lives of the two-legged walkers through the gifts of the spirits. [3]
Version 4 (of the Medicine Rite). When the Creator made us we were naked and without any possessions. When the Creator distributed power among all creatures, he bestowed upon man so little life that it was no more than what the smallest insects that cover the earth have. Indeed our lives were shorter than even these insects. By the time he had reached his last creation, the Creator had bestowed almost all the life power that there was, leaving but little for us. We had but half a life and could not even see into the future. Thus we were the least of all creatures. Then the Creator bestow upon us that prayer compelling gift, tobacco, the mean by which we may obtain great Life. Thus did our ancestors obtain the prayer compelling means of Life. [4]
Notes:
[1] Paul Radin, The Winnebago Tribe (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1990 [1923]) 18, cf. p. 389.
[2] Kathleen Danker and Felix White, Sr., The Hollow of Echoes (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1978) 31. Informant: Felix White, Sr.
[3] Paul Radin, The Road of Life and Death: A Ritual Drama of the American Indians. Bollingen Series V (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1973 [1945]) 151.
[4] Radin, The Road of Life and Death, 163.
retold by Richard L. Dieterle
Version 1. When Earthmaker created the various spirits, he appointed each to be in charge of some particular power. Man was the very last of his creations, and there was nothing left for him to command. He had almost no power at all: even insects can see four days into the future, but man doesn't even have foreknowledge of the next day. Then Earthmaker created a weed called tanī, "tobacco." He showed the spirits how this was to be used by mashing up the leaves in a pipe and smoking them. All the spirits wanted to be in charge of this weed, and many of the most powerful thought they would surely be given control over it. However, Earthmaker said, "Since man is the only one of my creations that is poor, I shall give him charge of tobacco; and whenever men shall offer tobacco and ask for something, we shall not be able to refuse it." Thus tobacco is the natural possession of man, and he can use it to gain power from the spirits. [1]
Version 2 (of the Nebraska Hotcāgara). After Mā'ūna (Earthmaker) created the world, he fashioned all the living things that inhabit it: the birds, the animals, and the insects. To each of these he assigned a purpose, and ever after they have lived in pursuit of the ends they were given. When he had done with this, Mā'ūna created the two-legged walkers. He gave them free minds with which they could on their own discover their Creator and by which they could learn to do things for themselves. Yet Mā'ūna did not create the two-legged walkers with some specific purpose that they were to fulfill. This they had to find for themselves with their free minds.
It saddened Mā'ūna to see that the creatures with free mind were the lowest and weakest of all creatures, so he set out to bring some balance to the cadenza of his creation. Mā'ūna created a special plant which he gave to the two-legged walkers in order that they might obtains blessings through it. This plant was tobacco. Because of the odor of the smoke of this plant, Mā'ūna instilled in all other creatures a desire for it. He said to all the spirits, "Whenever the two-legged walkers offer you so much as a pipe full of tobacco, you are going to grant their wishes even before you have taken in the smell of its incense. You must bless them with what they request even before you receive their offering. Neither shall you have the power to take the tobacco from him, no matter what forces lie at your disposal. I, Mā'ūna, cannot take this gift from them. This is my promise." [2]
Version 3 (of the Medicine Rite). When Earthmaker created all things he ordained that every one of the spirits, as many as there are, should long for the taste and the aroma of tobacco. The spirits asked one another, "Who shall control this Life-evoking herb? Surely none other but we ourselves," they said. When they met together, Hare stood up among the spirits and said, "It is my aunts and uncles who shall control tobacco. No spirit shall take any tobacco unless something is offered the two-legged walkers in return. Thus has the Creator made things. Indeed, not even he shall receive tobacco except from the humans. So when any of you spirits accept a pipe full of tobacco, smoke it heartily, but do not fail to give the humans something in return. Thus has the Created ordained things." In this way did Our Nephew speak.
The lives of men were short, but by this Life-evoking herb did the Creator extend the lives of the two-legged walkers through the gifts of the spirits. [3]
Version 4 (of the Medicine Rite). When the Creator made us we were naked and without any possessions. When the Creator distributed power among all creatures, he bestowed upon man so little life that it was no more than what the smallest insects that cover the earth have. Indeed our lives were shorter than even these insects. By the time he had reached his last creation, the Creator had bestowed almost all the life power that there was, leaving but little for us. We had but half a life and could not even see into the future. Thus we were the least of all creatures. Then the Creator bestow upon us that prayer compelling gift, tobacco, the mean by which we may obtain great Life. Thus did our ancestors obtain the prayer compelling means of Life. [4]
Notes:
[1] Paul Radin, The Winnebago Tribe (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1990 [1923]) 18, cf. p. 389.
[2] Kathleen Danker and Felix White, Sr., The Hollow of Echoes (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1978) 31. Informant: Felix White, Sr.
[3] Paul Radin, The Road of Life and Death: A Ritual Drama of the American Indians. Bollingen Series V (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1973 [1945]) 151.
[4] Radin, The Road of Life and Death, 163.