XIII
THE
GIFT OF THE FLUTES
AY
after day, season after season, year after year the people of Cibola
danced the
dance of the Beautiful Corn Wands until they grew weary and yearned for
different music, and another dance form.
"How is it,"
said one, "that the
birds have the power to make wonderful music? Surely it must be very
pleasing
to the Gods, and yet we can only sing in a very dull manner.
"Why not ask
Páiyatuma to help us,"
said a very wise old man. And so the people went to the Priests of the
Bow and
put the matter before them.
They agreed
to send four of their bravest men
to the home of the God of Dew that they might ask for something with
which to
enliven their ceremonies.
Early the
next day the priests went forth, one
following the other; and after they had passed some distance up the
trail of
the river, they heard the sound of a drum and strains of song now and
then
echoing down from the Sacred Mountain. They knew that the sounds came
from the
Cave of the Rainbow, and they hastened forward. As they neared the
entrance mists
arose, and they knew that Páiyatuma was there.
They called
to know if they might enter, and
immediately the singing ceased, and they were bidden to come in and
sit.
Then
Páiyatuma came forward to them and
said,-"I have commanded the singers to cease, and the players to draw
breath from their flutes, that we might hear the message you bring,
since for
naught, never stranger visits the place of a stranger."
"True,"
replied the eldest of the
Priests of the Bow. "The fathers of our people have sent us, that we
might
greet you, and ask the light of your favor. The children of men know
that your
song-sounds, and the beauty of your ceremonies far surpass theirs; and
they ask
that you give them something with which to enliven their sacred dances,
and
they will make many plume-offerings to you in return for your gift."
THE
GIFT OF THE FLUTES.
White
mists floated up from the wands of the
maidens, and bending above was the rainbow.
"It shall be
as you wish," the God
said. "Sit by my side, and watch and listen."
To the left,
grouped around a great, terraced
world-bowl, clad in embroidered cotton mantles, were the players. Long
flutes
were in their hands, and the signs of the god-priests on their faces.
In their
midst was a drummer and also a bearer of the song-staff, and dignified
with
years were these men.
Páiyatuma
arose and scattered a line of pollen
on the floor, and folding his arms, walked to the rear of the cavern,
then
turned and advanced again. There followed him seven maidens, as
beautiful as
the Maidens of Corn, but taller and fainter of form. Their costumes
were also
alike, although differing somewhat in the hue of the mantles they wore.
And in
their hands they carried not tablets of the sun, the moon and the
stars, but
wands of cotton-wood from the branches of which tiny clouds floated
forth.
"These are
the sisters of the Maidens of
Corn," said the God. "They are of the House of the Stars."
He lifted
his flute, then took his place in the
line of the dancers. The drum sounded until the cavern shook as with
thunder.
The flutes sang and sighed as the wind in a wooded cañon after the
storm is
distant. White mists floated up from the wands of the maidens, and
mingled with
the breath of the flutes over the terraced world-bowl, above which flew
the
butterflies of Summerland, and over all the dress of the Rainbow
glistened in
the strange blue light of the night.
As if in a
dream, the Priests of the Bow
prepared to depart. They were awed by the beauty of that which they had
seen,
but Páiyatuma, smiling, gave them his breath with his hands. He called
four of
the players to him, and taking their flutes, gave one to each of the
warrior-priests.
"Go now to
the homes of our children. Tell
the fathers of the people of our customs, and present to them the
flutes that
men may sing as birds through bills of living wood and reeds from the
river
mists."
Then
silently the Priests of the Bow returned,
and entering the dance-court, placed the gifts of Páiyatuma before the
chief-priests of their people.
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