The Dawn of the World Myths and Tales of the Miwok Indians of California

The Dawn of the World is a book that explores the myths and tales of the Miwok Indians of California. Written by C. Hart Merriam, this book delves into the rich cultural heritage of the Miwok people, who have inhabited California for thousands of years. The book begins with an introduction to the Miwok people, their language, and their way of life. It then goes on to explore the creation myths of the Miwok people, which explain how the world was created and how humans came to be. The book also includes a variety of other stories, including tales of heroes and tricksters, stories of love and betrayal, and accounts of supernatural beings such as ghosts and spirits. Throughout the book, Merriam provides detailed explanations of the cultural significance of each myth and tale, as well as insights into the beliefs and values of the Miwok people. Overall, The Dawn of the World is a fascinating exploration of the rich cultural heritage of the Miwok Indians of California, and a valuable resource for anyone interested in Native American mythology and folklore.1910. The tales contained in this volume were told to Merriam by the Indians of a single stock, the Mewan, the tribes of which are confined to central California and have no known relatives in any part of the world. The myths are related by the old people after the first rains of the winter season, usually in the ceremonial roundhouse and always at night by the dim light of a small flickering fire. They constitute the religious history of the tribe, and from time immemorial have been handed down by word of mouth; from generation to generation they have been repeated, without loss and without addition. Some of the tales contained in this volume are: Why the Lizard Man did not restore Dead People to Life; The Coyote and the Lizard; The Creation of Man; How they got the Fire; The bear and the Fawns, as told by the Northern Mewuk; Why the Bodega Bay Indians can not stand Cold; and many more.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.