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

by C. Hart Merriam, Clinton Hart Merriam, Merriam C Hart (Clinton Hart)

Book Overview

The stories collected in The Dawn of the World were related by the Miwok elders "after the first rains of the winter season, usually in the ceremonial roundhouse and always at night by the dim light of a flickering fire. They constitute the religious history of the tribe, and from time immemorial have been handed down by word of mouth," writes C. Hart Merriam. Included are creation myths and accounts of the First People, beings who antedated...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803281935
• ISBN13: 9780803281936
• Release Date: March 1993
• Publisher: Bison Books
• Length: 273 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

An good book concerning myth from Native California

Presented within a collection of stories given by American Indians all throughout California detailing the time of the First People (half human/animal gods) when the world was dark and cold, or after the time of a great flood to when the First People created People and reverted to animal form.There are many common themes in most of the world's mythology and you'll find them here as well: a Great Flood, Giants who ate people (like the Nephilim of the Bible [Genesis 6]), the theft of fire (like a certain Greek myth...), and various accounts of the creation of humanity.A very simple book, a simple collection, but very effective story telling, Dawn of the World is good for those wanting to look at what our ancestors knew about the world.