One night last week I picked up a book titled The Zunis, Self Portrayals, written by the Zuni people. The book is a collection of oral literature ranging from history, myths, and legends. The following is the first story in the section of "society," which also happens to be the first chapter.
"Many years ago when our grandparents foresaw what our future would be like, they spoke their profecies among themselves and passed them on to the children before them.
"Cities will progress and then decay to the ways of the lowest beings. Drinkers of dark liquids will come upon the land, speaking nonsense and filth. Then the end shall be nearer.
"Population will increase until the land can hold no more. The tribes of men will mix. The dark liquids they drink will cause the people to fight among themselves. Families will break up: father against children and the children against one another.
"Maybe when the people have outdone themselves, then maybe, the stars will fall upon the land, or drops of hot water will rain upon the earth. Or the land will turn under. Or our father, the sun, will not rise to start the day. Then our possessions will turn into beasts and devour us whole.
"If not, there will be an odor from gases, which will fill the air we breathe, and the end for us shall come.
"But the people themselves will bring upon themselves what they receive. From what has resulted, time alone will tell what the future holds for us."
No comments:
Post a Comment