The Men of the Early Times – A Zuni Legend
The Zuni people, an indigenous tribe with a rich cultural heritage rooted in the American Southwest, possess a profound understanding of their origins, meticulously preserved through generations of oral tradition. Among these narratives is a captivating legend that recounts the emergence of humankind, a tale that delves into the primal conditions of existence and the gradual adaptation of early beings to the world of light and form. This particular account, documented by Katharine Berry Judson in her 1916 work, Myths and Legends of California and the Old Southwest, offers a unique glimpse into the Zuni worldview and their perception of humanity’s formative years. The legend speaks of a time when the world operated under vastly different temporal parameters, a period of transition and adaptation for the beings who would eventually become the Zuni people.
According to the ancient lore, the early days of existence were marked by a distorted sense of time. What we now perceive as eight years transpired as a mere four days and nights. During this condensed epoch, the ancestral beings of the Zuni were gradually led from the depths of the "World of Seeing," a realm characterized by darkness and the unfamiliar. These beings, in their nascent form, were vastly different from modern humans, bearing physical traits that reflected their origins in the subterranean world. The men of the early times were not as we are today.
Imagine a world where the sun’s brilliance was an alien concept, where the creatures that walked the earth were more akin to the inhabitants of caves and watery depths. The Zuni legend paints a vivid picture of these early beings, describing them as having black skin, reminiscent of the caves from which they emerged. Their skin was cold and scaly, like that of mud creatures, a testament to their connection to the earth’s primordial elements. The men of the early times possessed eyes that were large and goggled, similar to those of owls, adapted to seeing in the dim light of their subterranean homes. Their ears resembled those of cave bats, capable of detecting the faintest sounds in the echoing darkness.
Furthermore, the anatomy of these early beings reflected their amphibious nature. Their feet were webbed, enabling them to navigate the wet and soft places that characterized their environment. They also possessed tails, the length of which varied depending on their age, a feature that further emphasized their evolutionary distance from modern humans. Their posture was also markedly different, reflecting their unfamiliarity with the world of light and open spaces. The men of the early times initially walked in a crouched position, crawling along the ground like lizards, hesitant to stand upright for fear of stumbling or falling in the uncertain light. This posture served as a physical manifestation of their adaptation to the low-ceilinged cave environments from which they originated.
The legend continues with the gradual acclimation of these early beings to the light of the celestial bodies. When the morning star, a harbinger of the sun’s arrival, first appeared in the sky, they were overwhelmed by its brightness. They blinked excessively and cried out, mistaking it for the Sun-father himself. However, it was merely the "elder of the Bright Ones," a celestial entity tasked with announcing the imminent arrival of the Sun-father, the most powerful of all the celestial beings.
The Sun-father’s arrival, symbolized by his "shield of flame," proved to be an even more intense experience. As he emerged low in the east, shrouded in the mists of the world’s waters, his light and glory blinded and overwhelmed the early beings. They fell to the ground, wallowing and covering their eyes with their hands and arms, desperately seeking to shield themselves from the intense brightness. Yet, despite their initial discomfort, they were drawn to the light, much like moths and other nocturnal creatures are drawn to a campfire. This innate attraction to light, a fundamental aspect of life, drove them to gradually adapt to its intensity.
Through repeated exposure to the Sun-father’s light, the men of the early times slowly began to adjust. They gradually became accustomed to its brilliance, their eyes adapting to the once-unbearable intensity. As they grew more comfortable in the light, they began to stand upright, abandoning their crouched posture and walking on their hind feet. This transition marked a significant step in their evolution, signifying their growing independence and their ability to navigate the world with greater confidence.
As they stood upright and looked upon each other for the first time, they became aware of their nakedness and sought to clothe themselves. They fashioned girdles and garments from bark and rushes, using the natural resources available to them to create rudimentary forms of clothing. Furthermore, as they walked on their hind feet, they found that their feet were easily bruised by the stones and sand that covered the ground. To protect themselves from these injuries, they plaited sandals from yucca fiber, demonstrating their ingenuity and their ability to adapt to the challenges of their environment. The men of the early times had to adapt to their new surroundings.
The Zuni legend of the men of the early times is more than just a historical account; it is a metaphorical narrative that explores the themes of creation, adaptation, and the emergence of human consciousness. It speaks to the inherent human drive to seek light and knowledge, to overcome challenges, and to adapt to new environments. It also highlights the importance of community and the collective effort required to navigate the complexities of existence.
Katharine Berry Judson’s work in preserving and documenting this legend provides a valuable service, allowing us to access and appreciate the rich cultural heritage of the Zuni people. Through this ancient tale, we gain a deeper understanding of their worldview, their beliefs, and their perception of humanity’s place in the cosmos. It serves as a reminder of the long and arduous journey that our ancestors undertook to become who we are today, and it inspires us to continue to strive for growth, adaptation, and a deeper understanding of the world around us. The story of the men of the early times shows how hard it was in the beginning.