Search for the Middle of the World – A Zuni Legend
The Zuni people, an indigenous tribe of the American Southwest, possess a rich tapestry of oral traditions passed down through generations. Among these captivating narratives is the legend of the search for the "Middle of the World," a quest driven by the desire for stability, peace, and a harmonious relationship with the Earth. This compelling story, as retold by Katharine Berry Judson in her 1916 compilation, Myths and Legends of California and the Old Southwest, offers a glimpse into the Zuni worldview, their understanding of creation, and their persistent pursuit of a sacred center. The legend of the Search for the Middle of the World is more than just a story; it’s a reflection of the Zuni people’s spiritual journey.
The narrative begins in a primordial era, a time when the world itself was young and volatile. Earthquakes frequently shook the ground, causing rifts and fissures. From the depths of the underworld, demons and monstrous creatures emerged, unleashing chaos and fear upon the land. The creatures of the earth were transformed; some became fierce predators, while others turned into prey, creating an atmosphere of constant dread. Black magic flourished, and the people, overwhelmed by fear, abandoned their possessions and became wanderers, subsisting on meager resources like grass seeds and scavenging dead animals.
Amidst this turmoil, hope remained in the form of the "Beloved Twain," divine beings who guided the people. These deities led them on a journey, a quest "in the light and under the pathway of the Sun," to find the Middle of the World. The Zuni believed that only by locating this sacred center could they find true rest and the earth achieve a state of equilibrium. This initial period of wandering was marked by hardship and the constant threat of the supernatural. The Search for the Middle of the World wasn’t just a physical journey, but a spiritual one as well.
At the "First of Sitting Places," the people paused, but their respite was temporary. They remained vulnerable, unskilled, and the world remained unstable. Demons and monsters continued to emerge during the earth’s tremors, posing a constant danger. Recognizing the precarious situation, the Beloved Twain convened to discuss how to create a more stable and secure environment for humanity. The Elder suggested a drastic measure: unleashing the power of thunderbolts upon the four regions of the world. This action, they believed, would cause immense upheaval – the earth would heave, fire would engulf the land, floods of hot water would sweep across it, and smoke would darken the sky. However, this cataclysmic event would ultimately make the earth safer for humankind.
The Beloved Twain unleashed their thunderbolts. The mountains trembled, the plains cracked, and fires raged, followed by devastating floods. These events created both destruction and refuge. Hollow places became sanctuaries for both humans and creatures. Where beings huddled together and were consumed by the blasts, their blood flowed in torrents, later transforming into the black rocks of the lower mesas. Vast plains of dust, ashes, and cinders emerged, colored red like the hearth. Yet, amidst the devastation, pockets of untouched land remained, where trees and grasses thrived, and flowers bloomed. After the cataclysm, the earth became more stable and drier, and the lone places less fearsome, as many of the monsters were transformed into stone. This violent transformation was a necessary step in the Search for the Middle of the World, purging the land of its initial chaos.
Despite the relative stability, the earth continued to tremble periodically, unsettling the people. Once again, they decided to seek the Middle. They journeyed eastward to their second stopping place, the "Place of Bare Mountains." The world rumbled again, prompting them to move to a place called "Where-tree-boles-stand-in-the-midst-of-waters." They remained there for a significant period, believing they had finally found the Middle. They built homes and encountered others who had journeyed ahead, learning about warfare. This place was marked by strange occurrences and events, as recounted in ancient stories. However, when the earth groaned once more, the Twain instructed them to move on. Many resisted, clinging to their homes, and perished miserably, drawing a parallel to rats trapped in falling trees or flies caught in forbidden food.
The majority of the people, however, heeded the Twain’s call and continued their journey. They reached "Steam-mist-in-the-midst-of-waters," where they encountered people who had already established hearth fires and houses. A challenge arose between the newcomers and the established inhabitants, each claiming to be the "People of the Seed" and guided by the gods. The newcomers eventually settled in the town on the sunrise slope of the mountains of Kahluelawan. They lived there for a long time until the earth began to groan again. Reluctantly, they left, journeying eastward, seeking the Place of the Middle. Discontent grew among them, and when they found a promising location, they decided to settle, hoping it was the true Middle.
At this new location, called "The Place of Sacred Stealing," they built larger and stronger homes, reflecting their increased numbers and wisdom. However, they recognized their own imperfections, particularly their physical appearance, which included tails and animal skins. They also faced challenges in hunting and warfare against older nations. The gods convened a council and decided to transform the people. The Twain declared that they would walk upright, clothed in garments, and without tails, enabling them to sit more comfortably in council, without webbed feet or talons.
The people were arranged in a procession, and the Twain, using their weapons and lightning fires, removed their forelocks, talons, and webbing. The process was painful, and some cried out in agony. Those who resisted and fled, climbing trees and high places, were transformed into creatures resembling wizened men-children, with long tails and hands, sometimes seen in the distant Summerland.
The transformed people grew in strength and became more adept at warfare. However, they also became vain, believing they had finally reached the Place of the Middle and refusing to wander further, even when the earth trembled and the Twain instructed them to move on. As the people changed, so did the Twain, becoming smaller, misshapen, and unyielding. They taught the people to wage war and led them eastward.
Eventually, the people reached great towns built on high ground in the eastern plains. These towns were prosperous, with fertile fields and advanced irrigation systems. The Zuni ancestors, driven by hunger after their long wanderings, grew envious and often engaged in battle. They were met with fierce resistance, led by the Ancient Woman of the Elder People, who carried her heart in her rattle and was impervious to wounds. Thunder, rain, and the enemy’s war magic initially hindered the Zuni warriors. However, the Two Little Ones sought counsel from the Sun-father, who revealed the Ancient Woman’s life secret and the magic powers of the mountain dwellers. This knowledge allowed the Zuni to overcome their enemies and conquer the mountain town. They spared those who were wise and knowledgeable, incorporating them into their kinship of the Black Corn. Despite their victory, the tremors and warnings persisted, prompting the continued Search for the Middle of the World.
A grand council was convened, bringing together humans, beasts, birds, and insects. It was suggested that Water-skate, with his six long legs, could feel the six regions of the world and identify the Middle. When Water-skate appeared, it was revealed to be the Sun-father in disguise. He extended his finger-feet to the north, west, south, east, northeast, and southwest, touching the great waters in each direction. His finger-foot grew cold in the north, so he withdrew it. He then settled upon the earth and declared that the spot where his heart rested should be marked and a town built, for it was the Mid-most Place of the Earth-mother.
The Sun-father’s heart rested over the middle of the plain and valley of Zuni. When he withdrew his finger-legs, trail roads appeared, leading out and into the mid-most place like the stays of a spider’s nest. The priest’s father, recognizing their good fortune in finding the stable Middle, named the town the "Abiding-place-of-happy-fortune." This marked the culmination of the long Search for the Middle of the World, a journey that defined the Zuni people and their relationship with the Earth.