{"collection":"Native American","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/nam/ca/dow/dow48.htm","path":"nam/ca/dow/dow48.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/nam/ca/dow/dow48.htm","text":"The Dawn of the World, by C. Hart Merriam, [1910]\nThe Olayome of Putah Creek say:\nHoo-yu'-mah the Meadowlark understands and speaks our language. He often makes disagreeable remarks; we often hear him say, \"I see you are angry,\" and other mean things.\nNOTE. In the Ancient Myths it has already been shown that the Northern Me'-wuk and Wi'-p\u0101 tribes of Mewan stock, and the P\u0101'-we-nan tribe of Midoo stock, hold the Meadowlark responsible for the failure of dead people to rise on the third or fourth day and come to life again (see pages\n[paragraph continues] 55-56 and 132). This belief is widespread among the Mewan tribes and is held also by at least one Pomo tribe-the `Ham'-fo or Koi'-im-fo of Clear Lake.\nAll the Mewan tribes, and many belonging to widely different stocks--including even the Washoo of Lake Tahoe and adjacent valleys east of the Sierra--class the Meadowlark among the bad birds. They say he talks too much and is a gossip and they do not like him. The Washoo call him Se-soo'-te'-al-le and, like several other tribes, insist that he talks to them in their own language and always makes uncomplimentary remarks. He tells them that he sees right through them; that they are stingy and provide only food enough for themselves; that they are dark on the outside only and under the skin are as white and mean as a white man, and so on.\nThe Mariposa Mewuk say:\nIf a person breaks a Meadowlark's egg it will rain.","title":"The Dawn of the World: Beliefs Concerning Animals: The Meadowlark, a Gossip and Troublemaker","type":"page"}