The Dawn of the World: Part I: Ancient Myths: Nek'-na-...
The Dawn of the World, by C. Hart Merriam, [1910]
A TALE OF THE NORTHERN MEWUK
As told at Wal'-le near the Canyon of Mokelumne River
PERSONAGES
Nek'-na-kā'-tah the Rock Maiden
Oo-soo'-ma-te the Grizzly Bear
Click to enlarge
Ancient Mortar-holes in the Granite Rock
IN the mountains among the rocks by the river lives Nek'-na-kā'-tah, the little rock girl. She is herself a rock and always lives in rocky places by the river. In some way she produces or gives off people; these people are hard like rocks and you can not cut them or shoot them with an arrow.
A long time ago Oo-soo'-ma-te the Grizzly Bear and Hoi-yah'-ko the FIRST PEOPLE, made the Chaw'-se or mortar holes in the big flat-topped rocks. Then Nek'-na-kā'-tah the rock maiden came and helped make the Kah-wah'-che or stone pestles for the people to pound acorns with.