До Адама

           Wecarriedwateronlyforourselves,andweoftenmockedtheyoungwater-carrierswhentheywerecalledawayfromplaytofillthegourds.

           Progresswasslowwithus.Weplayedthroughlife,eventheadults,muchinthesamewaythatchildrenplay,andweplayedasnoneoftheotheranimalsplayed.Whatlittlewelearned,wasusuallyinthecourseofplay,andwasduetoourcuriosityandkeennessofappreciation.Forthatmatter,theonebiginventionofthehorde,duringthetimeIlivedwithit,wastheuseofgourds.Atfirstwestoredonlywaterinthegourds—inimitationofoldMarrow-Bone.

           Butonedaysomeoneofthewomen—Idonotknowwhichone—filledagourdwithblack-berriesandcarriedittohercave.Innotimeallthewomenwerecarryingberriesandnutsandrootsinthegourds.Theidea,oncestarted,hadtogoon.Anotherevolutionofthecarrying-receptaclewasduetothewomen.Withoutdoubt,somewoman’sgourdwastoosmall,orelseshehadforgottenhergourd;butbethatasitmay,shebenttwogreatleavestogether,pinningtheseamswithtwigs,andcarriedhomeabiggerquantityofberriesthancouldhavebeencontainedinthelargestgourd.

           Sofarwegot,andnofarther,inthetransportationofsuppliesduringtheyearsIlivedwiththeFolk.Itneverenteredanybody’sheadtoweaveabasketoutofwillow-withes.Sometimesthemenandwomentiedtoughvinesaboutthebundlesoffernsandbranchesthattheycarriedtothecavestosleepupon.Possiblyintenortwentygenerationswemighthaveworkeduptotheweavingofbaskets.