4

GENEALOGY OF LIGHTNING

Murzyr cy

After this,1

the sky produced two loud sounds;

one sound arose from Gulu Mountain,

one sound issued from Gulu Mountain,

arose from the mists on the right,

issued from the mists on the left;

arose from right ridges of the mountain

issued from the left ridges of the mountain.

Arose from the slopes of Gulu Mountain,

issued from the slopes of Gulu Mountain.

Arose from Jiejielajjie

issued from Jiejielajjie;

arose from the mists of Mabur,

issued from the mists of Mabur;

arose from the peaks of the white clouds,

issued from the peaks of the white clouds.

Rumbling thunder resounded in the human world.

Lightning raised its head to look at the sky,

looked at the sun from the corner of its eye,

then stretched out its hand to pull down the treetops,

so the treetops snapped one after another;

opened its mouth to chomp the cliffs,

so the cliffs crumbled one after another;

then used its feet to kick the ground,

kicked it into four pieces.

The twelve types of lightning,

during the three months of winter,

lived in the crags where the sun rises.

The Mother slept with its mouth shut,

the Son slept with its mouth shut;

during the three months of spring,

they lived beyond the skin of the Sky;2

the Mother snored, “Gu-lu-lu,”

the Son snored, “Gu-lu-lu.”

Thus is the genealogy of Lightning.