Arawak Creation Legends

   The myths of this Guiana tribe tell how Makonaima created the beasts of the forest and placed his son Sigu over them as king. In the forest was a tree of knowledge which Sigu cut down in order to plant its seeds all over the earth. From the stump, however, water began to gush forth and soon turned into a great deluge. The birds and climbing animals took refuge on the tree tops while the others were led by Sigu into a cave where they remained in safety until the disaster was over.

   There are other variants of this myth in Guiana. Aimon Kondi, who may be taken to be the same as Makonaima, first burnt the world with fire from which those who took refuge in caverns were the only ones to escape. They included Marerewana and his followers. The Macusis believe that the survivors of the deluge turned stones into human beings to populate the earth. In the Tamanac myth a man and a woman were saved by climbing to the top of a high mountain. The Warrau tribe tell how Okonorote, their culture hero, led the tribe to earth and how Korobona was seduced by a water demon and gave birth to the first Carib. Finally Maiso, the mother goddess of the Paressis, was the parent of all living things. They share a culture hero Kame with the Bakairi Caribs, the Karayas, and the Paraguayans. Details of this myth are given under Tupuya and Ges Indian Creation Legends.