# The Revenge of the Two Brothers on the Háwikuhkwe, or the Two Little Ones and Their Turkeys explained — Zuni Folktales

> Chapter companion for Zuni Folktales by Frank Hamilton Cushing.

## What happens

Áhaiyúta and his younger brother live with their grandmother on Twin Mountain, tending a large flock of turkeys. After the turkeys stray into Háwikuh territory, the people of Háwikuh hunt and kill most of them. The surviving turkeys return to the boys, who vow revenge. With guidance from their grandmother, they seek help from their grandfathers, the Rainbow-worm and the old Turtle. The boys defeat the Háwikuhkwe, take scalps, and initiate a victory ceremony. The old Turtle serves as master of ceremonies, and the grandmother fulfills multiple roles. The story explains the origins of the Ceremony of Victory and why rainbow-worms are small and turtles in faraway waters are large.

## Themes in this chapter

### Sacrifice and Consequence

The loss of the turkeys leads to a cycle of revenge and the establishment of a ceremonial tradition, with lasting consequences for the Rainbow-worm and Turtle.

### Transformation and Identity

The boys transform from heedless herders into warriors and ceremonial leaders; the Turtle's pride transforms his size and habitat.

## Character check-ins

### Áhaiyúta

One of the two brothers who seeks revenge after the Háwikuhkwe kill their turkeys; leads the victory ceremony.

### The Old Grandmother

Grandmother of the two brothers; advises them to seek help from their grandfathers and participates in the victory ceremony.

### The Turtle

Grandfather of the boys; serves as master of ceremonies for the victory dance and later leaves for the Western Waters.

### The Turkeys

The flock of turkeys owned by the boys; most are killed by the Háwikuhkwe, but a few survive and return.

### Etawa

An old turtle who announces the victory and participates in the ceremony; later becomes proud and leaves.

## Key lines

> Said the grandmother to the boys, late one morning: 'Let your poor Turkeys out, for they will starve, poor birds, if you do not let them out oftener.'

The grandmother urged the boys to release their turkeys so they wouldn't starve.

_Shows the grandmother's concern for the turkeys' welfare._

> I-wo-loh-kia-a—a—a! called the Turkey, so that they could just hear him; and as that means 'Murder! Murder!'

The turkey's cry of 'I-wo-loh-kia-a—a—a!' signaled that a killing had occurred.

_Highlights the alarm and the cultural meaning of the turkey's call._

> That's the reason why today we have so many song-masters and singers, dance leaders and dancers, priests and common people, father clans and mother clans, in the great Ceremony of Victory.

This story explains why the Victory Ceremony now includes many different roles and participants.

_Provides an etiological explanation for ceremonial complexity._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/zuni_folktales_se/chapters/the-revenge-of-the-two-brothers-on-the-h-wikuhkwe-or-the-two-little-ones-and-their-turkeys
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/zuni_folktales_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/zuni_folktales_se/chapters