Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1853-11-19
Interesting Indian Tradition.


A Monterey correspondent Of the San
Joaquin Republican, whose interesting
legendary communication we have al
ready noticed, furnishes that pater with
another curious chapter on Indian iradi.
tion, we'll worthy preserving:
Another trsdition is related by an lndi-
an with the same lively interest as If the
event had occurred but yesterday. | oil.
lude to the story which refers TO The time
when Monte Disblo was an sctive volca.
no. But 10 the question, and 10 the lie.
gend, merely giving in the Indians own
words, the salient points.
Many hunjred years ago our ancestors
were the great Mani,ons Of their race,
they governed this country, and were
obeyed by every tribe from the noun
tains of the rising sun to the stand of the
western wave. The coast of tho Big Wa.
ter was then chain of unbroken noun
tains; their burning peaks like signal
fires sent forth cheerful light amidst the
gloom of da, kness and no less grand
were the volumes OF smoke by day, as
they stretched towards he sky like pill
lars supporting the blue vault above, or
spires ascending from the temple of the
Spirit of the Earth. Then the interior
country was one broad expanse of lakes,
islands, inlets, outlets and channels,
stretching like vast net from north to
south. Where the valleys Of the Sacra-
menlo and San Joaquin and the Bay of
San Francisco now are, foated the tiny
feet of canoes, manned by the powerful
arms of thousand braves. The lake
contained abundance of every variety Of
fish, and on its placid bosom rested the
balzas of s,alwart fishermen, who pur.
sued their daily vocation, ignorant of the
fact that that the elemen: from which they
were then Obtaining subsistence, was
hanging over an ocean of lava. Animals
,hronged the mountains and valleys; cit
les lined the shores Of the lake ; all was
peace and happiness, The Kissing ser.
pent, the baneful cenlipede, and The fatal
,arantula we're not then known; nor had
the pale face, whose character is yet
more detes,ed than either of these, de-
stroyed our faith with his forked tongue.
In this manner did our ancestors live
in peace and conten.men,. They had nc
wars nor contentions--lhe Salsonas wert
our friends-Pan-wa.che was their chief
But they became proud and naughty
wealth had taught them tyranny, and av
arice aided by superstition, made then
Cannibals. Human sacrifices were of
!. fered every new moon. that the Grea
:. Spirit of Darkness might not be angry
y but smile on their labors. But contrar
), to their anticipations, the Great Spirit Q
=. Light chastised them with an awful pur
- ishment-frst with water, afterward
with fire. A mi ghty storm came an
,. " sunk all their canoes the lake overfowe
=. its banks, carrying off everything, cite
y y and towns, with their ibhabi ants, wer
y washed away. Then came noise as
- ten thousand thunders had exploded i
! a moment the lake rushed into the sea
- the sea again receded into the lake tn
, earth shook from its centre, and from il
. bowels shot forth, rs high as the SUI
" CLEANS of fire, and showers of ashes
i The sun first turned red, then black to-
~ rents of red ho. water (Iaea) rushed dow
:, the mountains, destroyed all that lived.
:" More than two.,hrds Of of our peop
i n we're lost. For the Great Spirit of Ligh
~ who has the power to bind, though. pro]
:. er not to destroy all our people, and S
= fenced the thundere. Then sllone ii
:, sun in all its splendor. What scene
i. All was gone where the beautiful lax
:, was: nothing but barren sand remained
in vain did we seek for water, none coul
- he found--after many days search we cam
~ to water it was salt The mountains
- the coas. had been rent asunder, our OF
- - oient war.path divided, and the Big Wa,e
- ~ Of the West filled the crevice, and hs
:, formed the Bay Of Salsona, (San Fra,
- - cisco.) The lake was indeed gone. b.
=. =, two large rivers, (Which he represente
" by holding up his arms,) flowed gent
'. along to give the Indian water. Life W,
;. again restored to the world, and order r.
~ ~ gained her power. The anger Of Il
.. a. Great Spirit Of Light was appeased, al
u he granted us promise that while yo
-, ~ der mountain burned, (pointing in the q
-, ~ rection Of Mount Diabolo,) this countl
~ :, would not again be destroyed.