Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-06-16
An Amusing Tradition.

The unity of the human race has been a
question of multiplied discussions for the last
three centuries, and many books have been
published upon it, mainly by that class of
minds that have been trained to believe,
aud are tenacious in believing, that all the
races of men are sprung from single pair.
These generally labor to show that the black
and unprecedented races have gradually
acquired their hue from climatic causes,
and from peculiar habits, operating through
great length of time, thus assuming that
the original race WINS white, have recent
ly learned that the African view Of the ques-
ton is quite different, and the negro version
of Genesis makes Adam and Eve, at birth.
black; and, as an important link in the
confederation of conjecturaI scientifics, |
furnish the item.
A paper Just received from Paris, and
printed on the 9th December, 1852, con-
tains the account of visit made by trav-
eler to one of the voluntary associations or
clubs of the African race, in Peru, called
cofradius, where the negroes enjoy Them
selves, on Sunday in contemplation of their
national and traditional ideas which they
preserve in their literal integrity. On one
of the occasions, Mandingo sage thus re-
counted the dispersion Of the sons of Noah,
whom he depicted as black man, and the
father of the human race. Now, then, the
first man was born black. His sons were
three in number, and they were black like
their father. The patriach drawing towards
his end, assembled his progeny and said to
them -
Children. my life is drawing to close,
and we shall soon be separated. The hour
is come for me to reveal to you the wonder
full power of a cistern, which am going to
open to you. He of you that will plunge
into it may come forth with complete
transformations. You are free from this mo.
ment to make the trial of it,"
The three brothers consulted together, and
the eldest, probably Ham. decided on iv-
ing under the same form and with the same
robe as his father Shem initiated the ex-
ample cf his elder brother; blu, Japhet,
who already seemed to feel in his bosom
that rising boldness which he has transmit
ted TO his descendants, plunged resoIutely
into the miraculous clstern. The meta
morphose was immediate, and he reappear-
ed to the astonshed eyes of his brothers I'M
der the form of a beautiful Caucasian
youth. A duet of recrimination was mme-
diately raised against Noah, during which
the waters in the cistern began to decrease
with strange rapldty. Shem then chang.
ed his mind, and leaving Ham to choose
his own part, he descended in his turn to-
wards the nearly dried up water, took a
handful of mud, and with it rubbed his DO
dy. This simple lotion suficed to change
the dark ebony Of his skin to yellow col.
or AT sight of this, Ham, interruptng his
complaints, preclpitaes himself, at one
bound, to the bottom of the cistern, aight.
ing ON his feet and hands, and there ex-
hausted himself in efforts to drink me drop
Of the miraculous water. But, alas the
earth dried up in his grasp, and only The soIes
OF his leet, and palms of his hands and his
thick lips retained the enved color OF ia
phet. Barbarous father p cried he, in
his patois, "could you not tell meme. your
ciucst uOIH, Wildt virtue tHeSe waters COtl-
cealed, and what advantage would result to
me fro " Their contact! How shall live
now by the side of my brothers. for whom
am to he an object of dlsdaln p Thus
did Ham pour forth his grief, which seem
ed to take new recrudescence tune-his
pteous looks fell on the small surface
which the mosiened earth had whiened
The paternal bowels were moved, and Noah
still sand, " You are going once more to be
the arbiler of your destiny. God has given
me the power Of distributing among YOU
three gifts, name y--rches, independence,
and genius and leave you the first choice
as my irst-born" Alas who was it that
erred again! 1t was poor Ham. He chose
gold, Shem Independence, and Japhe,
joined to his beautiful form, genius, which
enabled him to rule his elders.-N Church
Messenger.