The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-11-19
IN INDIAN TRADITION.
The story OF the Deluss on this Con-
tinent.


exists among the Papago Indians respecting
Montezuma, their founder, and the deluge, nas,
we believe, never yet appeared in print; aI ieas'
not In its present shape. 1t was reialeu W
CAPTAIN Con Ouan, an aged and mteliigent
member OF the tribe, and was taken down
nom his lips by an interpreter for Judge Henry
T. Backus, of Arizona Territory. Judge Backus
has visited many of the places mentioned In
the legend, and has been an eyewitness OF
the ouadrsnnial feast still celebrated at the
cave. He represents the Papagoes as being
nominally Catholics, yet clinging to their ma
tional traditions with great tenacity, and cner-
ishing the memory of Montezuma with even
more than sanity veneration.
The tradition of the deluge is interesting IN
It's relation to the origin OF the Indians OF tne
country, and especially Of the ancient tribes
who lived in the twilight of civilization, un:!
the Spanish Christians annihilated them. Did
theS bring this tradition with them from the
Asisfic continent! Or, did they come in con-
tact with the people Of the old world, antece-
dent to any historical evidence OF that TACT,
from whom they derived this tradition!
THESE are INQUIRIES naturally suggested by
the following narrative. Montezuma, it will
be understood, is not the monarch OF that
name whom Cortes dethroned. 1t is the gen.
oric term of their rulers, like Pharaoh, Cesar,
&c.
Before the food men lived to a great age, 80
that they lost their teeth and crept about Ike
children. After o time they would get new
teeth. and walk upright again like men In the
prime of life. Then 1t was that the Great
Spirit created the mountains and peopled the
earth on all sides. Then, too animals talked
like men, and were the first to tell of the ap-
preaching Hood. About this time appeared
Montezuma, who collected large quantity of
gum, which is said to be insoluble In water,
and with other materials. he built large YES
sci, In which he took refuge, closing and seal
ING the door behind him. In like manner
cayote or prairie dog crept into large cane
stalk and closed the ends against the water.
The food came up to the highest mountains,
and reached even the birds, which cried like
men with fright. When the waters came down,
Nontezuma and the cayote landed at Cerro
Prietta, which mountain some believe to be
Nontezuma's vessel.
According to another tradition they landed
In the centre OF the Garth, ana, having come
out Of their vessels, MonteZuma noticed the
trail Of beetle, which he followed until he
found the beetle fast in the mud. He then
turned back. and meeting the cayote, they en-
braced each other In grief, Montezuma sent
the cayote southwark to find the sea, which it
soon found and returned, when It was sent on
the same eirand to the northward, but re-
turned unsuccessful They then lay down to
sleep, when MonteZuma dreamed that he
should form men and women out of clay,
which he accordingly did, making two for each
nation. Meanwhile the cayote sat behind him
also making men, but the latter were in-form-
Cd. 90 that Montezuma ordered them TO be re-
moved His own people multiplied rapidly,
and built large city on the north. bank OF a
river, supposed to be at the mouth or Salt
River, in Arizona, where the remains OF large
bitches are still visible.
Montezums next travelled southwark, fol-
lowed by large numbers ofpeople. In accord
ance with dream, he thrust rod into the
earth, and water flowed thence, which is the
origin Of the springs at Santa Rosa and else
where. After time the Great Spirit appear
ed to Nontezuma as an old man, and asked to
baptize the people. that they might live be-
yond the sky after death, but MonteZuma be-
came angry and killed the Great Spirit. Then
fhe latter arose from the dead by night and
rereated the request, when Montezuma grew
ancry again, declared that he would take
HE naople to Heaven by tower, and killed
the Great Spirit a second time, leaving him
on the ground, where he was dragged about
as plaything for four years; He then re-
turned to Heaven, removing the sun Iurtnsr
nom the earth as he ascended.
After a long interval he descended again
Nth fne same request as before. At this time
Montezuma was living at the Case Blanco, or
white house, close 70 the Pimo villages on the
ella River. The inside Of this house was over
laid with pure gold. A third time he slew the
Great Spirit, but the latter now becoming an
syry. threw louse into Spain, which led to an
Invasion by the Spaniards. Twice did Monte
zurna meet and repel the invaders, but before
the third engagement the golden ring flew
from the hnger of his daughter to the finger of
the SPANISH commander, and the silver ring OF
the latter few to the finger Of the former.
Thus did she become leagued with the enemy,
and when they were out Of provisions she
prevailed upon her people to throw them to-
1Daf& Instead Of arrows, and thus they were
ted st Nontezuma's expense. After many
severe conflicts the Spaniards were victorious,
when the traitorous princess demanded the
hand of the commander In marriage. he
agreed to this ON condition that an eagle
which hs set free should aight on prickly
near tree. The eagle did so, and the comman-
der started to celebrate the marriage at the
near tree, being followed by large train OF
Pspaeoes; but, under the pretext Of getting
violins, powder, &C., he travelled on and on
until the Indians all deserted him.
Hencetorth, as the story goes. MonteZuma
made no improvements, and his people were
scattered over the country. He afterward de-
posted the archives Of the Papago and Pimo
nations in q cave near Santa Rosa, and order
ed that they celebrate feast there every
fourth year, which custom is still observed.
The nation gradually diminished, and Monte
yuma wandered about until the Indians have
lost all traces of him.