The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-12-09
AN INDIAN TRADITION.
STORY OF rnt DrLrer on THIS CONTINENT

respecting ALODleZbLn2, tuGlr IUunucr, ana
the deluge. has, we believe, never yet APP
peared in print at least not in its pre-
sent shape. 1t was related By Capt Con
Ouan, an aged and intelligent member of
the tribe, and was taken down from his
lips by an Interpreter for Judge Henry L
Backus, of Ariznna Territory, and former
!y OF this city. Judge Backus has visited
many Of the places mentioned in the le-
gend, and has been an eye witness of the
quadrennlal feast still celebrated at the
cave. He represents the Papagoes as be
ing nomiaally Catholics, yet clinging to
their national traditions with great tena-
city, and cherishinE the memory Of Mon
tezuna with more than sanity yeneratiOn.
The traction Of the deluge is interesting
in It's relation TO the origin Of the Inlians
Of this country, and especially of the an
cient tribes who lived in the twilight of
civilization until the Spaniards annihilated
them. Did they bring this tradition with
them from the Aslatic continent? Or,
did they come in contact with the people
of the Old Country, antecedent to any his
torical evidence Of the fact, from whom
tAey UeflYeQ thlS traction
These are inquiries naturally suggested
by the following narrative. Montcznma.
il will be understood, is not the monarch
of the name whom Coriez dehruned 1t
is the generic term Of their rulers, like
Pharaoh, Cesar, &c.
Before the food, men lived to great
age, So that they lost heir teeth anG crept
about like children After time they
got new teeth, and walked upright again
like men in Tie prime Of life. Then it
was that the Great Spirit created the
mountains and peopled tie earth on all
sides Then, too, animals lal%ed Ike
men, and were The FIRST to tell of the APP
preaching food About this time ap-
peaged Mont yuma, who collected large
quantity of gum from plant called chuchi
and with this gum, which is said 10 be
insuluJle, and WI b other materials, he
built large vessel, in which he took re-
fuge, closing ami seali9y the door behind
him. In like Jnanner a cayote or prairie
dog crept iato a large cane stalk and
closed the ends against the water. The
flood came up to tie highest mountains,
and reached even The birds, which erred
ike men, with fright When the waters
came down, Montezuma and the cayote
landed at Cerro Prietta, which mountain
some believe TO be Montezuma's vessel.
according to another tradition, they
landed in the centre Of the earth, and
Mnntezuma noticed the trail of a beetle.
which he followed until he found the bee
tie fa.t in the mul. He then turned back,
and, meeting the cayote, they embraced
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 errand to the northward,
but returned unsuccessful. They then
Law down to sleep, when Muntezuma
dreamed that he should form men and
women out of clay, which he accordingly
did, making two for each nation Mean
while the cayote sat behind him, also
making men, bnt The latter were i'll forms
ed, so that MontezUma ordered lhcm 10 be
removed. HIS own people multi gliad rap
idly, and built a large city on the north
bank Of a river, supposed 10 be Mt tie
month uf Salt rive, in Arizona, where
tie remains of large ditches are sill risi-
Bile
Mcn:ezIma next travelled southwark.
followed by large numbers Of people In
accordance with dream hG thrust a rod
into the earth, and water flowed thence,
which is the origin Of the springs az Santa
Rosa and elsewhere. Af;er 8 tiGe the
Great Spirit appeared to Mon;ezuma as
Ill old man, and asked to baptize the peo>
pie, that they might live hey oud the sky
after death, but Montezuma became an
cry and killed the Great Spirit Then
the latter arose from the dead by night
and repeated the request, when Montezu-
ma grew angry again, declared that he
would take his people TO heaven by tow
er, and killed the Great Spirit second
time, leaving him on the ground, where
he was dragged about as plaything for
four years. Ie then returned to Heaven,
removing the sun further from the earth
as he ascended
After long interval he descended again
with the same request Ps before. Al this
time Muntezuma was living at the Casa
Blanco, or white house, close to the Pimo
WI ttlC NbAid NV SlA lId ilSiOG VI
this house was overlaid with pure gold.
A-third time lie slew the Great Spirit,
but the latter, now becoming angry, threw
a louise into Spain, which led to an inva-
sion by the Spaniards. Twice did Mon
teznma meet and repel the invaders. but
before the third engagement the golden
ring few from the finger of his daughter
to the finger Of the Spanish commander,
aud the silver ring OF the latter flew to Il o
tin9er of the former Thus did she be-
come leagued with the enemy, and when
they were out of provisions she prevailed
upon her people TO throw them t0mqles in
stead of arrows, and thus they were fed
at Monteznmas expense. After many
severe conflicts the Spaniards were victo-
riaus, when the traltoruus princess de-