The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-11-19
AN INDIAN TRADITION.
The Story OF tho Deluse Oh this Com
tincnt.

The following rather singular tradition which
exists among the Papsgo Indians respecting
Montezuma their founder, aud the deluge, has,
we believe, never yet appeared in print; ut least
not in Its present shape. II was related by
Captain Con Ouan, an aged and intelligent
member OF the tribe, and was taken down
from Ills lips By all 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 quadrcnnial feast still celebrated at tue
cave. He represents the papagoes rs being
nominally Catholics, yet clinging to their ma
tionnl traditions with great tcnacity, and cher
ishing the memory of MOnt"zuma with even
more than sanity vencration.
The tradition of the dcugc Is interesting In
Its relation to the origin of the Indians OF the
country, and especially Of the ancient tribes
who lived In the twilight of civilization, until
the Spanish Christians annihilated them. Did
they bring this tradition with them from tile
tact with the people Of the old world, antecc-
dent to any historical evidence OF that fact,
from whom they derived this tradition
These nrc inquiries naturally suggested by
the following narrative. MOnteZunia, II will
be understood, Is not the monarch Of thnt
name whom Cortcs dethroned. II Is the gen
eric term of their rulers, like Pharaoh, Cesar,
&c.
that they lost their teeth and crept about like
children. After time they would get new
teeth, and walk upright again like men in the
prime OF life. Then 1t was that the Great
earth on all sides. Then, too, animals talked
like men, and were the first 10 tell OF the ap-
proachng flood. About this time appeared
Montezuma, who collected large quantity OF
n aht Il ,,,ttl ~,
gum. which is said TO be nsolublc in water.
and with other materials. he built q large YES
sci, In which hc 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 Hood came UP to the highest mountains,
and reached even the birds, which cried like
men with fright. When the waters came down,
Aontezuma and the cayote landed at Ccrro
Prtetta, which mountain some believe TO be
Nontezuma's vessel.
According to another tradition they landed
IN the centre OF the earth, and, having come
trail OF beetle, which he, followed until he
found the beetle fast In tile mud. He then
turned back, and meeting the cayote, they en-
braced each other In grief Nontezuma sent
the cayote southwark to find the sea, which it
soon found and returned, when 1t was sent on
the same errnnd to the northward, but re-
sleep, when Montczuma dreamed that he
should form men and women ont of clay,
which he accordingly did, making two for each
nation. Meanwhile the cayote sat bchind him
also making men, but the latter were ill-form-
ed, 80 that Montezuma ordered them to be ro-
moved. His own people multiplied rapidly.
and built large city Oh the north bank Of a
river, supposed to be at the mouth Of Salt
River, In Arizona, where tho remains of large
bitches arc still visible.
Montczuma next travelled southwark, fol-
lowed by large numbers ofpeoplc. In accord
ance with dream, he thrust Il rod into the
s.th 0tNS -nf n1,,,
origin of the springs nj Santa Rosa and else
where. Aflcr Il time the Great Spirit appear
ed to MonteZ,ina rs III old man, and asked to
baptize the people. that they might live be-
came angry and killed the Great Spirit Then
the latter arose from the dead by night and
repeated the request, when Montczunla grew
angry again, declared that he would lake
the Great Spirit 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 further
from the earth as he assembled
After long interval he descended again
with the same request as before. Al this Time
Montezuma was living at the Case Blanco, or
white house. close TO 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
CRY, threw q louse into Spain, which led 10 an
Invasion by the Spaniards. Twice did Monlr-
the third engagement the golden ring flew
from the finger of his daughter to the finger of
the Spanish commander and the silver ring OF
the latter New to the inger Of the former
Thus did she become leagucd with the enemy,
and when they were out Of provisions she
prevailed upon her people to throw them to-
males Instead OF arrows, and thus they were
ted at MOntezuma's expense. After many
severe conflicts the Spaniards were victorious,
when the traltorous princess demanded the
hand of the commander in marriage. He
agreed to this on condition that all eagle
which he Sc; free should alIgrt on prlckly
pear tree. The eagle did so, and the coimmaIi-
der started, to celebrate the marriage at the
pear tree, being followed by large train OF
Papagoes; but, under the pretext of getting
Vlollns, powder, &c, he travelled on and on
until the Indians all deserted him.
Hencetorth, rs the story goes. MontezIma
made no improvements, and his people were
scattered over the country. He ailerward de-
posted the archives of the Papago and Phno
nations in a cave near Santa Rosa, and order
ed that they celebrate q 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.