Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-11-17
AN INDIAN TRADITI ON
The Story OE the DeIuge ON this Con
timeuI.
From the Detroit Post

which exists among the Papago Indians
respecting MonteZuma, their founder, and
the deluge, has, we believe, never yet APP
peared in print at least not in its present
shape II was related by Captain Con
Guam, an aged and intelligent member of
the tribe, and was taken down from his
lips by an interpreter for Judge Henry T.
Backus, of Arizona territory, and former
ly of that city. Judge Backus has visited
many of the places mentioned in the le-
gend, and has been an eyewitness of the
quadrennial feast still celebrated at the
cave. He represents the Papagoes as be
ing nominally Catholics, vet Clinging to
their national traditions with great tenaci-
ty, and cherishing the memory of Monte
yuma with even more than sanity Yenera-
tiOn.
The tradition of the deluge is interest
ing in its relation to the origin Of the In
dams of the country, and especially the
ancient tribes who lived in the twilight of
civilization, until the Spanish Christians
annihilated them. Did they bring this
tradition with them from the Asiatic Con
tinent2 Or did they come in contact
with the people of the old world, antece-
dent 10 any historical evidence of that
fact, from whom they derived this ira
dition?
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 generic term of their rulers, like
Pharoah, Caesar, etc.
Before the flood men lived to a great
II. . - Il. Il.
about like children. After a time they
would get new teeth, and walk upright
again like men in the prime of life. Then
il was what the Great Spirit created the
mountains and pcopled the earth on all
sides. Then, too, animals talked like men,
and Were the first to tell of the approach
ing flood. About this time appeared
MOntezuma, who collected large quantity
of gum from plant called chUchi, and
with this gum, which is said to be insOlu-
BILE in water, and with other materials,
he built a large vessel, in which he took
refuge, closing and scaling the door be
hind him. In like manner a cayOte or
prairie dog crept into a large cane stalk
and closed the ends against the water
The food came up to the highest noun
tains, and reached even the birds, which
cried like men, with fright. When the
waters came down, Montezuma and the
cayOte landed at CerrO Prietta, which
mountain some believed TO be Montezuma' 5
vessel.
According to another tradition they
landed in the center of the earth, and,
having come out of their vessels, Monte
yuma 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 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 Grand TO the nOrthward,
bnt returned unsuccessful They then
lay down 10 sleep, when MOnteZuma
dreamed that he should form men and
women out of clay, which he according
ly did, making two for each nation.
Meanwhile the CayOte sat behind him also
making men, but the latter were Inform
ed, so that MOnteZuma ordered them to be
removed. His own people multiplied
rapidly, and built large city on the north
bank of a river, supposed to be at the
mouth of Salt river, in Arizona, where the
MOntcZuma next Travelled southwark,
followed by large numbers of people In
accordance with dream, he thrust a rod
into the earth, and water flowed thence,
which is the origin of the springs at Santa
Rosa and elsewhere After time the
Great Spirit appeared to MOntezuma as an
old man, and asked to baptize the people,
that they might live beyond the sky after
death, but Montezuma became angry and
killed the Great Spirit Then the latter
arose from the dead by night and repeated
the request, when MOnteZuma grew angry
AGAIN, declared that lie would take his
people TO heaven by a tower, and killed
the Great Spirit a second time, leaving
him on the ground, where he was dragged
about as a plaything for four years. He
then returned TO heaven, removing the
sun further from the earth as he ascended
After long interval he descended again
with the same request as before. AT this
time MonteZuma was living at the Casa
Blanca, OF white house, close TO the Pimo
villages on the ella river. The inside of
this house was overlaid with pure gold.
A third time hc slew the Great Spirit, but
the latter now becoming angry, threw a
louise into Spain, which led to an invasion
by the Spaniards. Twice did Montezuma
meet and rcpCl the invaders, but before
the third engagement the golden ring flew
from the finger of his daughter 10 thu
finger of the Spanish commander, and In,
silver ring of the latter flew to the finger
of the former. Thus did she bcCOm,
leagued with the enemy, and when thcy
were out of provisions she prevailed upOl
her people TO throw them tomatoes mstea,
of arrows, and thus they were fed at Mon
tezuma's expense. After many sever
conflicts the Spaniards were victorious
when the traitOrOus Princess demands
the hand of the commander in marriage
He agreed 10 this on condition that a
eagle which he set free should alight on
prickly pear tree The eagle did so, an
the commander started to celebrate tn
marriage at the pear tree, being follOwe
hy a large train of PapagOes; but, unde
the prctcNt of getting viOlins, powder
etc, he travelled on and on until th
Indians all deserted him.
Hcncctouh, Is the story goes, Monte
yuma made no improvements, and hi
people were scattered over the country
He atteTWard deposited the archives q
the Papago and Pine nations in a cav
near Santa Rosa, and ordered that the
celebrate feast there every fourth wear
which custom is still observed. The ma
ton gradually diminished, and Montezum
wandered about until the Indians hav