Weekly Trinity journal., 1873-03-29
INDIAN LEGEND OF THE CREA-
TION OF MAN.

council OF Lnem 10 uellDerute on inc
creation of man. They sat down in an
open space in the forest, all in circle,
with the lion at the head. On his right
sat the grizzly bear, next the brown
bear, and so on around, according to rank,
ending with the little mouse, which sat
at the lions left.
The lion was the first to speak and he
declared he should like to see man Gre
ated with mighty voice, like himself,
wherewith he could frighten all animals.
For the rest, he would have him well COW
cred with hair, terrible fangs IN his jaws,
strong talors, etc.
The grizzly bear said it was ridiculous
to have such voice MS his neighbor, for
ho was always roaring with it, and scared
away the very prey he wished to catch.
He thought the man ought to have pro-
digious strength, and move about silent
ly, but very swiftly when necessary, and
be able to grip his meat without making
any noise.
Tho buck said the man would look
very foolish, in his way of thinking, un-
less he had a magnificent pair of horns
on his head with which to fight. He also
thought it was very absurd to roar so
loudly, and he would pay less attention
to the mans throat than he would to his
ears and eyes, for he would make the one
like a SPIDERS web, and the other like
fire.
Tho mountain sheep protested he new
or could see what sense there was in such
horns, spreading every way, only to get
caught in the branches. Ii the man had
horns neatly rolled up, they would be
like stone on each side OF his head, Civ
ing weight, 50 that ho could butt great
deal harder.
When it came the coyotes turn to
speak, he declared all these were the stu
pidest Speeches he ever listened to, and
that he could hardly keep awake whio
such noodles and nincompoops were talk
ing. Every one of them wanted to make
the man just like himself. They might
just as well take one of their own cubs
and call it n man. As for himself, he
very well knew that he was not the best
animal that could be made and he could
make one good deal bettor than him
self. OF course, he would DO like him
self in having four legs, five fingers on
each, ctc. 1t is we'll enough 10 have
voice like the lions, but 1t should also DO
MS small as that of tho little mouse some
times. The grizzly bear also had some
good points, one of which was the shape
of his feet, by which he could stand up
if he wished, and he was in favor of max
ing the mans feet nearly the same. The
grizzly was also happy in having no tail,
for he had learned from his own expert
encc that that organ served principally
as harbor for ilcas. The bucks eyes
and ears were pretty good, also-per-
haps better than his own. Then thero
was the fish, which was naked, and which
he envicd, because hair was n bu den
most of the year; so he favored man
without hair. His claws ought to be as
long rs the eagles, so that he could hold
things in them. But with all their scpa-
rate gifts, they must acknowledge that
there was no animal besides himself that
had wit enough TO supply tho man and
he fclt obliged, therefore to make him
like himself in that ,pect-cunning and
crafty.
After the coyote had made an end,
the beaver said that he had mover heard
such arrant twaddlc in his life. No tail,
indeed He would make man witha II
broad, fat tail, SO that he could haul mud
and sand on it.
The owl declared all the animals seemed
to have lost their senses /; none OF them
proposed to give man wing. For him
self, he could not SEQ of what use anything
on earth would be 10 him without wings.
The mole said it was perfect folly to
talk about wings, for with wings the poor
man would be certain 10 fly up and crack
his noddlc against the sky. Be,ides, ii
he had eyes, he would be certain TO get
them singed against the sun; but without
eyes, he could burrow in the cool, soft
earth, and be happy.
Last of all, the little mouse squeaked
out that he would make man with ey;s.
Of course, so he could see what he was
eating and as for burrowing in the
ground, that was a humbug.
SO they all disagreed, and the council
broke up in Il row. The coyote few at
the beaver, and nipped piece out of his
cheek; the owl jumped on the coyotes
head, and commenced lifting his scalp;
and so they all got to fighting. But
finally they stopped, and taking each a
lump Of clay, they commenced moldinga
man according to their ideas; but the CO.
vote began to make one like that he de-
scribed. 1t was so late when they fell to
work, that nightfall had come on before
any one had finished his model, and
they laid. down and fell dead asleep.
But the oas ing coyote remained awake,
and worked hard on his model all night.
When all the other animals were fast
asleep, he went slyly around and threw
water on their models, and so spoiled
them. In the morning, early, he finished
his and gave it life before the Others could
make new models; and so it was that man
was created by the coyote oeerand
MOathty for AprH.
A LONDON journal, remarking on the
of tho nan,es of traders nsinO