The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-11-05
Indian Version OF the Flood.

The world WAS created by one Power the
Indians tell us, and existed until it became too
dcnsely populated when the Creator command
cd one man to build an ark and collect in it d
pair of every species Of animal from all parts
of the earth lie did 40, and rcmnined safely
through the flood which speedily followed and
destroyed all other life. Noah the Indian
name of this individual / could not obtain
could converse with each animal, and when
the waters began to subsdc he sent out
raven ut that time Il white bird, strong OF
wing, to sec whether the storm was fairly over
and discover, if possible, any dry land. The
raven went, but delayed his anXiouSly looked
for return 50 long that "Noah" sent out after
him dove, which, quickly returning, brought
news that the raven, true to his nature, had
forgotten his crrand, and WAS all this time
eorring himself VIII the floating carcaS>c>
Wroth at this neglect, the dove waS sent 10
bring the culprit back. Soon after this Incl
dent the ark rested and the animals were sent
forth. But at this time the earth WAS almost
entirely covered with water and WAS every
where level So in order to yet rid Of it, the
Creator commanded the water to make high
ways for itself by casting up mountain chains
and digging valleys and passes through which
to run to the general ocean which still re-
manned. This food they consider to have been
the first and the last which came upon the
earth, but that the final destruction of the world
will he bv fire, after which it will he peopcd
BY the spirits Of the present inhabitants. 50
much exhibits to nv mind the results Of Jc
suit teaching; but as cannot ascertain that
any of these missionaries ever visited the Ute
Indians. it must have reached them 50 long
ago that they have forgotten it, through the
Southern tribes, who had frequent communica-
tions with the Spanish priests.
Aside from such IL tradition as this, their re-
liriuus belief seems peculiarly their own
they believe in one great ruler Of the universe,
Omuipotcnt omnlsClent: good-a personal God.
This spirit is namee>S to them. They 90 not
trv 10 represent Him TO their minds by con-
crete form or in any stated condition. But
each man seeks some object in nature which
SHALL tvpify to his mind all that is pure and
holv. and exhibit to his best satisfaction the
s,lrrcmcst excellence Of which he is able to
conceive This natural object, whatever it
may be- he does not hold sacred Or to bc wor
shipped in any sense is an idol, but only seeks
to gluriy the Almighty and Good One through
his delight in it,
Subordinate to tho Good Spirit, they believe,
is an evil ,pirit-a spirit of maIig ignant mis-
chief, Mcphistophclcs, rather than Satan.
Anvthing human or animal. that Is red. is
red hair, is supposed to belong to him. His
chief cxcrion seems to be to gaIn possession of
the souls of dying ones the instant they escape
from the body. His foe and watcher, who
must conduct The freed soul safely to Heaven,
is Sin-o- wap. the Good Angel, who is supposed
20 attend al persons when thcy die, aud take
ch;lr.c of their souls. All this, of course. i'm
plies Il hereafter of rewards ior good and evil.
and l!at every one is Responsible for hi, own
actions. which they hold. The way To heaven
is slrai yht anil accessible to I'll! good men.
And Il, the Good Spirit can pardon aI >Ii> bul
wiiul murder, and is the evil spirit Is never or
rarely supposed to be successful in his efforts
to seal souls from lhc Good Angel, the lni"r-
cnre is iiial nearly everybody gets there.
The best of them regard tie human race Is
of but one blood, and that all nations will
reach heaven alike but many Indians think
that most other races are simply animals of
high order and not men as they are -lprrrs-
,,0u,i.nc. v. Y. IriJVnr.