The New York herald., 1877-07-13
ABORIGINAL DARWINISM.
A CRUDE rRADiT1oN OF THE ORIGIN OF The
POLYPHEMus.

A CRUDE TRADITION OF THE ORIGIN OF THE
NEz pERcEs-THE KILLING OF THE WESTERN
PoLYpHEMus.
From the Idaho Signal, July 81
The Nez Perces Indians hold the doctrine that all
the various tribes Of Indians sprung from the lower
order OF creation. The peculiar process OF deve!op
ment metamorphosis by which they have attained
TO their present they cunning enough
disclose attempt TO phiosophizo upon-passing
long period OF transition and becoming full-aedgcd,
sturdy sons OF the forest in moment OF time Thou
sands oi years ago there existed animal OF i'm
mensc way of to The southwest OF the country
now occupied by the Nez Perces. 1t was the largest
OF all the animal creation, and known as the Ellis
wau-tsn." This animals greatest propensity the
devouring OF every living thing he came across His
voracio usneGs great that lizards reptiles of
all and sizes bears, wolves and animals of every
DESCRIPTION al one gup would disappear ia the depths
OF his capacious NAV. AT the same Limo existed the
coyote, or 'ttlc wolf noted for his cunning, and
recogn' Zed cnic among ana by the other ANIMALS.
they looking upon him AT some future time to work out
Tor them great deliverancc. Little Wolf had heard
OF The tremendous slaughter the "lls-wautsih" was
making among the other animals and determined to
put sop IT, To TINS end he grded on hrs arnor,
which consisted OF two ropes made OF wild hemp,
quver made OF bear skin, some tinder and knives of
tiint-all OF which nc concealed under his tore ieg
Gus MISSION. Aiter travelling for many days and
over great stretch OF country Little Volt deserted
the .'lils-wau-tsh' IN the distance and Immediately
prepared Tor the conflict Taxing tho Two ropes
winch were miles In length, he fastened one end oil
each 10 u cord OF sncw which was about his body,
and the other ends of ropes nc had Iastcned-Dy
hts single aid hc had along with himto two trees
long from other By this time the ellis
wau-tsh" was within hearing OF Lilte Wolf. Littio
Wolf hows out t:"Come on old Ills -wau-tsh, and
prepare 10 die, for am going TO slay youl and he
came and the battle ra9ea with considerable violence
for some tne Little Wolf getting IN somo very
good strokes now aad then; but he was finally
compelled ~ abandon an active, offensive
os Inc Sns Tho old aOw anu naS no%
ever swallowed Littlo Wolf, having MN part
way down, when the ropes sinew girth prevented
his gotGg down entirely. The old fellow stamped about
and howIed icaruiy, and declared, III Will swallow
l.tte WolL' Taking long breath he made a huge
enorl-hc girth broken aud down went poor LAtIe
WoiL Alter resting a short time he made a tour OF
the belly Of the old fellow and found all kinds OF ant
mails aud reptiles therein, which had been carrying
u kind oil internal war among themselves Feeling
somewhat angry Little Wolf takes OF his knives
and piece OF tat from the heart OF beast and
Warming II with ignited Under, devours II aud then
counscls obedience among the other inhabitants, and
promises speedy deliveranco IRON their PRISON. Ho
then cooks meal for his fellow prisoners ana takes
piece Of lat from the heart Of the beast aud
ru6s the wounds and sores OF his fellows, which
heals them. He then says TO them, "You
my subjects, and IL ~ time 10 get out of
here In taking the lat from around his
heart have struck the old fellow death blow. " Pro-
ceedng with work he caused the old fellow to howl
tremendously. He writhcd and kicked and tired TO
throw up ms "supper" and they CAME from MS nose,
ears and mouth; all fed out but Little Wolf The old
fellow tried 10 rid himself OF hm, but Little Wolf did
not propose TO leave uat his MISSION was accom-.
piishcd Tho old iellow declared would eject b M,
but failing the attempt rolled and gave w the
ghust Little Wof alter the old fellow died, walked
out and collected his companions TO help SKIN the beast
aud cut him IN pieces. Tncy took the mcal from the
bones aud had right hearty meal Thcy then divided
tho skin between each other. Tho bones were thon
takon and scattered to the uttermost parts OF the
earth, and an allotment OF land mado each OF
tho delivered ones, which they wore TO tako their
country, and they would oil DO changed In the
tw'nklIng oi an eye, ana thcy would IND that
o peeVle woaid spring up from the bones Of tho