The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-07-07
Tradition OF the Nez Perces.

tradition of the Eez Perecs Indian.
who have recently broken o., in North.
eru Idahe. A. mach has been said c:
the peculiar religion; ,enets OF the
tribe. i, viii AT this time be rc4l with
interest:
The Nes Perccs Indians hold 10 the
doctrine that all the varisus tribes oi
Indians =. rung from the lower order Of
creation. The peculiar process OF de-
velopment. or metamorphosis. By which
they have attained to their presen,
state, they are cunning enough no. to
disclose or attempt to phllosophize
upon-pa1sing over long period II
transition aud becoming full fie,lge,i,
Of time.
THEIR TRADITION.
Thousands Of years ago there existed
an anImai of immense size. way off 10
the south west of the country now occu-
pied BY the Nez Perces 1t was the
largest OF all the animal creation, and
was known as the Uis-uau-tsM. This
animals greatest propensity was the
devouring OF every living thing he
came across His voraciousncss WAS so
great that lizards and reptiles Of all
kinds aul sizes, bears, wolves. and AMI
mails Of every description. at one gulp.
would disappear in the depths of his
cspacious NAV. AZ the same time ex-
isted the cayote, or little wolf" noted
for his cunning. aud recognized rs chief
among aud by the other animals. they
looking upon him as at some fu;nre
time TO work out for them great de-
liverAnca
Little Wolf had heard of the tremen
don. laughter the "llls-wau-tsih," was
making slnong the other animals. aud
determined - put = stop to it. To this
end h. .irdcd on his armor. which CON
sisted of two ropes made Of wild hemp.
quiyci made # bear-skin, some tinicr
and knives of flint, all Of which he con-
csaled under his fore leg, and. being
FULLY equipped, he started on, on his
pet,tnus mission
At.er travelling FOR many days, ans!
over er.at stretch of country. Little
Wolf oescrici the Ills wau-isih" in
,l,e distance, and immediately prepared
for the conflict. Taking the two ropes
whicn were iniles in length, he fast
enet them Ia a cord Of siuew in hs
body. and the other ends OF the rope he
had fastened. by his single aid he had
along with him, TO two trees IL long
distance from each other.
by tls time the 'lls-wau-tsih" was
within hearing of Little Wolf. Little
Wolf bowls out. Come on old Ills
wau tsih' and prepare to die, for | am
going 20 slay you = and he came. and
the battle ragged with considerable vio-
lence for SOME time Little Wolf get
ting in some very good strokes now and
then but he WAS finally compelled b.
abandon All active, offensive fight. and
resorted to cunning and opersted on
the defensive The old fellow had.
however, swallowed Little Wolf. hav-
lug hlm part way down. when the ropes
and sinew girth prevented his go-
ing down entirely. The old fellow
stamped about and howled fearfuily,
and declared Il will swallow Little
Wolf. taking a long breath. he made
IA hug etfoft-the gir,h Was broken
and down went poor Little Wolf.
After resting short time. he made a
tour of the belly of the old fellow, and
found al kin Is of animals and reptiles
. therein. which had been carrying on a
kind of internal war among themselves.
Feeling somewhat hungry. Little Wolf
takes one Of his knives aud cuts piece
nt fat from the heart of the beast, and
warming IT with ignited tender, devours
IL, and then counsels obedience among
the other inhabitants. and promises q
speed, deliverancc from their p;ison.
He then cooks meal for his fellow
prisoners. aud takes piece of fat from
the heart of the beast and. rubs
the wounds and sores Of his fellows,
which heals them He said to them.
+ "lou are my subjects. and il is now
time 10 get out OF here. In taking the
fat from around the heart, | have
struck the old fellow death blow 80
Proceeding with his work, he caused
the old fellow 70 howl Tremendously
lie wnthcd au' kicked and tried 70
throw up his supper, and they cane
from his ears hose and mouth. all fed
out but Ll;:lc Wolf. Tie old fellow
tried 10 ria himself from him. IN:
LATHE Wolf did not propose TO leave
until his mission was accomplished
The cid fellow declared he would .iec,
hum. bat. failing in the attempt. rolled
over aud gave up the ghost Little
Wolf after the old fellow died. walked
out AMI collected his companions to
help kin the beast ard cut hlm III
pieces. They took the mest from the
bones and had a right hearty meal
Then they dis .1ed ihe >sin between
each other. The hoIcs wete ten lax
,n ard scattered Ia the ut.no-t parts oi
The earth. ani an allotment of land wa-
made - each of the delivered ones
which they were tn take as their coun-
try aud they would all hg changed ~
the twlnkhng of the eye and they
would find that race Of people would
sIrir up from the bones at the beast
ln al respects like unto them Hut.
SAT-! the fax. ''you have reserved 10th
ing .oT yourself" Iatile Wolf callet
tor water HI. paw, ~rre Yet dripping
with ,lle blood Il the beast lie dippet
his IA~s into the water and sCa,tcrc,
ihe nl,,3 aud water all ever this coun.
Try ,stupici by the Me- PeFces. saying
"Frum ih,s >hal. spring people To Ia
habit this Land with NE.
Little Wolt bevame transformed Iut'
NJ p,rv,. Chief, aud tribe sprau
up aroa,.i him
i1ttle Wolf had cone irom i.syon,