The National tribune., 1890-07-24

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At this time il seems
shat there was neither man nor woman, and
there was a floating bridge between heaven
and earth. Shortly afterwards q male and
female were evolved, and they, in meeting, said,
spontaneously, "0h, how lovely!" and from
them came the human race. The stories Of
Japanese mythology would ill a page Of this
paper. liz is the same with the NEUROLOGICAL
history OF China and the theories Of the two
nations are much alike. The Chinese believe
that there are two principles, q male and fe.
male, In everything, and these two principles
are named Van and Yang. Van and Yang
married, and the seasons were their children.
The seasons were united. and the products of
the earth came forth. The sun married the
moon. and out OF their union were produced the
stars and so by a continual intermarriage of
these two great principles the whole world was
born. One Of the most remarkable of the old
gods was Pwanku. He chiseled the earth into
shape, and in $4,000 years, out Of masses of
granite, which foated about throughout the
universe, he chiseled the heavens away from
the earth, and al last died for the benefit of
his hsndiwork. During the last he grew six
feet every day. and after his death his head
turned into mountains bis breath formed the
winds and the clouds, and his voice became
thunder; his teeth and bones turned into
rocks and precious stones, his dropping sweat
made the rain. and the grayhacks which stuck
20 his body were turned into people.
THE CREATOR A RAVEN.
The newest NEUROLOGICAL theory. however,
comes 70 us from Alaska. Ensign Niblack, OF
the United States Navy, has spent long time
smong the Indians of the southern coast OF
that country, setting as an employe Of the
Smithsonian Institution. he has gathered
large amount of valuable matter about the
Alaskan Indians, and his report concerning
them viii be given 10 the world this Fall In
this report he speaks In high terms of the in
tellectual capacities Of q number Of these Alas
kan tribes, and he describes their legendary
traditions and folklore as wonderful. Among
the most interesting Of these traditions possess
ed by the Alaskans is that regarding the Crea-
tor. They believe him 70 have been q great
raven, and he was called by them Yeti. The
Mighty Yeti was no ordinary bird. " lie had
writes Mr. Niblack, many human attributes,
and the power OF transforming himself into
anything in the world. His coat Of feathers
could be put on or taken OF at will like gar
ment and he could assume any character
whatever. He existed before his birth, never
grows old, will never die. Numerous arc the
stories Of his adventures IN peOpling the world
aud giving 20 man the earth, Ere, fresh water,
life, FISH, and game.
BE MARRTEs A SHELL.
According to their ideas the first people
sprung from a cockleshel. Yeti became very
lonely and began TO look around him for a mate,
but could End none. AT last he took a cookie
shell from the beach, and marrying it, he still
continued 10 brood and think earnestly Of his
wish for companion. By and by he heard
faint cry IN the she'll which gradually became
louder, till at last little female child was seen.
which by degrees grew TO be woman and
married the raven. From this union came all
The Indians Of this region, who At first lived in
darkness and want As they multiplied Yeti
endowed them With the various gifts Of light,
fresh water. FIRE aud other things"
THE RAVENS WICKED UNCLE.
All these were in the possession OF the chief
evil spirit, great chief, the uncle Of Yeti. who
lived on the mainland where the Mass River
now Is. De was master Of the tides and had
great power and the stories Of how Yeti cir
cumvented him are numerous and interesting.
This uncle had a wife and sister, or according
70 some versions, wife and daughter. OF his
wife be was very jealous, and whenever for
any reason, be was away from home hunting.
fishing or working, be imprisoned her ia q box
or basket and tied her up 10 the rafters in the
lodge, setting number Of little red birds 10
watch her. If by any chance the box was
opened the little birds would fly 10 him and
warn him. be was also very jealous Of the
posterity u his sister, whose children he killed
for fear that when they grew up they would
prove rivals to HIM in his wife's affections
geng into the IRE; according 20 another he
drowned them. This sister was not allowed 20
eat or drink anything until the chief had ex-
amined IL, as she had become pregnant from
eating certain things many times before.
bow YETI WAS REBORN.
As every part Of the house was 80 iealously
guarded Yeti did not know how TO get into Il
70 steal the various things he wanted for the
good Of man, but finally be hit upon the plan
a R1fs hg.-~ Int
The sister 20 % the brook TO get q drink, 60
Transforming himself into drop Of water Tor
spear Of cedar or blade Of grass he eIuded the
vigilance Of the chief and was swallowed by
the girl, and In due time Yeti was born 10 her
Gs a son. She concealed the fact of his birth
from the chief for some little time. In ten
days time be grew 10 almost mans size. His
mother taught him many things, amongst
others the use Of the bow and arrow, and he
became expert shot. With his arrow he
killed the magical crane whose skin enabled
the wearer 70 fly; and the diver, with whose
akin be could float.
coULDS'T KILL HIN.
One day the chief discovered Yeti. with
whom be pretended to be pleased, but he took
him out in canoe and threw him overheard
Yet, having On his divers skin, walked along
the bottom aud met his uncle on shore. Next
the chief threw him into the fire and biled
logs upon him, but having on magic cloak he
came out q the FIRE unframed. One day when
the chief was away lie opened the box in which
his wife was confined aud released her but the
little birds lew 10 him and informed him. The
chief returned In great rage, but Yeti sat
calmly without noticing him. This was too
much for the master Of the tides, SO he com
manded the foods 10 rise and swallow this i'm.
pudent meddler, but Yeti, giving his mother
the skin Of the diver 10 enable her 10 swim.
himself put on the skin Of the crane. The
Ealt water rose till il began 10 come ia the door
when the chief put on his tall dance hat, which
made him amphibions. and Yeti few out the
EEnOke-hOle. As he few he began 10 tire. and
was compelled 10 come back from time 10 time
10 rest Oh the chiefs dance hat which was the
only thing visible, till finally he gained
strength enough 10 fy 10 the sky, which he
pierced with his beak and hung TO until the
tide reached 20 his wings when it began 10 sub.
side. Finally he let 90 OF his hold aud fyiug
some days he lit on bunch Of kelp TO rest,
THE Origin OF FIRE. WOOD AND STONE.
AT this point the story" continues Mr.
kiblack, varies so mach ia different localities
that il is difficult 20 make il At all general. Ac
cordiBg 10 one tribe Yeti descended into the
eea and rescued his mother from the lord of the
tides; according 10 another he lit originally on
the Queen Charlotte Islands, and picking nm
pieces Of the wood o the Douglas pine i'm his
bill be few all over the other islands and