New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-31

| peepe among whom he was thrown. AlluslOn
has already been made to the dislike he conceived
for at least enc tribe of half-breeds. But he
seems to have regarded the aboriginal Yellow
| Knives favorably. They are not an enterprislnp
hardly brave race-their dread Of the ENqulma'
amounts 10 superstition-bnt they are rcasonai y
truthful and faithful He found the following
tradition OF the deluge among them: Nh ny
years ago, so long ago in fact that yet no II IN
had appeared in the country OF the Slave Lave
the animals, birds and fishes lived in peace ar
| friendship, supporting themselves By the abundi ~
produce OF the soil But one winter the snow fell
far more heavily. than usual; perpetual darkne ID
set in. and when spring should have come the
snow, instead Of melting away. grew deeper onG
deeper. This state Of affairs lasted many months,
and il became hard for the animals to make n
| living many died Of want, and at last il was
decided In grand council TO send dephtation 10
heaven 10 inquire into the cause of the strange
events and in this deputati0n every kind Of ami
NAL bird and fish was represented. They seem u
have had no difficulty in reaching the sky and pass
ing through trapdoor into land Of sunshine and
plenty. Guarding the door stood deerskin lodge
resembling the lodges now in use among The
Yellow Knives il was the home Of the black bear,
an animal then unknown earth. The old bear
had gone TO lake close at hand to spear
caribou from canoe, but three cubs were left
In the lodge to take care of some mysterious
bundles that were hung upon the cross-poes; the
cubs refused TO say what these bundles contained
and appeared very anxious for the return OF the
old hear Now the idea of spearing caribou did
not find favor with the deputation from below,
and as the canoe was seen lying on the shore Of
the lake, the despatched to gnaw
through the paddle and as he had nearly accomp-
IiSlpI this feat tho hear rInDinU down In
pursuit of band of caribou that had put OIL
from the far shore When he was close up to
his intended victims and was working his best
the paddle suddenly broke, and the canoe cap
sized and the bear disappeared beneath the
water Then the animals, birds and fishes grew
bold, and pulling down the bundles found that
they contained the sun. MOON and stars belonging
10 the earth: these they threw down through a
trapdoor TO light the wor3 and melt the snow,
which by this time covered the tops OF the tallest
pine-tree0. The descent from heaven was not made
without some small! accidents. The beaver split
his tail and the blood spashed over the lynx, so
that ever afterwards till the present day the
beavers tail is fiat and the lynx is spotted ;
the moose fattcncd his nose. and many
other casualties occurred which account for the
pccuiaritics Of various animals. and the little
bears came tumbllg DOWN with the rest. And
now the snow began TO melt so quickly that the
earth was covered with water but the fish found
for the first time that they could SWIM and carried
their friends that could not on their backs, while
the ducks set 10 work 10 pull up the land from
beneath the water BUT it was still hard 10 make
living so the raven then the most beautiful OF
birds was sent 10 100 if he could find any place
where dry land showing; but coming across
the carcass OF caribou he Toasted upon il although
the raven had never before eaten anything but
berries ard the leaves Of the willow. For this
offence he was transformed into the hidcous bird
that We know and 70 this day is despised Of every
living thing; even will not eat Of the raven
flesh unless under pressure Of starvation The
ptarmgan was then sent ont, and returned bear
ing is his bcak a branch Of willow. rs q message Of
hope; in remembrance Of this good action the
ptarmigan turns white when IN esnOw begins 10
fall in the Barren Ground, thus warns the animals
that winter il at hand.
Following the fashion of the present day, Mr..
Pike sees in this tale a mixture Of savage ideas
with the teachings of French missionaries. But
IL would take a microscope of high power 10 lind
the Christian elements in II.