The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-20
LEGEND or CROCODILE TREE.
Curious Bit of Mexican Indian LOT, Telling of Origin of Tree that Cannot Endure Sunshine or
 Cold.

G0hO.
 Modern Mexico.
 Along the coast lands of Mexico there is found a class of legends that diner quite materially from those of the inland regions. They are of a less exalted type than the legends that are supposed to have a Toltec origin, and they more nearly resemble the stories handed down by the Northern Indians. This is particularly true of the animal legends that are told in the hot coun- try adjacent to the sea. A character istic story of this class is about the crocodiles that frequent the rivers and bayous of the hot country. 1t will not require an ethnologist to see the human nature that Is woven into the fantastic legend of the uninteresting reptile. A particularly interesting point is the disclosure of the fact that the Darwinian theory of the origin of man prevailed at this time among the primitive story tellers of the tierra caliente, or at least along the banks of the river of the Winding Snake.
 Long ago. before man lived upon the earth. the banks of the Winding Snake were the homes of the crocodiles. They lived there in great numbers, and were taught by their elders that all they had to do in life was to lie in the sun and warm themselves and sleep. The young crocodiles sometimes wished to wander off in the thick wood, where they heard the monkeys chattering and the parrots mocking them, and the spotted cats fighting with each other. They wondered how wide the woods were, and where the paths led to that wound away into the dark depths be- yond, and if there really was danger. as their elders said.
 One day two strange animals came In sight, walking on the banks Of the Winding Snake. They were men, put the crocodiles did not know 1t. When the crocodiles first heard the mems voices they all plunged headlong into the water, but when the men sat down at the root of a great tree the young crocodiles were so curious to hear what they were talking about that they swan close to the shore and put their heads up among the reeds to listen. The foolish creatures thought that the men could not see them. and paid no heed to the warnings of their
 Presently one of the men said to the other: Do you see those crocodiies in the water? They are exactly ike the ones I saw on the other side or the mountain. The foolish people over there believe that the crocodiies are gods, and feed them and protect them till they grow as long as a house.
 When the men had gone away, the young crocodileA hurried out into the deep water to tell their elders what they had heard.
 What! have you not been told that all men were once monkeys and lived in trees, and that now they are all liars? To be sure. they have cut off their tails, and assumed a false wisdom. but beware of them! Men never wor- ship any but themselves"
 But the young crocodiles, like other young creatures, having once heard tales from the great world, were not satisfied. They wanted to see 1t, and see the folly of 1t themselves, so the next day they called a meeting of the youngsters, and the ones who had heard the talk of the men led re- volt.
 our parents do not know as much as monkeys" said one, "and they know much less than men,"
 "They are too lazy and too fat to do anything" said another. 'and they lie in the hot sand and the mud and sleep until their heads are as thick as green cocoanuts before the milk is in them, and they are afraid of their own sha- dows." said a third.
 Then they all agreed that they would run away and climb over the great