Page:The Pima Indians.pdf/218

] Coyote was carried southward by the drifting log to the place where all the driftwood of the flood was collected. To this day the place is referred to as Driftwood mountain, though its exact location is not known. Coyote came out of the drift after the water had fallen.

Earth Doctor escaped destruction by inclosing himself in his reed staff, which floated upon the surface of the water. We do not know what adventures befell him, but suppose that his staff came to rest somewhere in the east, as he is next heard from in that quarter.

Elder Brother was rolled along on the ground under the waters in his olla and finally came to rest beyond Sonoita, near the mouth of the Colorado river. The olla, now called Black mountain, may be seen there to this day. It is black because the gum from which the vessel was made was of that color. After the waters disappeared Elder Brother came out and went about until he had visited nearly all parts of the land. At length he met Coyote and Earth Doctor. Each claimed to have been the first to appear after the flood, but finally Elder Brother was admitted to have been the first, and he became the ruler of the world, and is accepted as such by many to this day. Elder Brother on becoming the chief ruler told his subordinates to search for the center of the land, which is known as hĭk, navel. He sent Earth Doctor to the east and Coyote to the west. The latter returned first, and a long time afterwards Earth Doctor came in. They all went some distance east and again the messengers were sent out—Coyote east and Earth Doctor west. This time Earth Doctor returned first, so they all journeyed yet farther east before sending out the messengers. Coyote was sent west this time and again returned first. Then all moved east a little farther, and days later the Bebedor sent the Humming-bird (Sheparosas) and the coyote to bring him mud, and when it was brought he made from it various men, some of whom turned out good and others bad. These men spread over the land up end down the river. Not long afterwards he sent some of his men to see if those who dwelt up the stream could speak. They set forth and shortly returned, saying that although they spoke, they could not understand what they said. At this the Bebedor was greatly incensed, namely, that those men should speak without having received his permission. Thereupon he sent other men downstream to look after those who were there. They returned, saying that they had been well received and that the people there spoke another language, which, however, they had bean able to understand. Then the Bebedor told them that the men who dwelt downstream were the good men, who extended as far us the Opas, with whom they were friendly; and that the others who dwelt upstream were the bad men and were the Apaches, their enemies. The Bebedor once grew wrathful with the people and slew many of them, converting them into Saguaros in that land. The Saguaros is a green trunk, aqueous, of fair height, of uniform circumference, and perfectly straight from its base to its top, with rows of thick thorns which extend along its whole length and usually with two or three branches of the same shape which look like arms. Once again did the Bebedor become wrathful against men and caused the sun to descend to burn them. Thus they were on the point of being destroyed when the men entreated him earnestly not to burn them. Then the Bebedor said be should not now burn then, and ordered the sun to ascend once mare, but not to such a distance as before, saying that he left it lower down in order that he might burn them with it if they should again anger him. For this reason it is so hot in that land during the summer. At this point he added that he knew other stories which he could not relate because the time did not permit, and he agreed to relate them to us another day. But inasmuch us we made some fun of his stories, which he told quite seriously, we could not afterwards persuade him to tell us anything else; for he kept saying that he knew no more. All this story I have related in the phraseology you have doubtless noticed in order better to adapt it to the fashion In which the Indians explain it."