408 ETHNOLOGY. 



counts of the two above-named tribes differ materially in many essen- 

 tial points of their early history. Both seem to have heard of a great 

 tlood, and each have their own method of explaining how their fore- 

 lathers were saved from this deluge. 



The Pimas relate that the coming of the flood was vrell known to the 

 eagles, for these birds, soaring among the clouds, saw the gathering of 

 the storm. One of the eagles, friendly disposed toward the Pimas, ap- 

 peared to the principal prophet of the tribe, and warned him of the ap- 

 proaching disaster, advising him to prepare for it. At the same time a 

 cunning wolf (coyote) conveyed the same caution to another prophet. 

 The former and his followers paid no attention to the counsels of the 

 eagle; while the other prophet, knowing the wolf to be a sagacious ani- 

 mal, at once prepared a boat for himself and made provisions to take 

 Avith him all kinds of animals then known. The Papagos claim to be 

 the descendants of the more cautious one, the Pimas of the one who re- 

 fused to be guided by tlie eagle. This bird appeared for the second 

 time and repeated his caution, but the Pimas scorned his advice. At 

 last the eagle came for the third time, violently flapped his wings at the 

 door of the hut of the principal prophet, and with a shrill cry announced 

 to him and his people that the flood was at hand, and then flew scream- 

 ing away. Suddenly the winds arose and the rains descended in tor- 

 rents, thunder and lightning were terrific, and darkness covered the 

 world. Everything on earth was destroyed by this flood, and all the 

 Pimas perished except one chief, named So'-ho, a good and brave Indian, 

 who was saved by a special interposition in his favor by the Great 

 Spirit. 



The prophet who listened to and profited by the caution of the wolf, 

 entered his boat, which safely rode through the storm and landed, when 

 the flood subsided, upon the mountain of Santa Eosa. The wolf also 

 escaped by crawling into a large hollow cane, the ends of which he 

 closed with some resinous substance. The Papagos of to-day believe 

 that the prophet who saved himself by means of the boat was their fore- 

 father, and yearly visit the mountain and village of Santa Eosa, in Ari- 

 zona Territory, in commemoration of the fortunate escape of the founder 

 of their race. It is also said that a Papago will not kill a wolf. The 

 Pimas, however, claim to be the direct descendants of the chief So'-ho, 

 above mentioned. The children of So'-ho re-inhabited the Gila Eiver 

 Valley, and soon the people became numerous. One of the direct de- 

 scendants of So'-ho, King Si'-va-no, erected the Casas Grandes on the 

 Gila Eiver. Here he governed a large empire, before— long before— the 

 Spaniards were known. King Si'-va-no was very rich and powerful, and 

 had many wives, who were known for their personal beauty and their 

 gi\-at skill in making ])ottery ware and ki'-hos, (baskets which the 

 women carry upon their heads and backs.) The subjects of king Si'-va- 

 no lived in a large city near the Casas Grandes, and cultivated the soil 

 for manv miles around. They dug immense canals, which carried the 



