176 BUEEAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [boll. 43 



attempting to extend the SAvay of their own in any other way than 

 might happen incidentally through successes in Avar. 



The existence of a distinctly evil sjjirit is so rare in American re- 

 ligions that we may be sure Du Pratz's statements regarding it were 

 founded on some misunderstood myth, some story of a conflict be- 

 tween the sky god and an earth or mountain spirit. Among certain 

 tribes a spirit lying under the earth and believed to support it has 

 been identified with the devil by partly missionized Indians, and 

 something of the kind may have taken place here." 



The ethical principles inculcated by this hero are entirely credible 

 if we assume their application to extend no farther than the Natchez, 

 Two of these ethical j^rinciples are also noted by Dumont in the fol- 

 lowing words : 



* * * They have by way of principle not to talve the wife of another and 

 not to liill those who do not harm them. Here is within these two articles the 

 summary and the epitome of their morality.* 



In spite of Du Pratz's denial of the existence of sacrifices and offer- 

 ings, it is quite evident that the gifts to the temple and to the Suns 

 were of the same nature. So, also, was the folloAving custom men- 

 tioned by Dumont: 



When a savage comes into a house, if l)read is presented to him he accepts it, 

 but before eating he never fails to break off four little pieces, which he throws 

 toward the four quarters of the world. When he is asked why he does it 

 and what this ceremony signifies, he does not know it and has no reply to make 

 except that it is their custom." 



The stories of the Bible have been responsible for the rescue of 

 considerable mythological material among all tribes, and to them we 

 undoubtedly owe our knowledge of the existence of flood legends 

 among the tribes of Louisiana. De la Vente writes of them: '' They 

 have with many other savages these traditions that the grand chief 

 formerly inundated the whole earth by means of a general deluge." ^ 

 And Du Pratz says: 



* * * I asked him [the chief of the guardians of the temple] if they had 

 any knowledge of the deluge. He replied that the ancient word taught all the 

 red men that almost all men were destroyed by waters except a very small 

 number, who had saved themselves on a very high mountain; that he knew 

 nothing more regarding this subject except that these few people had repeopled 

 the earth. As the other nations had told me the same thing, I was assured 

 that all the nations thought the same regarding this event.*^ 



It is curious that in his own work Du Pratz tells us less than he 

 was able to impart to Dinnont five years earlier. The account which 

 he then furnished was as follows : 



I then asked them if they h;id heard the deluge spoken of. They told me, 

 " Yes; " biit it must be admitted that what they related to me appeared to have 



" For additional information on tlie subject of good and bad spirits, see p. 334. 



''Dumont, Mem. lUst. siir I.a Louisiane, I, IGG. 



" Ibid., 1.58. 



"* De la Vente in Compto Rendu Cong. Internal, dcs Ani^^r., l.")th spss.. i, 40. 



« Du I'ratz, Hist, de La Louisiano, iii, 27. 



