SWANTON] INDIAN TRIBES OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY 357 



of wood, the one flat and the other pointed, by turnhig one upon the other with 

 force, in order to cook the food which they obtained to eat; under pain of death 

 to adore him as the master, ci'eator, and preserver of all things; to honor 

 finally the bones of their relations and even carry them food as if they were 

 living. 



The animals took part with men in their councils : they gave them their 

 advice. They were there distinguished from the human species in accordance 

 with the protection which they accorded to it. Even now each family pre- 

 serves a respectful attachment for a certain species [of animal] from which 

 it pretends to receive services in time of need. 



The sun and moon were created for man and wife. The moon was male and 

 intended to vivify and illuminate all things upon the earth; but having neg- 

 lected to strengthen itself by baths it was condemned to remain in the state in 

 which it came from the hands of its creator, light pale and without vigor, con- 

 tinuing in ceaseless pursuit of its wife, the sun, without being able to overtake 

 her. The sun, on the contrary, having iiaid more attention to taking her baths 

 and her bitters (ainers) merited the prerogative of shedding her benefits on 

 the world and mankind. It has always been held in great veneration among 

 them and has often stopped in its course to give them time to overcome their 

 enemies, to secure their prey, and attain the other objects of their travels. 



The mounds mark the places where there formerly encamped a subordinate 

 spirit sent by Thoume Ken§ to visit his creations and report whether his 

 wishes were executed. This spirit played an important part upon the earth. 

 It is he who in his journeys taught men how to prepare their food, to know 

 the causes of diseases and their cures ; it is in honor of him that the accacme 

 (Ilex cassinc) is still drunk. 



******* 



The spirit spoken of in the last paragraph suggests Ku'tnahin, who 

 would thus be made the son of the supreme deity instead of the su- 

 preme deity himself, but it is evident that white ideas have been read 

 into this material to a considerable extent, and perhaps this among 

 them. 



Although Gatschet collected an abundance of linguistic material 

 from the Chitimacha in 1881-82, including several texts, and obtained 

 considerable data regarding the social and religious lives of these 

 people, most of which has already been given, he gathered no myths. 

 The following stories, therefore, recalled by Benjamin Paul, some- 

 times with considerable difficulty, and recorded by the writer, are 

 all that remain to be added. 



"\'\lien the great deluge came the people baked a great earthen 

 pot, in which two persons saved themselves, being borne up upon the 

 surface of the waters. With them went two rattlesnakes. So the 

 rattlesnake was thought to be the friend of man, and it is maintained 

 that in ancient times each house was protected by one of these ser- 

 pents, which entered it whenever its owner went away and retired 

 when he came back. \"\niile the flood prevailed the redheaded wood- 

 pecker {cuC'kd' koTismofi) hooked his claws into the sky and hung 

 there. The water rose so high that his tail was partly submerged 

 and sediment deposited upon it by the disturbed waters marked it 



