RLSSKM.] MYTHS 213 



Coyote was carried southward by the drifting log to the phwe 

 where ail the driftwood of the flood was coiiefted. To this day the 

 plate is referreil to as Driftwood mountain, though its exact location 

 is not known. Covote 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 stafl' 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, niav 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 disapj)eared 

 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 rider of the work!, and is accepted as such by many 

 to this ilay. Elder Brother on becoming the chief ruler told his sub- 

 ordinates to search for the center of the land, which is known as hik, 

 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 cast 

 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 llumming-blrd (Sheparosas) and the coyote to liring him mud. and 

 when it was brought he made from it various men, some of whom turned out good and others liad. 

 These men spread over the land up and 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 sjii<l. 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 

 been able to understand. Then the Bebedor told them that the men who dwelt downstream were the 

 good men, who extended as far as 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 BeI)edor once grew wrath- 

 ful 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 Jjase 

 to its top, with rows of thick thorns which e.xtend idong its whole length and usually with two or three 

 branches of the same shape which lr>ok like arms. Once again did tlie Bebedor become wratllful against 

 men and caused the smi 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 he should not now burn 

 them, and ordered the sun to ascend once more, l>ut not to such a distance as before, 8a>ing that he 

 left it lower down in order that he might burn them with it if they should again anger him. For this 

 rejison it is so hot in that land during the sunuiier. .\t this point he added that he knew other stories 

 which he could not relate because the time did not pennit, and he agreed to relate them to us an()ther 

 day. Hut inasmuch as we ma<ie 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. .\ll this 

 .story 1 have related in the phraseology you have doubtless noticed in order better to adapt it to the 

 fashion iii which the Indians explain it." 



