CHARLES B. WARRING. 1238 
earth, but the caves and dens closed themselves against 
them. Their eyes were torn out; their heads were cut 
off ; their flesh was devoured. Thus all were destroyed 
but a few, and these now live in the woods as little apes.” 
It would seem that in the long series of generations 
by whom these traditions were handed down, the story 
of creation, and the story of mankind’s being over- 
whelmed with destruction because they had forgotten 
their creator and led useless lives, and lived as the 
beasts live, had come to be considered as parts of one 
account. 
After this destruction the gods made four perfect men 
(the number seems to be a reminiscence of the number 
of men that peopled anew the world after the deluge, ) 
of yellow and-white maize. They had neither father 
nor mother. Their coming into existence was a miracle 
wrought directly by the creator. ‘‘ Verily at last there 
were found men worthy of their origin and destiny. 
Grand of countenance and broad of limb, they stood up 
under the rays of the morning star—sole light as yet of 
the world—they stood up and looked. They saw the 
woods and the rocks, the lakes and the sea, the moun- 
tains and the valleys, and the heavens that were above 
them. Then they returned thanks to those that had 
made the world and all that was therein. 
‘But the gods were not wholly pleased. There was 
counsel again in heaven: ‘What shall we do with 
man now? It is not good this that we see ; these are as 
gods ; they wouid make themselves equal with us ; lo, 
they know all things great and small.’ ”’ 
Here are evident the marred and distorted features of 
the mysterious scene in the Garden of Eden. ‘‘ Ye 
shall become as gods, knowing good and evil.” 
Perplexed at the prospect of men becoming so wise, 
the gods endeavor to prevent it, and for that purpose 
they say: ‘‘ Let us contract their sight. Thereupon the 
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