370 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



people must have had some proximity to some part of the civilized world, or that 

 missionaries or others have been formerly among them inculcating the Christian re- 

 ligion and the Mosaic account of the flood, which is, in this and some other respects, 

 decidedly different from the theory which most natural people have distinctly estab- 

 lished of that event. 



There are other strong, and almost decisive proofs in my opinion, in support of the 

 assertion, which are to be drawn from the diversity of color in their hair and com- 

 plexions, as I have before described, as well as fro/in their tradition just related of the 

 (l first or only man," whose body was white, and who came from the West, telling 

 them of the destruction of the earth by water, and instructing them in the forms of 

 these mysteries ; and, in addition to the above, I will add the two following very 

 curious stories, which I had from several of their old and dignified chiefs, and which 

 are, no doubt, standing and credited traditions of the tribe : 



"The Mandans (people of the pheasants) were the first people created in the world, 

 and they originally lived inside of the earth ; they raised many vines, and one of 

 them had grown up through a hole in the earth overhead, and one of their young men 

 climbed up it until he came out on the top of the ground, on the bank of the river, 

 where the Mandan village stands. He looked around and admired the beautiful 

 country and prairies about him, saw many buffaloes, killed one with his bow and 

 arrows, and found that its meat was good to eat. He returned, and related what he 

 had seen, when a number of others went up the vine with him and witnessed the 

 same things. Amongst those who went up were two very pretty young women, who 

 were favorites of the chiefs, because they were virgins; and amongst those who were 

 trying to get up was a very large and fat woman, who was ordered by the chiefs not 

 to go up, but whose curiosity led her to try it as soon as she got a secret opportunity, 

 when there was no one present. When she got part of the way up the vine broke 

 under the great weight of her body and let her down. She was very much hurt by 

 the fall, but did not die. The Mandans were very sorry about this, and she was dis- 

 graced for being the cause of a very great calamity, which she had brought upon 

 them, and which could never be averted, for no more could ever ascend, nor could 

 those descend who had got up; but they built the Mandan village where it formerly 

 stood, a great ways below on the river, and the remainder of the people live under 

 ground to this day." 



The above tradition is told with great gravity by their chiefs and doctors, or mys- 

 tery-men ; and the latter profess to hear their friends talk through the earth at certain 

 times and places, and even consult them for their opinions and advice on many im- 

 portant occasions. 



The next tradition -runs thus : 



"At a very ancient period O-kee-hee-de (the Evil Spirit, the black fellow mentioned 

 in the religious ceremonies) came to the Mandan village with Nu-mohTc-muck-a-nah 

 (the first or only man) from the west, and sat down by a woman who had but one 

 eye and was hoeing corn. Her daughter, who was very pretty, came up to her, and 

 the Evil Spirit desired her to go and bring some water, but wished that before she 

 started she would come to him and eat some buffalo meat. He told her to take a 

 piece out of his side, which she did and ate it, which proved to be buffalo-fat. She 

 then went for the water, which she brought, and met them in the village where they 

 had walked, and they both drank of it. Nothing more was done. 



" The friends of the girl soon after endeavored to disgrace her, by telling her that 

 she was enciente, which she did not deny. She declared her innocence at the same 

 time, and boldly defied any man in the village to come forward and accuse her. 

 This raised a great excitement in the village, and, as no one could stand forth to ac- 

 cuse her, she was looked upon as great medicine. She soon after went off secretly to 

 the upper Mandan village, where the child was born. 



"Great search was made for her before she was found, as it was expected that the 

 child would also be great medicine or mystery, and of great importance to the exist- 



