Native American Legends
The Tower of Babel
A Choctaw Legend
Many generations ago Aba, the good spirit above, created many men,
all Choctaw, who spoke the language of the Choctaw, and understood
one another.
These came from the bosom of the earth, being formed of yellow
clay, and no men had ever lived before them. One day all came together
and, looking upward, wondered what the clouds and the blue expanse
above might be. They continued to wonder and talk among themselves
and at last determined to endeavor to reach the sky.
So they brought many rocks and began building a mound that was
to have touched the heavens. That night, however, the wind blew
strong from above and the rocks fell from the mound. The second
morning they again began work on the mound, but as the men slept
that night the rocks were again scattered by the winds.
Once more, on the third morning, the builders set to their task.
But once more, as the men lay near the mound that night, wrapped
in slumber, the winds came with so great force that the rocks were
hurled down on them.
The men were not killed, but when daylight came and they made their
way from beneath the rocks and began to speak to one another, all
were astounded as well as alarmed -they spoke various languages
and could not understand one another.
Some continued thenceforward to speak the original tongue, the
language of the Choctaw, and from these sprung the Choctaw tribe.
The others, who could not understand this language, began to fight
among themselves. Finally they separated.
The Choctaw remained the original people; the others scattered,
some going north, some east, and others west, and formed various
tribes. This explains why there are so many tribes throughout the
country at the present time.
Native American Legends
Back to Top
Other Native American Legends
|
Native American Legends A-B