Native American Legends
The Deluge
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
At one time there was a flood that covered the earth, and most
of the people were drowned. When the waters rose, the people fled
to the mountains; but some were overtaken and drowned on the way,
and others were drowned on the tops of the lower mountains.
All the land was flooded except the tops of a few very high mountains.
Xäls and his wife and daughters escaped in a large canoe. They
were chiefs. After paddling about for many days and nights, they
became very tired. They drifted against the top of Qotse'lis Mountain,
and there they made a hole through a stone, and moored their canoe
by passing a heavy cedar-bark cable through the hole.
Here they stayed and gauged the increase and decrease of the water
with stakes as marks. After flowing and receding several times,
the water at last receded, and they cast off their canoe. The flood
now subsided rapidly, and they found themselves in the Lower Fraser
Valley.
Some say they had drifted there from the south. Now all the water
was gone, excepting some that remained in the form of lakes and
ponds, filling up the hollows and depressions. After this Xäls
traveled over the world, and taught the survivors of the flood how
to act and how to work. He was very wise, and taught the people
how to pray, and do every kind of work. He traveled among all the
neighboring coast tribes.
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