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Show TRADITION OFTHENEZPER-CES. OFTHENEZPER-CES. THE RED MAN'S DA.RTVI5ISJE. We find in the Idaho Signal of April 20, 1872, the following remark able tradition of tho Nez Perces Indians In-dians who have recently broken out in northern Idaho. As much has been said concerning the peculiar religious re-ligious tenets of the tribe, it will at The Ncz Perces Indians hold to the doctrino that all tho various tribes of Indians sprung from Lhe lower order of creation. The peculiar process ol development, or metamorphosis, by which ihey have attained to their present Btate, they are cunning enough not to disclose or attempt to philosophize upon passing over a long poriod of transition and becoming full liedged, sturdy sons of the forest in a moment of time. TIJEIR TRADITION. Thousands of years ago there existed ex-isted an animal of immense size, way oil" to the southwest of the country now occupied by the Nez Perces. It was the largest of all the animal crea tion, anu was Jin own as me tus icau-Isik, icau-Isik, This animal's greatest propensity propen-sity was the devouring of every living Lhiug be came acroes. His voraciousness voracious-ness was ao great that lizards and reptiles rep-tiles of all kinds and sizes, bears, wolves, and animals of every description, descrip-tion, at one gulp, would disappear in tho depths of his capacious maw. At the Bame time existed the cayote, or "litlie woll," noted for his cunning, and recognized os chief among and by the other animals, they looking upon him aB at Bome future time to work out for them a great deliverance. deliver-ance. Little Wolf had heard of the tremendous slaughter the "Illa wau-tsib," wau-tsib," wns making among the other animals, and delermint-d to put a stop to it. To this end he girded on his armor, which consisted of two robes made of wild hemp, a quiver made of bear-akin, some tinder, and knives of flint, all of which he con-! cealed under his fore-leg, and, being fully equipped, he started out on hia perilous miasiou. After traveling for many days, and over a great Ptretch of country, Little Wolf descried the "Ills wau tsih" in the distance, and immediately prepared pre-pared for the conflict. Taking the two ropes which were miles in length, he fastened them to a cord of sinew, which was about his body, and the other ends of the rope he bad fastened, fast-ened, by his single aid he had along with him, lo two trees a loDg distance ir'jm eacu omer. By this time tho "Ills wau-tsih" was within hearing of Little Wolf. Little Wolf howls out, "Como on old Mlls-pau-lsih' aud prepare lo die, for lam going to slay you!" and he came, and lhe battle raged with considerable con-siderable violence, (er some time. Little Wolf getting in some vtrv good strokes dow and then; but he was finally compelled to abandon an active, offensive fight, and rtsorted to cunning and operated on the defensive. de-fensive. The old fellow had, however swallowed Little Wolf, having him part way down, when the ropes aud sinsw girth prevented his going down entirely. The old fellow stamped about and howled fearfully, and declared, de-clared, "I will swallow Little Wolf." Taking a long breath, be made a huge efiort the girth was broken and down went poor Little Wolf. After resting a short time, he made a tour of the bally of thB old fellow and found all kmda of ania's and rpptiles therein, which had been carrying on a kind of internal war among themselves. Feeling somewhat some-what hungry, Little Wolt takfsoneof his knives ana cutj a piece of fat from the heart of the benat, and1 warming it with ignited tinder, de vours it, and then counsels obedience among the other inh.ibitar.ts, and promises a speedy deliverance from 1 their prison. He then cooks a meal ' for hia fellow prisoners and takes a piece of fjt from the heart of the ueast and rubs the wounds and sores of his fellows, which heals them. He ihcn says to thi'in, "You are my subjects, and it is now time to gc out of iiere. In taking the fat irom around the heart, I havo Btruck the old fellow a death blow." Proceeding Proceed-ing with his work, be caused the old fehow to howl tremendously. He writhed and kicked and tried to throw up bin ' sun per," and they came from hia nose; t-ars and mouth, all lied out but Little Wolf. The old i tellow tried to rid himself of him, but Little Wolt did not propose to leave un'.il his mission was accomplished. accom-plished. The old fellow declared he would eject him, bin, lailiug in the attempt, rollfd ovfr and "gave up the ghost." Little Wolf, utter the old fellow died, walked out and collected his companions to help skin They took tre meat from the bones and bad a right hearty meal. Thry then divided the skin between each other. The bone were then taken and scattered to the uttermost parts of the earth, and an allotment of land w;is made to each of the delivered de-livered ones, which they were to tnke us their country and they would all be changed in the twinkling of the ee and they would find that a race of people would spring up from the bouea of the beast, in all respects like unto them. "But," mi id the fox, "you have reserved nothing for yourself." your-self." Little Wolf called for water. His paws were yet dripping with the blood of tho beast. He dipped his paws in the wator and scattered the blood and water all over this country occupied by the Nez Perces, saying "from this shall ppring a people to lUUHi'H una IHIIU Willi uie. Litlie Wolf became transformed into a Nez Perces chief, and a tribe sprang up around him. Little Wolf had came from beyond tho mountains, and fought this great fight, and efiected this wonderful deliverance, on the grounds between the seuth fork of Clearwater river and Chamas prairie. The Nez Perces being somewhat diminutive in Bize ia accounted for by reason of their coming from leavings leav-ings created out of the fng ends of the beast; but what they lank in stature they claim they more than makeup in intelligence and cunning, taking after their illustrious progenitor, Little Wolf. Thus ends the tradition. tradi-tion. 1 have given it lo you as it was given to me, by "Ta-wish-wai" (Joseph) acd "Hol-Iol-ho aote" (Lawyer), (Law-yer), the head chief and ex-head chief of the Ncz Perces, through P. B. Whitman, interpreter, and in a reply to a question from me. put to them as follows: From whence originated the Nez Perces Indians? F. W. Monteitii. |