The Great Flood

: Myths And Legends Of California And The Old Southwest

Sia (New Mexico)



For a long time after the fight, the people were very happy, but the

ninth year was very bad. The whole earth was filled with water. The

water did not fall in rain, but came in as rivers between the mesas. It

continued to flow in from all sides until the people and the animals

fled to the mesa tops. The water continued to rise until nearly level

with the tops of the mesas. Then Sussistinn
ko cried, "Where shall my

people go? Where is the road to the north?" He looked to the north.

"Where is the road to the west? Where is the road to the east? Where is

the road to the south?" He looked in each direction. He said, "I see the

waters are everywhere."



All of the medicine men sang four days and four nights, but still the

waters continued to rise.



Then Spider placed a huge reed upon the top of the mesa. He said, "My

people will pass up through this to the world above."



Utset led the way, carrying a sack in which were many of the Star

people. The medicine men followed, carrying sacred things in sacred

blankets on their backs. Then came the people, and the animals, and the

snakes, and birds. The turkey was far behind and the foam of the water

rose and reached the tip ends of his feathers. You may know that is true

because even to this day they bear the mark of the waters.



When they reached the top of the great reed, the earth which formed the

floor of the world above, barred their way. Utset called to Locust,

"Man, come here." Locust went to her. She said, "You know best how to

pass through the earth. Go and make a door for us."



"Very well, mother," said Locust. "I think I can make a way."



He began working with his feet and after a while he passed through the

earthy floor, entering the upper world. As soon as he saw it, he said to

Utset, "It is good above."



Utset called Badger, and said, "Make a door for us. Sika, the Locust has

made one, but it is very small."



"Very well, mother, I will," said Badger.



After much work he passed into the world above, and said,



"Mother, I have opened the way." Badger also said, "Father-mother, the

world above is good."



Utset then called Deer. She said, "You go through first. If you can get

your head through, others may pass."



The deer returned saying, "Father, it is all right. I passed without

trouble."



Utset called Elk. She said, "You pass through. If you can get your head

and horns through the door, all may pass."



Elk returned saying, "Father, it is good. I passed without trouble."



Then Utset told the buffalo to try, and he returned saying,

"Father-mother, the door is good. I passed without trouble."



Utset called the scarab beetle and gave him the sack of stars, telling

him to pass out first with them. Scarab did not know what the sack

contained, but he was very small and grew tired carrying it. He wondered

what could be in the sack. After entering the new world he was so tired

he laid down the sack and peeped into it. He cut only a tiny hole, but

at once the Star People flew out and filled the heavens everywhere.



Then Utset and all the people came, and after Turkey passed, the door

was closed with a great rock so that the waters from below could not

follow them.



Then Utset looked for the sack with the Star People. She found it nearly

empty and could not tell where the stars had gone. The little beetle sat

by, very much frightened and very sad. But Utset was angry and said,

"You are bad and disobedient. From this time forth, you shall be blind."

That is the reason the scarabaeus has no eyes, so the old ones say.



But the little fellow had saved a few of the stars by grasping the sack

and holding it fast. Utset placed these in the heavens. In one group she

placed seven - the great bear. In another, three. In another group she

placed the Pleiades, and threw the others far off into the sky.



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