Pima
As people grew in numbers, they became selfish and greedy. As
the situation on Earth became worse, the Earth Maker decided to
drown all evil ones from the face of the Earth, but not without
warning. He asked all to listen to the voice of the north wind
as it called to them to be honest and live in peace. Few listened
to the north wind. The next night another warning echoed from
a distant thunderstorm to the east. When the prophet Suhu spoke,
he was called a fool, and the people continued to ignore the warning
of the wind. On the third night, the wind came from the west.
They were cautioned again to listen to the voice of the prophet
Suhu. On the fourth night, the wind came from the south, and only
Suhu heard its mournful cry. "Suhu," said Earth Maker,
"Take your people who are good to the summit of Kakatak Tamai,
for all the land will soon be covered with water, and all the
evil will perish." The prophet Suhu gathered the good from
all corners of the land and led them to the top of Crooked Top
Mountain. Then the roar of thunder and lightning enveloped the
land. From the east the rains came, and for two moons it fell.
All of the land except Crooked Top Mountain was covered with water.
The Earth Maker spoke once again from the thunder clouds atop
Kakatak Tamai. "All good people will return to the desert
valley to till the fertile soil, and all evil ones will be turned
to stone," he said. And so it was. The stone people are clearly
visible in the mountains, giant rock structures imploring the
Gods for release from their fate. And the white stratum line which
appears near the top is the high water mark from the flood.
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