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206 to come and dive under the water and get some sand. or ground. the otter dove but did not again appear. on the surface alive but shortly after Manibojou saw him come up dead he reached for him and restored him to life after trying a few other animals without success he observed a musk rat swimming about. Manibojou called to him to come and try the rat went down and after a long delay came on the surface dead. Manibojou reached for him and examined the paws. to his great joy he found some sand on them. and he restored the rat to life. . Then he held the sand to the sun till it dried. he then cast it in [?] and made a beautiful island he then went ashore and casted some more sand till his island was the world. There Manibojou after the flood made the present world.. and he called all the animals to him and told them what they would be for. what benefit. they would be to the indians and he also [?] them. after this he retired. and now sits at half way between the two ends of the world. and every time the indian tells of him he hears it and smiles to himself and says. what foolish things must have happened now."
This story comes to the writer first hand from the Ojibway of Lac du Flambeau. and it is the same in substance as has been heard by other writers and proves it Many have been led to t he assumption that the indians are of the "Lost Ten Tribes." and that this Legend shows that they knew of the "Deluge." but this simgle instance proves nothing.. the old time indians. had heard the story of the Deluge from the Jesuits who visited them early. and being in it self a startling narrative they have handed it down and added to it and fixed it up in indian fashion with additions and adjuncts. so that now it has again gotten back to the white man's ears. he at once Jumps at the conclusion that the indian knew it all the time and that he is a true son of Isriel. because he remembers as far back as the Deluge. we think that this story is the christian account dressed up by the indian story teller.