Atayal

(map)

Long ago the earth was flat, with no valleys or cliffs. Then there was a flood. Even the tiny streams became swollen with water, and the water gradually increased until everything became a sea. The Atayal fled to Pappak Mountain. Still the water increased, and they were pushed up to the summit of the mountain.

There the Atayal consulted together, saying, "Why is the water rising? It may be that the gods are demanding something. How about we offer them a person?" For that purpose, they selected a worthless man whose death was of no concern and threw him into the water. Contrary to their expectations, though, the waters roared and increased more rapidly. "Surely the gods are angry with us," the people said, "because we offered a worthless person." Then, with the chief's agreement, they offered up the chief's daughter. There was a sound as of a cliff crumbling, and the water receded.

When they looked out at the land, they saw that deep valleys and cliffs were being formed. Many fish and eels were left stranded on the land. There were too many to eat, so they rotted and smelled terrible, it is said.

Edward Norbeck, Folklore of the Atayal of Formosa and the Mountain Tribes of Luzon, Anthropological Papers, Museum of Anthropology, University of Michigan, No. 5 (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1950), 17.