Luiseño

(map)

A great flood covered high mountains and drowned most people. A few saved themselves on a knoll called Mora by the Spaniards and Katuta by the Indians, staying there until the flood went down. The hill still has stones, ashes, and heaps of seashells showing where the Indians cooked their food.

Constance Goddard DuBois, The Religion of the Luiseño Indians of Southern California, University of California Publications in American Archaoeology and Ethnology vol. 8 no. 3 (Berkeley: The University Press, 1908), 157.

Coyote came upon Wahawut, the Frog, who was making a large granary basket. He went around her with his bow and arrows, but she knew he was there.

"My nephew, I believe you are thinking of killing me," she said.

"No, I'm not," said Coyote.

"If you shoot me, wherever you hit me water will run out and drown you."

"No, I don't believe it."

So Coyote made ready his arrow, shot her, and ran away as fast as he could. As soon as the arrow struck, water began to run out.

Coyote came to a tall tree and climbed into it. The water made a big lake around it. It rose and rose, and Coyote climbed higher and higher. He felt that he was near his death and began singing about his relatives and friends.

Birds came around the tree and told him that if he jumped, they would catch him and carry him safely to land. He believed them, jumped, fell in the water, and drowned.

Constance Goddard DuBois, The Religion of the Luiseño Indians of Southern California, University of California Publications in American Archaoeology and Ethnology vol. 8 no. 3 (Berkeley: The University Press, 1908), 156-157; Edward Winslow Gifford and Gwendoline Harris Block, California Indian Nights (1930; reprint, Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1990), 182.