The Fire and
The Flood
Traditions of a deluge, we are told, In the New World prevailed, as in the Old.
Those of our Arawâks may seem absurd, Yet stranger tales from inland tribes are
heard. And far more wild were those which Were told by that same race in Bohio
for their race at first possessed Those lovely islands all, whose charms adorn
the west.
'Twas said in Hayti, that from magic gourd, By accident o'erturned,
the deluge poured; Till then that wondrous gourd enclosed could keep The
numerous finny tribes that swim the deep.
No trace of that wild legend I have
found, Though strange were the traditions all around. The Arawâks, peculiar,
understood That fire had swept the earth before the water-flood.
Fire is mighty--all-subduing! Once its fury came, When the Maker, roused, was
viewing Deeds of blood and shame-- Evil raging, goodness failing-- Then on
earth, his wrath prevailing, Came the burning flame.
Timely warning came from
heaven: "Fire shall sweep the land!" One who heard that warning given Sought a
reef of sand. By that chieftain's wisdom guided, Some a refuge there provided
For their little band. "Here," said he, "a pit preparing, Wives and children
hide, Timber strong, the sand-roof bearing, We must first provide.
Piles will
keep that shelter o'er us; Comrades, work!--the vault before us Must be deep and
wide. "Felling next the trees, and burning, All around make clear; Shrubs and
grass to ashes turning, Leave we nothing here-- Nothing on which flames can
fasten.
Clear and burn! O brothers! hasten, Ere the flames appear!" Clouds of smoke, the
sun concealing, Come, still rolling nigher; Then fierce flames, their might
revealing, Wrap the woods in fire. Onward comes the blazing torrent; That burnt
"clearing" stays its current: There--the flames expire.
Thither, from
that danger flying, Birds and beasts repair. In their vault those men are lying;
Smoke and heat they bear, While the flames around are roaring, And the fiery
hail is pouring, Finding safety there.
Coming forth, they see the ruin Through
the lurid fume; Ashes, which those flames were strewing, Spread funereal gloom.
Blackened skeletons there lying Show where men and beasts, when flying, Met
their awful doom!
Time flowed on. That fearful danger Long had passed away; Punishment became a
stranger; All had gone astray. Violence and wrong abounded; Men with evil good
confounded, Growing worse each day. Evil ways have evil ending.
When a
warning--new Told them of a flood impending, None believed it true. Till
Mareerewana, hearing, For his wife and children fearing, Made a great canoe.
Some among his nearest neighbours Said he was to blame; Others, mocking at his
labours, Strove to give him shame. Still they found him at it working, Morn and
eve, no labour shirking, Ere "great waters" came.
