Excerpt from “Displaced Gods: Mythology Connections Amongst Forgotten Peoples,” Dr. James W. Heyer; Bristol Press, St. John’s Fields, 1917

Of an interesting parallel between certain vanished African, Inuit, and Asian native groups, is a creation story gathered from the oral tradition of the Moneton tribe in West Virginia; where this creation story breaks from the others, however, is that it seems not a world- and mankind-creation story, but a very geographic- and tribe- specific location. Another way it differs from the others in the “Shining One” arc, is that it makes little mention of Shining One’s people or home (which in other stories, is always mentioned as being ‘above the clouds,’ or ‘beyond the moon’ [Kleiner, 1903]).

Little is known of the Moneton, save for isolated instances of trading “pelts of strange and curious nature” [Alvord, 1911], and having what local legend described as a “curious and hesitant nature — uneasy was their approach, and always did they seem to listen for sounds unheard” [Bidgood and Heyer, 1909].

…And the animals and the trees of the land called to Trickster, “Save us from Shining One, for his ways are cruel, and his manner is harsh”. And Trickster thought, and knew that he could not destroy Shining One, for powerful was he, and strong was his magic. And the animals called out to Trickster again, “Save us from Shining One, he who destroys the fields and poisons the water;” and still Trickster stayed home, for he was afraid. And the trees called to Trickster again, “Save us from Shining One, he hides the sun and blights the wood;” but Trickster was still afraid, and hid his head from the cries of his children. And the animals and the trees of the land wept, and suffered under Shining One’s evil for many moons more.

Then, the other Gods came to Trickster, and said “Soon, Man will be on the Earth. You must go and stop Shining One, for Man cannot bear against such evil.” And Trickster was still afraid, but knew that he could not stand against all the Gods’ will. So Trickster went to Shining One, and said, “Come, let us race against each other.” And Shining One looked at Trickster, and knew it was a trick; but Shining One said “What will you give me if I win?” and Trickster said, “My eyes to see into the hearts of man; my ears to hear their hidden fears; and my tongue to whisper pain into their minds,” and Shining One said, “What must I give if you win?” and Trickster said “Your heart, which I will create a great river with; your bones, which I will cast into the earth; and your mind, which I will hide in the great woods.” And Shining One looked at Trickster, and Trickster was afraid — but still Trickster laughed, and Shining One said “I accept.”

And all the Gods and all the animals and all the trees gathered, and watched as Shining One and Trickster raced; they raced for days, and for nights, until finally they could race no more. And Trickster came to Shining One with hatred in his heart, and slew Shining One, and cut his body, and hid the pieces in the land. Shining One’s heart, he made a great waterfall which fed into a mighty river; Shining One’s bones, he cast them into the earth, where they blackened and hardened; Shining One’s mind fell into a great sleep, and was hidden in the great woods, where it slept and dreamed, and made much confusion in the wood as well.

And all the Gods and all the animals and all the trees took parts of Shining One, and hid them as well, until there was no part of Shining One left, except his spirit, which none could find.

And all the Gods and the animals and the trees and Trickster looked for Shining One’s spirit, and grew afraid when they could not find it; for all knew that if Shining One’s spirit remained free, no matter how many pieces his body lay in, Shining One’s evil could be continued.

And then the trees cried out, “We see it!” and grabbed at Shining One’s spirit — but it moved too fast, and left the trees weak and still; and the animals cried out, “We see it!” and grabbed at Shining One’s spirit — but it moved too fast again, and left the animals scared and feeble; and the Gods cried out, “We see it!” and grabbed at the spirit — but it was too strong, and scared all the Gods away.

And Trickster looked around at the still wood, and at the dumb animals, and knew Shining One’s spirit could not be stopped, though it was tied to that place; and so Trickster caused great mists to form, so that none could find where Shining One remained; and when Man came, Trickster put his mark on some of them, and made them keepers of the secret place.

[For further reading on the Moneton, see Alvord and Bidgood, 1912].