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East Asia / Taiwan - Bunun Legend of the Flood
In ancient times the world was ravaged by floods and only the peaks of such mountains as Yushan, Mt. Luanta, Mt. Chunta, Mt. Shilubiya, and Mt. Chuoshe appeared above the waters. Although mankind had found safety on top of Yushan, the millet was gone and there was nothing to cook with. Fortunately game was abundant, and people could kill animals and eat them raw to satisfy their hunger. Life was very inconvenient because there was no fire, and so everyone looked about for fire. One day the glow of flames was spotted on Mt. Chuoshe, and people immediately sent a bird to bring back some fire. However the bird disappeared on the way back. The people then sent a long-tailed bird, but the long-tailed bird fell into the water and died. Finally the people sent a haipiji bird, and this bird at last succeeded at bringing back fire. Afterwards there was once a fight between a crab and a large snake. The crab pinched open the snake's belly, and the snake fled to the west in great pain. The places where the snake passed became a river, and all the accumulated water flowed away, revealing the land again. The people were happy and left the mountains to search for good places to live. As a result people scattered in all directions and established the tribes and villages.
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