Page 6 - 《原YOUNG—青少年雜誌期刊》108期

部落傳說
Tribe Saved After Snake-Crab Battle

Bunun Legend of

Great Flood

In ancient times, the Bunun people practiced slash-and-burn

agriculture and hunting. They had to work hard, but lived rather
happily, until a sudden heavy rain changed everything. The water
rose rapidly and it turned out that the river was blocked by a giant

snake lying in the valley. When their homes were about to be
flooded, people and animals ran to higher ground in Yushan and

Mount Cho-she for their lives. It was cold up there. With nothing to
build a fire with to keep warm or cook, people were freezing and

starving. Their lives were threatened.
Some brave men among them jumped into the flood water

and swam near the snake. They shot arrows at it but failed to harm
it in any way. Suddenly, a giant crab spoke up: “I can help you get

rid of that big snake!” People looked at the crab in confusion. The
crab continued, “I have strong claws that can pierce through its

body. However, my back is vulnerable and must be kept safe from
its bite.”

The Bunun elders met and came up with a solution to protect
the crab’s back from the snake’s venom with a solid clay pot.

Meanwhile, the snake, irritated by the arrow attacks, was
making huge waves. The Bunun had to quickly put a clay pot on

the crab, before it plunged into the flood and swam towards the
snake. A snake-crab battle began. The snake attacked the crab with

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