L'Abbe Gainet (i. 211) gives an account of the _Mandans_ from "Ceremoníes Religieuses," i. 7, which it will be interesting to compare with Catlin, as it was written a century previous to his visit. "The Mandans pretend that the Deluge was formerly raised up against them by the white men to destroy their ancestors.... Then the _first man_, whom they regard as one of their divinities, inspired mankind with the idea of constructing upon an eminence a _town_ and fortress in wood, and promised them that the water should not pass that point. They followed his advice and constructed the ark on the banks of the Heart river. It was of a very large size, so that a part of their nation found safety there whilst the rest perished. In memory of this memorable event they place in each of their villages a small model of this _edifice_ [which may account for the erect position of 'the big canoe'], this model still exists. The waters abated after that, and to this day they celebrate, in memory of this ark, the fête of the '_Okippe_,' which lasts _four days_." This leads me to the final question, When was this custom instituted? Up to this I have not considered whether the custom was good or bad, demoniac or only corrupted; and as to the time of its institution I have merely assumed from the fact of its universality that it was primeval. Before expressing my opinion, I must fortify myself with an extract from the Rev. W. Smith's very able work on the Pentateuch.[231] [231] Longmans, 1868, i. 290.