The world was once nothing but water. The only land above the water was Black Mountain. All the people lived up there when the flood came, and their fireplaces can still be seen.Fish-eater and Hawk lived there. Fish-eater was Hawk's uncle. One day they were singing and shaking a rattle. As they sang, Hawk shook this rattle and dirt began to fall out of it. They sang all night, shaking the rattle the whole time. Soon there was so much dirt on the water that the water started to go down. When it had gone all the way down, they put up the Sierra Nevada to hold the ocean back. Soon they saw a river running down through the valley.
When they finished making the earth, Hawk said, "Well, we have finished. Here is a rabbit for me. I will live on rabbits in my lifetime." Fish-eater was over a swampy place, and he said, "I will live on fish in my lifetime." They had plenty to eat for themselves. It was finished.
Owens Valley Paiute creation story, eastern California
HERE'S AN EXERCISE: (1) Compare the creation accounts for all cultures. (2) Compare the account given by cosmogeny. (3) Compare and contrast the differences between Genesis and (1) and (2). You'll find that the ancient Jews had, by far, the account that most closely approximates that of cosmogeny.
Coincidence?
Keep in mind that Genesis wasn't written as a scientific explanation, but a cultural explanation to the Jews on how things came to be.
Not bad, for something 3,000 years old, give or take.
Good creation story. About as plausible as any other creation story, it seems to me. Good for telling to 3-year-olds with a smile on one's face.