Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-02
WHENCE THE BUFFALO CAME.
An Indian Legend.


NehA AOAAdANC a Aibsb QClNNbobAC ANHsAoNs
Some of these traditions are simple. while
others are very complex; many are rich
with an almost oriental splendor, and
others approach the Platonism and de-
liberation of Morse sagas, All assist in
demonstrating that poetry is more mat
ter of conditions than Of culture.
There is little difficulty in tracing
majority Of these legends to their tribal
origin; so Enthusiastically do they bear the
impress of local and natural influence.
Those which were originated among the
mountain tribes, where the scenery is
continuous panorama of rugged grandeur,
are most sublime in their imagery and
movement.
One of the most striking and character
istic of these mountain legends, coming
from the Colorado Utes and accounting
for the origin of the buffalo, is, with some
slight mod fcatiOn, as follows;
The first people OF the earth were the
Manitou's own children. He formed them
of the snow of the mountains and filed
them with his own breath. SO they were
pure.
They were few in number and their fa-
ces shone like mountain sunshine. They
lived or the SUBMITS, in the heart of the
great Rocky Mountains, where the Mani+
tou had his throne.
He was with them always, so they were
wise with the wisdom OF purity and blame
lessness. The birds which sang around
them were not happier.
Perpetual youth was theirs, and there
was no sickness or death among them.
The Manitou provided food for them,
and for the birds, beasts and fishes, with
out destroying any form of life.
Age followed age, and still all was the
same; there had been no dissenson, blood
had not been spilled, nor had flesh been
tasted. The happiness which first came
with them was still complete.
There had been no loving, passion or
marriage, and though there were both
men and women-as now-the secret OF
sex was unknown.
But once has the earth echoed the tread
OF perfect people. Those who came with
The first mOrniny and VINO lived in the
Nauitou's way until the passing OF the
time was beyond mans reckoning, finally
had the curses and pangs OF wisdom
brought upon them by the touch of
WOman's hand.
The Manitou had commanded his chill
dren never TO enter the valleys, and as
long, dark shadows swept over these low
places. the people were glad to stay on
the SUBMITS in the sunlight
One day. in the season Of melting SHOWS,
a man whose splendOr none eXceled
climbed farther up one OF the highest
mountains than be had ever been before.
suddenly great bodies Of snow began
sliding down the mountain all around
MIN. and at length the mass upOn which
he was standing began moving too.
Straight down toward one of the for
hidden valleys ii went, and the man
with it,
! He knew no danger, save that of dis
/ pleasing the ManitOu, for danger, like
pain, was altogether unknown among
those who dwelt in tie mountains.
But he could not sop, and the snow
bore him on down into the valley below
There was a great river at his feet
/ which the snow chOked, and was borne
/ safely across and left standing upon the
/ other side.
/ He looked back, bat the snow was al
rerdy washed away by the river, so he
coulE ,n0treturn TO the SUBMITS in that
waE. !
I mukt basgen away he said.
tWh - ASH I'D voice at MS SIDE. "Wh by
must Won hast Ia away ?"
He turned a 4 I'd stood face to face with a
Her skin vls much darker than his,
ana she was bIautiful beyond anyone be
ever saw beforte, save the Manitou.
oWby mustfyOu gO?' she asked. Are
you OF the moE lntains-of tue ManitOu's
No lace had tever 20 bewildered him be-
fore. and no voice had ever so thrilled
He W Jas moved by new emotions, aud
his blood ID leaped through his veins with a
The ImHe upon the lips and in the eyes
of thaS woman held him like a spell
Every thing hut her and her strange beauty
was Forgotten.
a crow stiII sr.a,,t dor-u tho ,,oo,,.,
with a rumble, and the river still
ed through the valley. Above him
e the SUBMITS be had known since
this infancy, the home of his people
the throne of the Manitou.
Yet he needed none of these.
Yes" he answered; u am Of the
buntains, but who are your
Still smiling sweetiv, the woman put
s her hands and touched his face. Tn
sisted, she drew his head forward until
rested upon her bosom.
81 am daughter Of the plains people,"
be said. "Like you, we used 10 dwell
gitn him IN the SUBMITS, but he was Of
ended because ne sought wisdom, so he
BENT us away. Some Oi us stayed in these
valleys, and ont upon the plains, and
b;hers went far away upon the coasts.
With knowledge came love, sorrow, pain,
Xsickness, death and war. We also grow
old. and some of US die OF age. DINERS
are born in their places, though, and our
numbers increase. Though we suffer we
also rejoice. There is more TO make us
happy than sad. Our lives are unlike
yours but we like ours best. We eat of
the birds, the beasts and the f-hes. and
ind their flesh pleasant to the taste. The
pleasures OF wisdom are more than It's
pangs.
Her words had no meaning TO him, and
though she explained them he could not,
Tor a long time. understand the mysteries
Of birth and death.
"GOu shall 90 with me to the noun
tains," he said. land we will tell these
things TO my people,"
''it viii not be permitted"
"WbyY'
"You cannot return. since you have
met those of the plains, and know the
Manit0u's secrets, you can never again
20 to the mountains These mysteries are
Kept from the people there, so that their
lives viii be as yours was. blameless.
Telling them what you know would
change all Sorrow would come with
wisdom, and thw3rt the Manitou's plans.
They would love, marry and die, as they
do ON the plains, in the valleysand on the
coasts. Your people cannot be told these
things, and you can never again see their