The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-05-16
AN INDIAN LEGEND.

While on a ranch in northern Arizona, l
heard a legend, which was related by the
Piute Indians. The legend chiefly inter
ested me because it related to peculiar
cave in the base of towering red sand
stone cliff. The story was told me by
Niahumps, an old Indian, who said it had
been told uhlm by his grandmother. The
legend as told by the aid man ran like this {:
Five old mems ages ago, before the white
men came to this country, the Indians had
great villages along the streams and
they lived happily. One of these
villages was in the beautiful canon
of Karumpa, and this was where
the great chief Numpapsa dwelt. The
chief had daughter named Nuinkarets,
who was very beautiful and was the pride
of the whole tribe. Nuinkarets' heart
had never been touched by the young
braves of the tribe, but they were all in
| love with her.
| One day brave rode up to the wickiup
| of Numpapsa and said he was member OF
a far off tribe, and asked for shelter for
the night, as he intended to continue his
journey next day to the great river Colo
rado.) The chief was taken with the
brave, who was a magnificent specimen of
| physical manhood, and offered him place
in his own wickiup. The stranger thanked
him, and turning his horse loose to
Craze, stepped into the wickIup. After
| talking some time with Numpapsa, he
said that his name was Munaquira, and
that he belonged to a tribe of Piutis who
| lived many suns to the north. He had been
driven away from the tribe because he
! loved the same maiden as the chief. He
wished to cross the great river into the
Navaioe country and to roam abont until
he found some tribe who would receive
him.
Numpapsa said that his tribe would
gladly receive him and that he could marry
one of the maidens of the tribe and live as
one of them.
This offer was gladly received by Muna-
quira and he was told that next day he
would be formally made one of the tribe
! While the chief was talking with the
young man Nuinkarets had been out with
a party who had been hunting. When she
returned she was met by the stranger in
the wickeup as her father had gone out to
see what had been the success of the
party.
The meeting of the two evidently resulted
| in a case of love at first sight on the part OF
each, as they did not seem contented out of
each others sight. This was not noticed
by the chief and for ten moons after the
coming of the stranger the two were happy
in knowing of their mutual love-
| But there was in the tribe young
brave, named Ocomwa, who, up to the
coming Of the stranger, had enjoyed the
most favor in the eyes of Nunkarets, and
he looked upon Munaquira with feelin
of hate, which grew more intense with
each moon.
One day he saw the lovers standing to
gether and heard them make their vows o.
constancy. He had hidden in the brush or
purpose to hear this interview, and i'm
mediately reported what he had seen tt
Numpapsa. The chief, on being enlight
ened as to the state of affairs, went into {
towering rage and gave orders tina
Munaquira should be Immediately brough
before him. But the messengers of Low,
are swift, and when a search was insti
tuted for Munaquira he was not to be
found. Nnnkarets had heard the order O
her father and had told him of his impend
ing danger and implored him to fly
He told her of cave he had found neal
the village, of the stores he had secretei
there, and Of the entrance which was hid
den by willows. He also told her that Their,
was a great lake in the cave and they coult
always have water.
He said he should fly to this cave for
time, but before moon he would come ant
take her away.
The search party which had been sent BY
the chief were not able to find either hin