The herald., 1893-12-10
MYSTIC cHoowoop MAEPwEE
Adventures OF Traveller In River
eide County.

At4 q - a ~ NAeOS w W. &f<fA - W - -
Adventures OF Traveller In River.
eide County.
Banning Herald: Situated way do wn
Black caflon, leading from Pleasant val
ley to the open desert, between Eagle
mountain and the Pinto range in River.
side county, is a small fat. In the mid
die of this fat is large brown colored
rock, on the top of which is q small
monument OF quartz. The rock itself is
sll covered with curious hieroglyphics.
On small fat on the side of the csfion,
about half a mile away, is an old Indian
burying ground. now all covered with
bones and skulls. l have often camped
at tank near the big brown rock while
out hunting with the Indians, and
heard many legends about the Black
canon, Tor IN years past this csfion had
been the Thermopylae between the two
great tribes of the country-the Chi
mehueva on the east and the Cahuilla
on the west and south. Many of the
stories told of hot and bloody fighte,
when many brave warrior bit the dust
and many scalps were carried home in
triumph; when, finally, on the eve
OF great battle, there appeared
light on the top of this great
boulder and a beautiful young Indian
girl, who commanded the braves to as
semble around the rock. She told them
of all tho great pattlec, how one side had
been victorious and then the other side
had had the best of it, and it was now
time they should make peace. She then
lit pipe and handed it to the chief on
the east and then TO the chief on the
west, and they both smoked and were
ever after great friends. The smoke
from the pipe was very great, and it cir
cled around the great rock, and when it
had disappeared the beautiful young
Indian had gone also, and no one had
seen her go.
Meauntch Wezwump is what they call
this rock. The cniefs OF the two tribes
met at this rock every year or so until
recently and smoked the pipe the young
girl had left, and made certain marks on
the rcck. The Indians OF the present
time will not go near it at night, and
even by day will take circuitous route
to avoid passing near it.
Three months ago had occasion to 20
down Black caflon looking for a stray
pdi8O3 WhSh lOuno ybcil a6AT LQl9
rock and concluded to climb up on the
top and see what this monument meant.
In small recees was some 500 or 400
flint arrow heads and number of flint
spear heads, and lying on the top of q
fist quartz rock WAS curiously carved
pipe, and as my corncob was somewhat
strong thought would appropriate the
pipe Of peace, or, as the Indians call it,
"choowoop naepwee." That evening
smoked the choowoop in the presence
OF several the Chimehueva Indians we
had cutting wood for us, and told them
where got it. They seemed sullen and
downcsst and left soon for their wick
iups below the mill in the csnon. The
next morning there wasn't redekin to
be found, and they sent me word they
never would come into the cailon as long
as [ smoked "choowoop naepwee."
smoked several pipefulls the first even
ing [ had the pipe. While smoking, my
thoughts persistentlv kept running on
Indian customs, warfare and traditions.
As it was warm night, | did not go to
bed until quite late, and when did turn
in fell into disturbed sleep. During
the night awoke, and my partner was
sitting aetride of me holding my hands.
He told me had been yelling the most
awful yells, and had fred my pistol off.
and he thought had surely gone insane.
At the time We attributed it to q
nightmare. The next evening 1 took
the pipe again to have my regular after
supper smoke, sitting in front of the
cabin. While dreamily observing the
emoke curling in the calm air, i'm
agired could zee wild faces glaring at
me tercely. That night was aroused |
the same as the night before. l then
concluded the nightmare was caused by |
smoking "choowoop naepwee." The |
next evening laid the pipe away and |
fell back on my old corncob, and slept |
as we'll Rs sver.
Everyone coming to the camp and see-
ing the pipe would ask to have q smoke |
out of il. At first we thought it was
fun to see the effect it would cause. but
on two occasions the fun came near
turning out to be serious. On one occa-
aion an old German prospector, known |
as old John, having been out of tobacco |
for long time, smokek choowoop all |
one evening. About midnight we heard |
OH John yelling most frightfully. "Hilf! |
hilf Mein Gott, they'll scalp me !" l |
looked to see the cause of the uproar. By |
the moonlight | could see John brand
lshlng butcher knife and heading for
the cabin. We took to our heels and
ran down the gulch and hid among the
rocks till morning. At daylight. return
lng to the CABIN, We found John sound |
asleep. He knew nothing of his actions
the night before. A similar occurrence
a few weeks afterward to an expert
miner of Los Angelica made US put stop
to allowing anyone to emoke Choowoop |
Naepwee. | still have the pipe, but | |
don't think l shall ever tackle it again.
A. Y. L.
Since writing the above have learned |
that the Indians of oldSn times used to |
smoke Marigusns, an herb growing on
the warm desert belonging to the hemp |
family. Smoking pipeiul of this herb |
has similar effect to hashish, or Indian |
hemp, only far more powerful, and !
doubtless the pipe had absorbed some OF
this dreadful narcotic, which may &C.
count for the effect upon the smoker.
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.....~ --Hcer.
How are you going to spell >anail
without a q, or question, or quiz, or