The times., 1897-05-23

OF the sides OF their rocky prison grew
bushes and stunted trees which yielded an
abundance Of berries and pineholes In
season. So the little band set about to be
in life again. First of all they sought to
build path to their imprisoned brothers on
the upper mesa. Their numbers were few,
and they had only such rude implements at
hand as nSg ght be made from the tough young
saplings. Each da y saw them painfully and
slowly advancing upward, but each day
told upon the hungry and suffering people
in the aerial prison.
As the days passed by the workers
made feverish haste. Sometimes, when the
winds were still, they could hear the cries of
anguish and distress floating out upon the
still air. Then they would see the glaring,
eager eyes, as the despairing creatures
hung over the precipice and shouted for aid.
AT times the steady monotone of the
workers would be broken by a shrek, and,
giancing upward, they would see between
them and the sun the body OF some che
OF their demented Kindred, who had
hurled himself into the abyss
At last the workers reached the summit
but TO their horror not one OF their kinsmen
was left. Strewed about in all manner of
shapes Were the re mains of their loved ones
and friends. Their famne-stricken faces
would nave told the story OF their death,
IL it had not already been known. Sadly,
and after the barbaric rites of their people,
the remains were committed to their final
rest, and their companions returned to
what seemed hopeless lives below.
But the Ava-Supis were brave and pa
dent, even in the shadow of despair They
set about and gathered large quantities
OF the fruits and nuts, storing them away
for the winter season. The fish they dried
to the same purpose. Then they resolved
to continue the road from the upper mesa
still upward, with the hope that perhaps
they might reach their old homes. The
work was slow Almost a generation had
passed before they reached the broad
mesas where once had been their homes.
They saw nothing. The plains stretched
away OF every side in utter barrenness.
Their only home, after all, was down in
the deep canyon, where the Great Spirit
had sent them. Sorrowfully they returned,
and yet with lighter hearts than they
had known for many days. Most of them
now had been born in the shadow of the
mighty walls. There they would be con-
tented to live, and, perhaps, if they ac-
CtpteU TIE blldU 1dG Dten
uron their fathers and themselves in due
meekness OF spirit ii would not te counted
against them when they died and reached
their home behind the stars.
The tradition continues to relate how
men from other tribes, generations after
ward found the pathway bewn with So
much toll and care, and came and settled
among the Ava-Supis. Gradually inter
course spfahg up with the outside world
From the Moqui villages hey obtained seeds
of many kinds, and grew into senLi-civ-
ilized pursuits.
All traditions have more or less foun-
daton, though sometimes, and, indeed,
often, it is very meager 1t is possible
that the narrow defiIe which is now the
happy home OF the Ava-Supis was the
result OF one of those fearful earthquakes
which in times past Were not at all un-
common i'll these lattudes. The mesa
above is covered for miles around with
debris and volcanic deposit, indicating a
mighty earth disturbance at some tine.