The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-07-01

Ava-supi tribe Is between the deep de-
files Of Cataract canon, tributary OF
the Little Colorado river. which has
lie rise In the Bill Williams mountains
The narrow valley is from 100 to 800 |
yards wide. with walls OF sandstone /
and granite rising perpendleularly on |
either side 10 a sheer height OF 1000
to 1000 feet. The approach Is by a
narrow. twisting. tortuous trail. which
descends from the broad plateau above.
winding In and out beneath the tow
ering walls and preciplces. Through
the center OF the little valley flows a
cold. clear stream. fed by the mountain
SHOWS Of the distant Bill Williams
peak. The current Is rapid and the
power IL utilized In a crude way for
grinding the grain. which is one OF the
principal crops Of this Arcadian peo-
pie. Al the lower end Of the stream
the water Ia diverted into aceQuias.
which carry Il 10 the fertile fields.
The Ava-supis have but one wife at
q time. with the exception OF the head
chief. TO whom Is granted a special dis
pensation permitting him 20 take rs
many wives az he can secure and sup
port. Failure TO provide iustifes a wife
In securing a divorce. which IL done
In the simplest possible manner. by
leaving the lodge OF her husband and
refusing thereafter to recognize him in
any manner. There Is a rather inter-
esting tradition which the Ava-supls
tell concerning themselves. In the
early days. ages and ages ago. the le-
gend runs. their forefathers dwelt in
great walled city on the mesas above.
They were a contented and prosperous
people, cultivating vast fields and rails
ing enormous herds OF stock. In the
course Of time. exalted by power ard
riches. they became aggressive and
domineering toward their weaker
neighbors. For weeks At a time they
would neglect their fields and herd.
while they raided some nearby tribe
The Great Spirit whom they had al.
ways worshiped grew angry at them
and resolved to send some terrible Wis
itation that they might know IA,
strength OF his hand. Il came Al noon
day. when all the men and women werl
In the fields. Suddenly cut OF a clca
sky a bright light burst and rrca
wind. followed by a trembling cf M
whole earth. The frightened peopl
turned TO run for their hcmes. but be
fcro they could reach the walls OF IN
pueblo the ground opened AMI the
were all swallowed up Then darknes
covered tae sky and for many hour
the shrleks OF those who had been lel
within the city walls were heard aboy
the sound Of the falling OF their hume
When light came again there was rot
sign OF habliaiion left upon all the wild
mesa. The whole tribe had been swey
away But where the ground upenc
Il had only partly closed again. len,
ing two separate mcsas upon lis side
The lower was broader than the ~
"A per. and. moreover. opened out into a
:, channel OF a great stream. but The NJ
per was cut on from the APPROACH Ell
= er by ascent or from their brethren b,
!, low. Al the bottom life might le ful
- ported on hsh and stray fowl. and q
i. the sides Of their rocky prison gre
-, bushes and Gtunted trees which yield,
~ an abundance Of berries and pinolcs
~ season. SO the little band set abou;
nc begin life again. First OF all th'
Dr. sought to build a path 20 their imprl
TT oned brothers on the upper mesa The
las numbers were few. aud they had on
IN such rude implements az hand "a mis