The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1922-12-29
indian
Lodge Tales
By
Ford C.. Prick
THE BRANDED BUFFALO


= loot of the great mountains were
and even the bravest did not venture
far from the shadow of the Great
White mountain where dwelt the Man
!tOu. To the east were great plains,
barren and dry, and these We're in
Tested by savage tribes. who fought
and battled to the death.
To the south was an uneyplored
land according to story one of the rich
est lands in the world, but infested
with wild beasts and great monsters
And, so the fathers said, the southern
lands We're the home of great gods,
who made their home in the Twin
Peaks" and who would not permit
strangers to use their hunting grounds
or fish in their streams.
But when the white men came tie
valley became quickly filed and the
buffalo We're killed and the antelope
disappeared, and we who were the
Gosiutes could not find meat to eat
or grain on which to live.
SO the oldest chiefs held a couVpll
and the pipes were lighted and grave
words We're spoken and the medicine
men brewed their herbs for great
decision. And finally it was decided
that a hunting expedition should he
made to the southlands and prayers
were offered to Manitou and big
party was organized
And at that time I was boy, Just
big enough to join the warriors, but |
had not yet counted my first coup, and
| was to go on the expedition. And
so the party started southwark and
we jollrneyed for eight days until we
came to the great twin mountains in
the strange southlands. There buffalo
We're plentiful and we camped for the
night, for the next day was to be the
hunt
In the morning, after we had made
prayer to Manltou, we started ON our
hunt and by noon we found the herd,
and the warriors on their ponies gave
chase and many buffalo were killed
And the warriors rejoiced to see so
much meat and everyone was happy.
But when we came to skin the buff
falo strange things happened. For
every one of the beasts carried a
/ brand, stamped on the shoulder, and
all the brands We're alike, and they
We're strange in character, and there
was no one who could read them OF
knew the meaning
The leaders We're frightened and nc
one knew what to do. And even the
medicine men and the wisest chiefs
were unable to read the strange brand
there were no white men in the land
and no tribe that used brand, ant
besides no one had ever before seen
buffalo that was branded.
And the warriors were much afraid
and they said that it was the mark o.
the strange gods who dwelt on tn,
Twin Peaks, and that the buffalo be
longed to them and that no one dareC
eat of their meat, else trouble woult
surely come.
SO the party returned home, and tn,
buffalo We're left behind. Even to thi
udy inc StCEet VI tiit DTulueu buiiui'
Is unknown, and no other warrior
ever have seen them except us and W
are Gosiutes. Today at Ignacio, wher
all the old men live, the story of tn,
branded buffalo Is told about the camp
fire, and the old men shake their head
for there is no one who knows HOY
! they came by the brand or the mean
) ing of its strange characters.
But they were branded, for l say
it myself, long years ago when | WIN
but a boy and was on my first huntin
party with my people who are tn
Gosutes.