The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1923-03-22
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
| Indian i
Lodge Tales
| By
Ford c. Frick
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IN THE dim past the Rain Gods had
= their abode In the twin peaks that
lie at the edge of sunrise. There the
country was covered with trees and
plants and the grass was ever green.
and water flowed from the springs and
the world was very beautiful. And the
Rain Gods sent the rain and 1t tell
to insure the harvest of many kinds
of fruit without mans efforts
In the valley Of the great peaks
dwelt a happy people. They lived and
prospered in peace. and there were no
wars and no battles, and there was No
envy and no hatred, but all the people
were happy together.
For ages and ages the people lived
thus, blessed beyond all measure, until
invaders from the north came, issuing
from dark. gloomy clouds, crossing the
deep river and swarming In hordes
over the whole country. And then
came wars, and the people, unaccus-
toned to warfare, fell easy victims to
the strength and fury Of the invaders
and 30 they fed from the land into the
businesses Of the mountains and tho
deep. inaccessible canons.
The Rain Gods were very angry, for
they see and hear everything and they
loved the people Of the valley. So
they held back the rains which come
from the sacred bosom Of Huajatolla,
Breasts Of the World, source Of susie
nance for all, and the land became
dry and parched as It is now.
All men suffered alike-the good -
well as the evil-for the wild corn and
the green calabash withered, the fruit
shriveled up to nothing, and later the
trees themselves; the rivers became
dry channels, the lakes disappeared;
the country changed from land Of
plenty into a desert, with here and
there the broken, gnarled tree trunks,
and even these turned to stone In the
heat.
Life became struggle and In time
the invaders and conquer0rs Of the
people drifted to the south, leaving the
country barren and wasted-and only
the original people were left. Some
Of these, fearing another invasion, re-
manned In the hills and mountains and
deep canons, building their homes In
the cliffs, against the high hilltopa.
And they learned to bring water to
their crops and raise fruit through
much work.
But about this time another tribe a
warrior men made its appearance On
earth, floating down from the sky on
the great winged Ship-Roek, which
remains their home to this day and
can be seen three days travel away
before you reach It.
The warriors on the Winged Rock
were friendly, and taught the people
to chase the deer and the antelope,
and to eat the flesh Of creatures.
Peace and war alternated from that
time, the people, kind and gentle at
first, becoming skilled In the use Of
arms, and their hearts full of lust and
revenge. And all the land, from the
great sea which is salty, to the river
of the north, became q desert with
storms sweeping over II, accompanied
with great waters and sometimes thun-
der, lightning and hail.
And all the land was barren except
Huajatolla, the Breasts Of the World,
the abode Of the Gods who have power
to lock and unlock the gates Of rain.
There only, far away In the north
toward the rising sun where the world
snss and fin.itiess pains meet the skS,
there only, It still rAipe6 % re ~ a
s,eTy day. snd trees grew great with
fruit upon. the birds forever sang. and
the air Is sweet with the fragrance d
many flowers.
been In part authenticated so far a.