Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1923-10-18
Indian
Lodge Tales
By
Ford c. Prick
HUAJATOLLA-I
Spanish Peaks)

Tn 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 II fell
TO insure the harvest Of many kinds
Of fruit without mans efforts.
In the valley Of the great peaks
dwelt 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 so they fed from the land into the
deep, inaccessible canons.
The Rain Gods we're 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 II Ii now.
All men suffered alike-the good AZ
well as the evil-for the wild corn and
the green calsbash withered, the fruit
shriveled up to nothing, and later the
trees themselves; the rivers became
dry channels, the lakes disappeared;
the country changed from a 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 a struggle and In time
the invaders and conquerors 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-
NAMED In the hills and mountains and
deep canons. building their homes In
the cliffs, against the high hilltops.
And they learned TO bring water to
their crops and raise fruit through
much work.
But about this time another tribe Of
warrior men made Its appearance on
earth, floating down from the sky on
the great winged Ship-Rock, which
remains their home to this day and
can be seen three days travel away
before you reach II.
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 a 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
ends and limitless plains meet the sky.
there only. II still rained on the eve of
every day. and trees grew great with
fruit upon. the birds forever sang, and
the air Is sweet with the fragrance OF
many flowers.
Note-The legend related above has
been In part authenticated so far as
the story Is concerned. There is some
trouble. however, as TO the tribe origin
II Is related with slight variations by
the HopI Incorrectly called MokD the
Santa Clara and the Navajo tribes
Certainly Il Is traceable TO the grea,
family Of desert nomads, Of which the
Hopi are the leading tribe.
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