The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-01-25
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Indian
Lodge Tales
Ford c. Frick
THE BRANDED BUFFALO

THE BRANDED BUFFALO
FOR many years the valleys at the
foot Of the great mountains were
considered the home of the Gosiutes
and even the bravest did not venture
Tar from the shadow Of the Great
White mountain where dwelt the Man.
itou. To the east were great pla,n.
barren and dry, and these were in
tested by savage tribes, who fought
and battled to the death.
To the south was an unexn,o-aa
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 were the home Of great pods
who made their home In the "Tw,n
Peaks" and who would not permit
strangers to use their hunting grounds
or fish in their streams
But when the white men came the
valley became quickly filed and the
buffalo were 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 council
and the pipes were lighted and grave
words were spoken and the medicine
men brewed their herbs for great
decision. And finally 1t was decided
that hunting expedition should be
made to the southlands, and prayers
were offered to Manitou and a big
party was organized.
And at that time l was a boy, lust
big enough to join the warriors, but 1
had not yet counted my first COUP and
I was to go on the expedition. And
so the party started southwark and
we journeyed for eight days until we
came to the great twin mountains in
the strange southlands. There buffalo
were 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 Manitou, 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 were alike, and they
were strange In character. and there
was no one who could read them CT
knew the meaning.
The leaders were frightened and no
one knew what to do. And even the
medicine men and the wisest chiefs
were unable to read the strange brand
or tell who placed them there. for
there were no white men in the land,
and no tribe that used brand, and
besides no one had ever before seen a
buffalo that was branded.
And the warriors were much afraid.
and they said that It was the mark Of
the strange gods who dwelt on the
Twin Peaks. and that the buffalo be-
longed to them and that no one dared
eat Of their meat, else trouble would
surely come.
So the party returned home, and the
buffalo were left behind. Even TO this
day the Secret OF tne Drdnueu buh"i"
is unknown, and no other warriors
ever have seen them except us and We
are Gosiutes. Today at 1gnacio. where
all the old men live. the story of the
branded buffalo is told about the camp
fire and the old men shake their heads
for there is no one who knows how
they came by the brand or the mean
ing of Its strange characters.
But they were branded, for | saw
it myself, long years ago when | was
but boy and was on my first hunting
party with my people who are the
Gosiutes.
Note.-The above story was told me
writer by Buckslsin Charley, head chief
at the Ute reservation at lgnacio' Coio'
The story is common one with the
older men of the tribe. Apparently
the hunting party found the strange
buffalo in southern Colorado near the
Spanish Peaks (Twin Peaks). Inc
Utes, as history records, were natives
ne aactarr opd northern Colorado.