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CHAPTER VII.

THE WALLAPAI.

ADVENT OF THE WALLA-
THE FLOOD-

LOCATION-LEGENDS
PAIS-MIKE BURNS' STORIES
COUNCIL OF WAR.

The WALLAPAI, "pine tree folk," was a Yuman tribe originally living on the middle Colorado river above the Mohave tribe, from the Great Bend eastward, well into the interior of Arizona, occupying the Hualapai, Yavapai and Sacramento Valleys, the Cerbat and Aquarius Mountains forming the southern part of their range. They lived chiefly by the chase, and on roots and seeds. That they were brave and enterprising is shown by the pages of this history; one Wallapai gave more trouble to the whites than two Mohaves, although they were said to be physically inferior to the Mohave. They were an offshoot of the Havasupais, speaking a closely related language.

The Wallapai is not rich in tradition or folklore, but in "The Indians of the Painted Desert Region," George Wharton James recites the following:

THE ADVENT OF THE WALLAPAIS.

"In the days of the long ago, when the world was young, there emerged from Shi-pa-pu two gods, who had come from the underworld, named To-cho-pa and Ho-ko-ma-ta. When these brothers first stood upon the surface of

the earth, they found it impossible to move around, as the sky was pressed down close to the ground. They decided that, as they wished to remain upon the earth, they must push the sky up into place. Accordingly they pushed it up as high as they could with their hands, and then got long sticks and raised it still higher, after which they cut down trees and pushed it up higher still, and then, climbing the mountains, they forced it up to its present position, where it is out of reach of all human kind, and incapable of doing them any injury.

"While they were busy with their labors, another mythical hero appeared on the scene, on the north side of the Grand Canyon, not far from the canyon that is now known as Eldorado Canyon. Those were 'the days of the old,' when the animals had speech even as men, and in many things were wiser than men. Coyote travelled much and knew many things, and he became the companion of this early-day man, and taught him of his wisdom. This gave the early man his name, Ka-that-a-ka-na-ve, which means "Told or Taught by the Coyote.'

The

"For long they lived together, until the man began to grow lonesome. He no longer listened to the speech of the Coyote, and that made the animal sad. He wondered what could be done to bring comfort to his human friend, and at length suggested that he consult Those Above. Ka-that-a-ka-na-ve was lonesome because there were none others of his kind to talk to. He longed for human beings, so, accepting the advice of the Coyote, he retired to where he could speak freely to Those Above of his longings and

desires. He was listened to with attention, and there told that nothing was easier than that other men, with women, should be sent upon the earth. 'Build a stone hawa-stone house-not far from Eldorado Canyon, and then go down to where the waters flow and cut from the banks a number of canes or sticks. Cut many, and of six kinds. Long thick sticks and long thin sticks; medium-sized thick sticks and mediumsized thin sticks; short thick sticks and short thin sticks. Lay these out carefully and evenly in the stone hawa, and when the darkest hour of the night comes, the Powers of the Above will change them into human beings. But, beware, lest any sound is made. No voice must speak, or the power will cease to work.'

"Gladly Ka-that-a-ka-na-ve returned to the stone house, and with a hearty goodwill he cut many canes or sticks. He carried them to the house, and laid them out as he had been directed, all the time accompanied by the Coyote, who rejoiced to see his friend so cheerful and happy. Ka-that-a-ka-na-ve told Coyote what was to occur, and Coyote rejoiced in the wonderful event that was about to take place. When all was ready Ka-that-a-ka-na-ve was so wearied with his arduous labors that he retired to lie down and sleep, and bade Coyote watch and be especially mindful that no sound of any kind whatever issued from his lips. Coyote solemnly pledged himself to observe the commands,-he would not cease from watching, and not a sound would be uttered. Feeling secure in these promises, Ka-that-a-ka-na-ve stretched out and was soon sound asleep. Carefully Coyote

watched. Darker grew the night. No sound except the far-away twho! twho! of the owl disturbed the perfect stillness. Suddenly the sticks began to move. In the pitch blackness of the house interior, Coyote could not see the actual change, the sudden appearing of feet and legs and hands and arms and heads, and the uprising of the sticks into perfect men and women, but in a few moments he had to stand aside, as a torrent of men, women, and children poured out of the doorway. Without a word, but thrilled even to the tip of his tail with delight, he examined men, women, youths, maidens, boys, girls, and found them all beautifully formed and physically perfect. Still they came through the door. Several times he found himself about to shout for joy, but managed to restrain his feelings. More came, and as they looked around them on the wonderful world to which they had come from nothingness, and expressed their astonishment (for they were able to speak from the first moment), Coyote became wild with joy and could resist the inward pressure no longer. He began to talk to the new people, and to laugh and dance and shout and bark and yelp, in the sheer exuberance of his delight. How happy he was!

"Then there came an ominous stillness. The movements from inside the house ceased; no more humans appeared at the doorway. Almost frozen with terror, Coyote realized what he had done. The charm had ceased. Those Above were angry at his disobedience to their commands.

"When Ka-that-a-ka-na-ve awoke he was delighted to see the noble human beings Those Above had sent to him, but when he entered the hawa his delight was changed to anger. There were hundreds more sticks to which no life had been given. Infuriated, he turned upon Coyote and reproached him with bitter words for failing to observe his injunction, and then, with fierce anger, he kicked him and bade him begone! His tail between his legs, his head bowed, and with slinking demeanor, Coyote disappeared, and that is the reason all coyotes are now so cowardly, and never appear in the presence of mankind without skulking and fear.

"As soon as they had become a little used to being on the earth, Ka-that-a-ka-na-ve called his people together and informed them that he must lead them to their future home. They came down Eldorado Canyon, and then crossed Hackataia (the Grand Canyon) and reached a small but picturesque canyon on the Wallapai reservation, called Mat-ta-wed-it-i-ta. This is their 'Garden of Eden.' Here a spring of water supplies nearly a hundred miner's inches of water, and there are about a hundred acres of good farming land, lying in such a position that it can well be irrigated from this spring. On the other side of the canyon is a cave about a hundred feet wide at its mouth, and perched fully half a thousand feet above the valley.

"Now Ka-that-a-ka-na-ve disappears in some variants of the story, and Hokomata and Tochopa take his place at Mat-ta-wed-it-i-ta. The latter is ever the hero. He gave the people

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