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which had broken in two from the weight of so much
meat.
“He
returned to the camp and reported what he had seen. All around the figure he
saw marks of buffalo hoofs, also marked upon the wall.
“The next
day an enormous herd of buffalo came near to the village, and a great many were
killed. The women were busy cutting up and drying the meat. At one camp was
more meat than at any other. The woman was hanging meat upon a long tent pole,
when the pole broke in two and she was obliged to hold the meat up with another
pole, just AS the young man saw on the mysterious butte.
"Ever
after that the Indians paid weekly visits to this butte, and thereon would read
the signs that were to govern their plans. This butte was always considered the
prophet of the tribe."
*******
#64 --- The following legend, from an article by
E.W. Gifford, title "Coast Yuki Myths", appeared on page 117 of
"THE JOURNAL OF AMERICAN FOLK-LORE" - Vol.50. This small group of native Californians lived
upon a section of rock-bound coast of
"...In the ocean near Rockport is a rock called ‘hepinhehen’
(assembly house underneath). Passages in this rock run in the four cardinal
directions, meeting in the middle. Therein man originated. A deity
passing by heard singing issuing from the rock. He bade the singers come forth
and go to their future respective abodes. From the north passage issued those
who were to dwell in the north, from the south passage came the southerners,
from the east passage the easterners, and from the west passage the Coast
Yuki."
*******
