Show LEGEND laddd OF 1 i bacod on tho the custom of the pluto nolana ny by 11 II L areld ranger many years before the coining ol of tit alio white man thoro there lived upon the we illo arx indian tribe known to as aa tho the Par rual rusi this tribe had its ita arters come fifty miles bolow below zion canyon but each autumn as was their custom thoy they camo ant into the canyon to hunt dr door and to gather tho the wild fruit abra now grow thoro there in abundance tho the tribe was famed throughout tho the entire southwest for the beauty of ft ita maidens and many of tho the romantic braca from surrounding tribes visited tho the region with the hope that thoy they might wirt win ono one ot of these dusky maidens mal dena Bot between tho young indian bravo brave and lila hla sweetheart thoro there often developed in that lay day an affection vs EQ full of romance as aa any known ini in our own lay day but before the young lover could claim the maiden as aa ills his aque W ho he must provo that ho he was waa able to defend her against oil all opposition by lee ang lier through tho the lino of bravos in order to give nil all an to express their opposition word must be sent through tile sur stir rounding tribes that ore on a de finito late date and at a stipulated taine and place tho young bravo would ready to td defend his claim and should there bo be those who did not approve they must be present to issue protest or forever on the day sot tor for the the young bravo brave to tho the custom must take the maiden ot of hla his choice by tile hand hamd and lead 41 her between two tines of braves braver it if thero was anyone within the lines who opposed the young lover taking the maldon maiden oa as hla his equaw he must stand forward and n nd oppose tho the progress of the would be bo bridegroom but it nono stopped to challenge ills hla pro grosu freaa and he passed through the lines successfully ho he thus received tho the consent of the tribe to claim the maiden according to the custom the opposing 9 bravo must meet lila ilia rival faco face to taca face and stop his progress should the would be bridegroom succeed in passing 1 his Is opponent by any means trickery speed or strength he was then free to to proceed down tile line among tho the beautiful malda ot 01 the tribe there was none that could compare in fit loveliness with the maid ot of va daughter ot of chief Sino wava the tame fame of this maiden and her ter many virtues had serend throughout the entire southland and many were the suitors that came sock seek ing tho the privilege of leading her ter through the line of braves prom from over tho colorado camo came the proud baronita roneta Ba td chief of 0 the cavajos navajoa Nava joa jos prom from tho the witz dame chief deloos land and from the tho the stately too a yoo of he her mapy many suitors thre there waa nono none so offensive offen alvo to thoi the meld me ld on din than the big sensual warrior Moka pots who came wooing her from the desert regions to the north but the pleadings of all the so braves wore were in vain to the comely malden no whisperings of love were s GO 0 sweet as those that fell from the lips ot of her own tribe tribesmen sm on tz she loved corrod with all the passionate longin longings gf of hor her young soul ire he was not BO so powerful as a many of tier her admirers edmire rs ire he was waa in fact a stripling of a youth with fine fen tures turea and a keen eagle eye bespeak ing pride and ambition ile he was waa also gentle and refined and ever willing to sacrifice for the comfort of tho the maid of Sina wava each fall na as the farrust indiana findlan ame mme into this region the maid of mid would kanj der land hand in hand up the canyon often stopping in phrot t la now known as the temple their favorite spot where they whispered to each other tho the old familiar tale of love and dreamed dammed of the day when pali pa b ritz would lead tier ber through tho the line of brewes an claim her for ills his own often in their moments of loving they would be disturbed by the presence isomo times seen and nt at other times unseen of the hip all sen sensual warrior from the desert for although Moka pots know knew that ills his at tent ionti lons ons were offensive to tile the maid alaid yet lie he nevertheless persisted in forcing thom them her and would often follow the lowers rd ad spy upon thorn them in their sacred moments of love Pa hritz although n vigorous keen syed eyed youth waa physically no match for hla his broad shouldered rival from the th desert and because of this the rnald ahra often wondered if Molta pots in hla his je jealousy would oppose appose hor her lov lover OT when ho he would lead her through the line of braves in the days of the golden autumn when the maid of iSina wava hv had d reached the ago age of ol Ehtee summers runners were sent to the surround in ang triam with tle the announcement that buring tho the tall fall hunt while the pax par rust rusl were cramped in tho vicinity of zion fanyon tho tha manly pro po pc ed cd to lead tho the beautiful mold maid of through the line ot of braves many were the indian braves branea that gathered eath ored there that fall tho the camps extended over tho the flats and well into tile tho canyon a thing quite julto unusual as tho the disliked tha tho idea of camping within the canyon walls within tho the camp were vero enry mc y braves who biad once cast longing eyes toward tho the maiden some ot of the braves wore were experienced men of 0 and well able to oppose tho the pro progress greis of but realizing the grera great love that existed between tho the maiden and Pa hritz thoy they canie came to honor not to oppose tho the choice of tho the spot where tho the ceremony should bo be hold held was left to tho the lovers and they chose place now known aa w the temple of SIna wava As tho the hour ot of the ceremony arrived the two lines formed across tho the flat within the temple when all was in readiness Pa hritz with grace and gentleness stepped to the dobrot dobroc the tepee occupied by the mata maid and her mother ile ho stood tor for a moment in silence while a mothers farewell caress was bestowed upon her daughter daught or the girl stopped stepped forth radiant and charming hand in hand the lovers proceeded to the hera of the waiting column whore where chief ahlet Sina wava greeted them and bade them proceed between the lines slowly in accordance with tho the cus torn tom ot of the tribe they moved rn oved tor for ward tho the braves in the lines expressing their approval by a series of inarticulate grunts midway the line stood the powerful Moka Mo kapota pots sullen and revengeful As the couple approached lie ho stopped forward several of the braver knowing that his attentions llad had never been received favorably tried to dissuade him feeling that what he could not win ly by love he should not attempt to take tahe by force Moka pots with a broad jealous grin playing across his face insisted upon his right to oppose leading tile the gentle maiden never faltered ills his eagle eye bought the situation at a glance and the very thought ot of anyone attempting to take from him increased his couram courage and determination her as aa the prize death would be ew than defeat Moka pote realizing his superior strength stood carelessly awaiting the test teat his very carelessness gave ills his opportunity every eyo eye was centered upon him the squaws squads seated about the campfire campf lre heretofore indifferent to the ceremony now arose that they might better view the tha proceedings tho the mald maid with her heart loudly pounding and with a prayer upon iier her lips permitted herself to be led for ward her mind doubted but hex her heart trusted Moka MoT capots pots squared himself for the encounter baltz r with the agility of a mountain lion moved as if to at awk on the left iett and then the n with lights light liang swiftness so cleverly that one knew lanew exactly what happen oa ed dodging to the right passing quick ly li under the orm of the over confident taking with him although falling failing to realize just what had happened yet all were delighted A roar of laughter mingled with approving grunts arose from the lines and from tho the camp ot w was as humiliated and embarrassed barr assed to be thus thua so eo cleverly elud porous erous curl played for a moment up ed by ills smaller opponent A murd on jn his lips and then in defiance of all the customs ot of the tribe lie he turned and rushed upon hla his rival from the baoec ba being 1310 ng thus suddenly attacked ached from the var rear easily cosily beaten down he felito fell to the ground his head striking upon a sharp rock although MI jo was knocked unconscious tho the Injury was waa not thought to bo be seri ous oua an hour presed tind and ho he did not recover the lines were temporarily br brolien bro lioa olion and was moved to th depee copee of Sina wava the shadows ot of darkness settled over tb aba a canyon ind and yet no change with a prayer for lilg recovery tile faithful maden watch ed cd through the long night As the wee hours of tho the morning approached ho he was gradually weakening tho the areat spirit ww calling As tho the morning suo BUH roso rose over tho the mountain of tho the blooding bleeding heart the spirit of was taken to the indians happy hunting ground around after af ter appropriate funeral fuji eral co remon les jos tho the body gt the request of tho the malden maiden was placed in a gravo grave in tile the center ot of tho the temple oar near tho the rock now known ca as tho the alter it was at this wot that the lowers lauvers had first talked of going through the line of braves together A largo large otono was over the gravo grave to mark tho the As the returned to the sunny I 1 valleys ot of tile the rio vergin va begged to be permitted to for yet te a little longer promising her mother that she would follow within few weeks at most being left alone she moved her te tc peo pee near the burial spot the days day passed into weeks but bat she ehe was insensible sen to everything but the clings of the wind which to her was the th 0 voice v 0 I 1 co of 0 f speaking or of their love lova and 0 of the day ahon lie he would lead her through the line of braves and claim her tor for his own the mother and friends waited for her return after many weeks of anxiety a searching party was sent out tho the early storms of winter had y already placed a blanket of snow over the lands landscape capo the reached tho the camp tit the mouth of the canyon but not finding here there they proceeded oded with difficulty diff cu ty to t 0 the t io 1 grave where they hey found tier her torce beside the rock they entered and found her within but dabritz had re j turned and taken her spirit through the long line of braves and claimed her bor tor for ills his own the rock marking his burloe place was waa and she to together tomother with all her belang belongings ings was placed aitu her lover where they still atall rest andi if you will but cross the river to the altar and reman remain there during tho the long hours of the night you will still bhear hear the voices of the beautiful si nr wava and the manly as they tj tey whisper their immortal words ot of love in honor of the old chief and hla his beautiful daughter the tha maiden of sina wava and the faithful love that existed between betwee rf her and dabritz Pa britz tho the indians named the valley tho the temple of afon er y ce nature notes |