Legend of Timpanogos

On a high and windy Mountain in the Western Rocky Mountains. Where the ancient Mujikeewis ruled the mighty Winds of Heaven. Climbed the maiden, Ucanogas. Climbed until she reached the Summit. There to wait until her warrior came to claim her hand forever. In marriage they would be together. She at last had gained the summit. There upon the crest she rested, In the kingdom of the Spirit, Who slew the great bear of the mountain. there she planned to wait the night fall. Listen to the owlet’s night call. Then Timpanac, the Nez Perce Warrior would start his upward Climb to reach her.

As she sat there, Ucanogas viewed the valley wide below her. Where the warriors and the maidens danced the mystic dance of planting. Planting of the corn, Mondamin, green and yellow maize, Mondamin. That the spirit, Cautantowwit would be pleased, and make it grow tall, that the harvest would be fruitful, would be bounteous in the rich fall. When the fall comes, Cautantowwit, Spirit God of Indian summer. In the heavens sets a full moon, solar of the leaves of Autumn. Glowing like and Indian campfire, casts a mystic spell with moonlight. Then the corn field, ripe for harvest, transforms into swaying Spirits. The stocks turn into swaying Teepees., as figures steal around the campfire, flames portray the chanting warriors, circle around in Mystic rhythm. The war paint of the Indian Spirits. turn the leaves to red and orange. And the flaming prairie flowers change into the Indian paint brush. When the summer turns to Autumn and the leaves take on bright colors. Then the maidens glean the corn fields from the stock they glean the rich corn. Pluck the yellow maize. Mondamin, precious gift of food. Mondamin. To be stored in the earth, for winter, When Peboam, Chef of winter, sends the might winds from north lands. Covers all the land with whiteness. As Ucanogas, on the mountain day dreams of the Indian summer. When the haze would fill the valley like a ghostly prairie fire. Saw she the sun set o’re the mountain of the westland, bathed in splendor. One last splash of vivid color, e’er the shadows of the pine trees lengthened into ebon darkness. Lo! the woeful, dismal, wailing of the coyote’s distant howling. Made her shiver in the darkness. Coyote was a sign of evil! What is keeping Timpanac, she wonders. Will he find her, in the darkness? Then the night sound of the owlet gave Ucanogas reassurance, for the spirit of the owlet, guardian of the night, would help her. So she waited in the shadow. The arrival of Timpanac. When the moon rose o’er the mountain sending forth it’s silvery light shafts, t’was the signal for the suitors of her hand to climb the mountain, but the other treacherous Warriors, the Cherokee and Sioux together, had crept away before the moon rose to wait in ambush on the mountain. Timpanac observed the moon rise in a rosy glow of promise and with joyful heart he swiftly started to ascend the mountain. There to find the maiden waiting. There to claim her hand in marriage. He would take her to his people. she would be his Indian Princess. Just before he reached the summit, on a three and five foot landing. He was startled by the warriors, Who caught him unawares, and wrestled, pitting all their strength against him. though he bravely fought the battle, alone he could not over come them. and they threw His wounded body from the ledge, to bleed and die there. When Ucanogas, form the summit saw the murder of her loved one, in loud lament and ceaseless weeping she threw herself down from the summit called to the Spirit of the mountain to claim and to protect her body, and release her grieving spirit! That her spirit be not earthbound, but reunited with her warrior. that as in life they had been parted. Now, in death, they be united. When the Spirit of Timpanac arose above his bleeding body, went he then to Mujikeewis, mighty Spirit of the mountains. Took his peace-pipe as and offering. To this day, the ghostly Spirit of the peace-pipe on the mountain grows a grows a ghostly white, a symbol of the sacrifice he offered. Cried the Spirit of the warrior to the Spirit Mujikeewis "Take her body, as she bade you. guard it well from every evil. But to me her heart to cherish, that I may lock it up forever." Then the mighty Mujikeewis pledged to Timpanac his promise that the heart of Ucanogas would be placed in sacred keeping. Then the mighty Mujikeewis took the heart o Ucanogas with the heart of Timpanac and welded them as one, forever , thus he placed them in the Mountain, as its heart, within the mountain. In a cave, so dark and gloomy that the slinking power of evil feared to enter to its bosom! For the mighty Mujikeewis, ruler of the winds of Heaven, Whose home is in the Rocky Mountains, had seen the combat, and he heard her. Called he then to Nepahwin, Spirit of deep sleep to help him they, together, took the body of the lifeless Ulcanogas, gently placed it on the mountain, to be called "The Sleeping Women" To this vary day she lies there. On the Mountain she is sleeping. Then the Spirit of Timpanac came to greet the lovely Spirit, of his loved one, Ucanogas. They hand in hand, began their Journey to the Kingdom of Ponemah Kingdom of Ghost’s hereafter. Manitourm the Mighty Spirit, felt for their a special warmness. for he knew that they were worthy of his very special blessing yet, he knew their four-day journey, in the land of ghosts and shadows, must be lighted by a campfire, that they might reach the great hereafter. So he sent a bolt of lightning to light a mighty forest fire, to light the lovers’ way to heaven and slay the treacherous scheming warriors who robbed the lover of the their earth life. Two days journey were the Spirits in their travel to the North Star, There the gap to their escape lay, where they might pass through to heaven When the light of burning forest could no longer reach to guide then Manitour, the Mighty Spirit, took the frozen shafts of Moonbeams. In a mighty arch he placed them, flaming in the frozen North Lands as a beacon light reflecting the two Lovers way to heaven Soon Timpanac and Ucanogas reached the land of the hereafter. There to dwell forever after in the kingdom of the Bless-ed In the kingdom of the Northland, still the northern lights are burning, in remembrance of the lovers to their heavenly home returning. While the Rocky Mountains Westward, covered with a misty Shroud lies Timpanogas, Sleeping Women, Resting there, among the clouds.

 

Heart of Timpanogos