MOHAVE VALLEY (PART 2)

I THOUGHT I’D INCLUDE AT LEAST ONE INDIAN LEGEND, SO HERE IS THE STORY OF HANKE, THE LITTLE FROG.
MATAVILYA, WHO WAS THE FIRSTBORN OF SKY AND EARTH, ANNOUNCED,
‘WHEN I DIE I WANT TO BE CREMATED.”
AT THIS TIME, THERE WAS NO FIRE IN THE SHADOW OF SPIRIT MOUNTAIN, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST PEAK VISIBLE FROM THE MOHAVE VALLEY. EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO FIRE WITH WHICH TO LIGHT HIS FUNERAL PYRE, MATAVILYA GATHERED THE MOHAVE PEOPLE TO SHOW THEM HOW TO PREPARE FOR HIS CREMATION.
HE TOLD THEM THAT THEY FIRST MUST DIG A HOLE TO RECEIVE THE ASHES OF HIS REMAINS. HE THEN INSTRUCTED THEM IN HOW TO PLACE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MESQUITE WOOD ON EACH SIDE AND ON TOP OF HIS REMAINS.
MATAYILYA ASKED FOR VOLUNTEERS TO DIG THE HOLE. THE SAND FLEAS SWARMED UP FROM THE MOIST RIVER BEACHES AND SCOOPED OUT A PIT. STILL, THERE WAS NO FIRE TO LIGHT THE MESQUITE LOGS.
THE LITTLE FROG, HANYE, EXPRESSED HIS WILLINGNESS TO SEARCH FOR A SOURCE OF FIRE AND BRING IT BACK TO THE WAITING PEOPLE AND ANIMALS OF THE RIVER. THIS UNLIKELY CANDIDATE LEFT THE SAFETY OF HIS MOIST HABITAT AND SET OFF ACROSS THE ARID LANDSCAPE OF THE MOHAVE DESERT, TRAVELING WEST TOWARD THE PACIFIC OCEAN. HE RETURNED CARRYING A SMOLDERING STICK IN HIS MOUTH.
TODAY, THE MOHAVE PEOPLE STILL CELEBRATE THE LITTLE HERO WHO BROUGHT THEM THE FIRST FIRE.

Ok Ok, at this point I have an "aside" to add. For the last seven winters we have been dealing at the AVI, and they have had chips (or cheques, in dealer lingo) with a picture of a frog with what appeared as a cigar in his mouth. I cannot even begin to guess the number of players that have commented or asked about the frog...now that I know the answer.....we no longer have those chips!!! Such is life I guess.