THE ADVENTURES OF
PEACIWAWALA & SITTINGJING-GONGALA
A long time ago, in the land that is now New Mexico,
there was a small village that rested high on the mountain's side. It overlooked what had been a mighty river, but is
now, only a dry and rocky bed. Ocassionally now, the rains will come and flood the old river bed.....
and for a time, wild flowers wil grace it's parched banks. Crickets too will sing at night
under the twinkling stars. It is a strange looking land, overgrown with thorny things and entities that crawl at night
when the air is refreshingly cool. The air is thick and hot in summer, and the turquoise of twilight lingers, mingling
with the fragrance of creosote blossoms.
It was in this village that a certain old woman by the name of Sittingjing-gongala
lived. She was a widow now, and stayed with her memories, watching the sun rize and set, the children being born, growing
up....and moving away. But she had stayed all those years. She was an excellant weaver and craftswoman and delighted
everyone with her stories. She was very grateful to the Great spirit for her beautiful life, and tried to be patient.
But she was very lonely now.
For forty years she had been devoted to Chin-Honaw, her husband. He was a
brave man and had provided well for his family. He also had a terrific sense of humor. She tried to remember the
times he made her laugh so hard, but now it would make her cry to think of him. It had only been three winters since
that terrible accident that took his life. Although she missed him terribly, whenever she thought of him, she felt as
if he were right there with her again in their little dwelling.
Gongi had borne him four healthy children, two sons and two daughters. Manox-Shinji,
her first born son, had grown up to become a fine warrior. His heart too was kind and gentle, like his father, Chin-Honaw.
When he was still a young man he was ambushed by Maney youths stealing from their corn patches. When Manox-Shinji
fell, he struck his head upon a rock, and he later died from the injury. Now the Ehupai men were very peaceful and of
a temperate nature. They did not want to fight with their neighbors, and did share much of their corn with them during
hard winters. But the Maney were always hungry. It seemed there could never be enough corn to fill their bellies,
for they always returned with empty baskets. The Ehupai could never understand why these people did not plant their
own corn. They had been kindly shown how too many times to count, but they just did not care for gardening.
They were hunters.
Salanka was Sittingjing-gongala's first daughter. She had reached her 19th
year and she and Red Horse were newlyweds. Of course Salanka came to visit often, but Sittingjing-gongala still felt
a deep sorrow and lonliness inside that nothing seemed to dissuade, and which she tried to hide because she didn't want
Salanka to worry. Salanka knew that only time could heal this great sorrow her mother was carrying. Time,
and perhaps a new baby in the family. She missed her dear father very much too, but now she had Red Horse, and he was
so wonderful to her. Red Horse's mother, Soclea, had grown up in the village when she and Gongi where young maidens.
Soclea married and moved to her husband's village, but missing her childhood friend, she came to visit her often,
for she and Gongi were good friends.
Salanka's brother Flying Eagle was a good friend to Red Horse and they would
spend much time together hunting and talking stories. Flying Eagle was a rebellious fellow and was always
finding himself in trouble. It wasn't his fault really, he was just so full of life and loved to dance and laugh alot.
He was still a bachelor as he was very shy with the girls and perhaps a bit too particular. He was always sticking up
for the under-dog and like his mother Sittingjing-gongala,
he loved to help others whenever he could. He was a very brave young man and took chances another
man might not take. Salanka was very worried for him and Red Horse all the time. And sometimes she would get angry
with Red Horse for the chances he took when he was with her brother. She didn't want to lose them. They both acted
like they were indestructable, but they weren't. She thought of her father Chin-Honaw, and the rock slide/avalanche
that took his life. So she scolded them for their boldness whenever she could.
Flying Eagle was in his 20th year and one year younger than Red Horse, but they
were both born when the nights were very long and the days were cold. They were always together from childhood and were quite
a dynamic duo.
Now Salanka's younger sister Leula, was sixteen, and even more rebellious
than Flying Eagle. Their father had spoiled her terrible and she wouldn't listen to her mother at all. Now
she had run away with a young man from another tribe to the far West, who had come to the village trading seashells from the
coast and finely tanned hides. Leula just took up with him and left with his little band. Salanka knew that her
mother was more despondant than ever now. She was worried for her sister too, and hoped that she was safe and happy
and that she would return to the village again someday.
Leula was a daydreamer and didn't readily communicate her feelings to her mother,
Salanka or Flying Eagle. Even though Salanka missed her sister Leula, she was mad at her too for causing Gongi so much
grief and worry.
As time passed, Salanka grew more and more happy in her marriage to Red Horse, and
one day she came to her mother with the great news that soon she would be a mother too. This seemed to cheer the old
woman, but at night Sittingjing-gongala would still cry alone in her tipi, because she worried so much for everyone.
She could not live with the fear that she might lose another loved one again. Gongi would just stare into her little
fire, reminiscing the years past when the children were small and she and Chin-Honaw were young and strong and in love.
She thought of the baby to come, and bubbled over with joy, spilling tears into the deep creases etched in her face by time.
Go to Chapter 1, page 4
