the journey begins

[DoS Archive]

From: keokukwashakie@aol.com (Keokuk Washakie)
Date: 12 Aug 2001 16:17:40 EDT

::sitting high above the canyon, Keokuk gazed out over the surrounding mesa to the valleys and rivers which defined his lands. He faced the sunrise, as the light eased over the horizon and its piercing rays sliced their way through the mornings haze. He was perched before a small fire and encircled by the carefully built framework of his sweatlodge, gave him a grand view of the spectacle. For a moment, he peered out
into the open spaces before closing the flap ofhide which captured the heat of the fire that would warm the rocks placed there for his quest. Pouring small amounts of pure water over the stones, both gathered at the holy mountian where his ancestors rested, caused an eruption of steam to fill the small enclosure. He breathed easy, taking in the scent of the mesquite brush and steam. The vapors seemed to cleanse him, the smoke nearly
entoxicating,began to make him slip inside his mind as the journey began. In what seemed like an instant, the old one came to join him. Clad in the rope of the buffalo, the ancient man reached for the young warriors hand a spoke queitly in the language given them by the gods. " It is time watchful one, it is time for the journey to begin" Afraid to ask where this journey would take them, Keokuk rose at the urging and followed the man into a dark and
dank cave which was hidden from view by the roots of a giant oak.
Into the darkness they sojourned, following the path cut by the waters which flowed from within the stone walls at the cave's opening. Down into the depths they trod. Stopping, the old one pointed out the drawings placed there by those who had come before. The great chiefs had followed this path in the same manner as Keokuk. Lead to their destines by one who had made this same trek when the land was young and without the intrusions of the strangers
that plagued his homeland. Each traveler had left his mark on the palette of granite which extended for miles into the earth.
One set of drawings depicted the lands covered in game and forest and a hunters stalking the great herds of antelope and buffalo. Another showed the rivers of rich red fish battling to reach the streambeds fed by the high mountain lakes. Others showed battles between his people and the other groups of natives which had come to take their lands and people and place them into bondage. Each was different, but it appeared to be in progression, right up
to the time when Keokuks great great grand father was leader of the peoples and peace was upon their land. His heart was warmed as he realised the overwhelming task the elder had undertaken in his time as leader. He had brought the peoples into one village as it was written on the granite slab, he had driven out the Andebichi-woho (stranger) with the long rifles and empty words. The valley people were at seeming harmony with the tribes of the river
and the great plains. Little change had taken place since this time, Keokuk had only known peace ( no wars that is) in his lifetime and was ignorant of the things to come. His grandfather and his father had died years earlier and their places as leaders were short and uneventful. The leader was the holy man of the village and his time on the earth would not be much longer.
Keokuk was the great grandson of the cheif of the Sac and Fox tribe, as well as the Black Hawk nation. The elders story was etched into the granite and told of a war council, and the decision to attack the white men across the river who dhad driven them to this small tract of land they now inhabited. It told of the warnings to his people and what his demands of them would be, before he would agree to cross the great river and fight the hoard of
Andebichi-woho. His price was great, he demanded that before the river was forged and a battle pressed, they must kill all of the old men, kill all of their women and children so they would not face the devastation of starvation and brutality which would surely come. The people listened to the poignant speech and lost their appetite war.
This is where the peoples decided to live in peace until the great move to territories. Keokuk too would soon write his story upon the great walls of the granite cave, but first his journey must be completed, and the serpent must be faced.

Enne aishen

Thank you for walking with me.

TBC

[DoS Archive]

From: keokukwashakie@aol.com (Keokuk Washakie)
Date: 05 Sep 2001 20:43:06 EDT

The trek down the cavernous route continued past the writings of the ancients. The old spirit lead the warrior into the catacombs, deeper into the blackness,"Keokuk" the old one speaks." you must face the serpent which has hiden within the depths of this world, since the day his father was slain by your grandfather.
Recalling the legend of his people and the death of his grandfathers cousin, he understood the meaning of the old ones demand. He knew those serpents that dove into the lake with the great one, were not dead, and he knew that the time had come to prove his worth. The sounds of voices echoed through the cave as did the clinking of metal. Though the voices were faint, he knew the sound that accompanied them.
Deeper he walked, lead by instinct to the heart of the earth. Entering a vast chamber, he was surprised to find the voices still quiet and in the distance. The old one had left him, sending him alone to face this quest and finish the journey on his own.Days past, then weeks as he set up an encampment near the opening to the tunnel which seemingly led to the voices.
Having set his tent in the large cavern, he prepared a large deer by jerking the meat and smoking it over a slow burning Alder fire.
He stretched the large hide between two pikes and began the process of curing it.

With the meat and hide secure, he added a few more chips to the smoldering embers and headed back into the open air at the far end of the catacombs.
He squinted as his eyes found daylight, the darkness having made him sensitive to the light.
A moments adjustment to the harsh sunlight, then off he wandered in search of the long branches he would need for his trap.
Finding the proper configuration of timber, he tied it in a bundle and made a trip into the catacombs.
Trip after trip he carried the needed materials into the cavern and stock piled them for his project.
He harvested another deer for the trap, dragging it intact to the place where the battle may soon be fought.
After making the final trip into the depths of the labyrinth, he split the animal in half and hung on side behind the opening where his snare would lie, and the other over what would hopefully be the beast's tomb.

Certain the scent of the flesh would draw the great beast into his camp, Keokuk began to enact the plan for taking him.
He placed snares along the entry, large logs dragged from the outer world were bowed to near snapping with leather ropes made from previous hunts.
The bow faced the inner side of the cavern. The side of venison hung behind it. In theory , the timnber would snap quickly into the oncoming serpent and drive him in the direction of the true trap.
Within a few steps of the opening, Keokuk covered a large shaft in the rocks. Over it hung the other section of venison.The hole was large enough to swallow up the beast, as well as send him spiraling to the rock bottom below.
Patienly weaving the smaller branches into a carpet of needles he slid the finished work over the hole.
Carefully, he brushed debris and sand over the mesh cover and made it seem to be part of the floor of the cave.
Stepping back to observe his work, he nods in affrimation at the finished product.


TBC