M A G A N E - Desert Magazine of the Southwest

cine man in kbaneva (teepee) close by.
Mean lots to Indian."
Joe's explanation was not a masterpiece
of English—but he spoke with a
reverence that carried deep significance.
He was disclosing to a white man one
of the innermost secrets of his tribesmen.
This was the likeness of Shenobe, the
original guardian of the Indians on their
great trek into an unknown land.
To understand the place held by Shenobe
in the Ute religion, and the deep
reverence the Indians have for this god,
it is necessary to explain briefly the worship
of these tribesmen.
Their great god is Tovach, their distant
elder brother, silent, far removed
from man, his name seldom spoken.
Shenobe is a little brother of the great
god, the mediator between the remote
Joe Pickyavit explains the development
of the Indian ideograph:
"Weenoonse {old-timer) put mark
on rock. It mean rain—rain sign.
He put man by sign, it mean man
dance for rain—a rain sing.
1
"When he put snake by that, it mean
man dance in rain sign with live
snake in mouth, just like Hopi — a
snake dance.
AUGUST, 1940
. • •>
Chief Lonnie Kauchaump of the Pahvant Utes. Historical writers say that in the
early '50i the Pahvant Utes could muster from 200 to 400 fighting men. Today
the band has dwindled to 21 Indians, men, women and children. Chief Lonnie is
an outstanding character, a natural leader, who watches, thinks, talks and acts for
his tribesmen in a manner that has won for him the respect of both reds and
whites. His nickname is "Choonk."
deity and man who dwells on the earth.
Tovach causes the mountain mahogany
to grow, but Shenobe taught man how
to make bows from it. Tovach brought
the bison into being, but Shenobe taught
the Indians how to bring it down and
make a blanket from its hide. Tovach
created man, but Shenobe at one time
lived with man and taught him the arts
of pottery making, of fire, and led him on
the great journey depicted on the rock.
Also, it was Shenobe who inspired the
ancient medicine men to chisel the record
of their journey on the rock at The Gap.
No other group of petroglyphs of
which I have knowledge is more signifi-
cant, or capable of more authentic interpretation
than the record on this basalt
boulder at The Gap.
Joe and Chief Lonnie asked no pledge
of secrecy. They know that I am a newspaperman—and
would guard their secret
well, or would pass the information along
to those who read my columns—according
to their wishes. When they took me
into their confidence, it was without reservation.
I am grateful to them for the information,
and for the privilege of passing it
along to those interested in the life and
lore of the ancient tribesmen who roamed
this desert country.
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