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Show "Onga, Ogochiok, and Shinau-av Go to a Distant Mountain to Gather Pine Nuts"* Onga (Canada Jay), Ogochiok (Maximillian Jay), and Shinau-av went to a distant mountain for pine nuts. They had heard that many pine nut trees grew there, and they wanted to plant the seeds in their own land. As they came near the mountain, the people who lived there saw them coming and said to each other, "Here comes Shinau-av after pine nuts; let us fool him." When the party arrived, they were treated with great kindness and feasted. But when they were about to depart, Shinau-av was given many cedar berries and was told they were the seeds of the pine nut tree. Then the travelers started for their homes, but when they were a little way off, great fear came upon them. This was because Ogochiok, who was very wise, had stolen some pine nuts and had hidden them in his top-knot, for he had discovered they were the true seeds. Then the travelers ran. Shinau-av, burdened with his load of cedar berries, scattered them as he went, but Ogochiok kept the pine nuts in his top-knot until he arrived on his own mountain. There the pine nuts were planted. This is the reason why cedars grow on the lower hills and pine nut trees grow only on the mountains. Op. Cit., Powell, "Ute and Paiute Legends." 21 |