Serrano

[abraxas]

from a myth of the Serrano Indians;

Back in the beginning of time the Lord was living here with all the people. He was the one who asked the people whether they would turn into deer. He wanted to transform them. And they obeyed Him and were transformed. And so they were transformed. That's what He (their Lord) said. And so the deer would sing. And then the people would dance the deer dance. They would sing the deer songs. It (the song) tells about what they did, about how they were transformed. Some of them cried. Some of those animals were already transforming themselves. That is how He (the Lord) wanted it. And so they were transformed. They believed, that's why. And so they were all transformed. And so they sing to those deer who had transformed themselves. Their bodies were already completely transformed. But they still felt at home here. They were still behaving like human beings. But they had already been transformed into deer. And so they cried. They wanted to live in their homes, like human beings. There was one who kept circling about. He was looking inside, inside the (ceremonial) house. It says, that's what the song says, that he (the deer) is peaking inside and circling about. He kept peaking inside. He was looking inside the house. Some of those who had already been transformed were already wandering about outside. They had to go off somewhere else. And they climbed up into the hills. Those animals who had been transformed were destined to live in the hills forever. But they still did not know how to walk on their (newly transformed) feet. They already had hooves and were slipping along. They were not used to their (new) hooves yet. They already had hooves. That's what they did

 

[Fox Paw]

That's cool, and I like the colors.

 

[abraxas]

Thanks. The petroglyph lies in a dry wash of volcanic material with a large tributary. Unless there is a heavy rain, water tends to seep in and has coated the canyon walls with some strange colors from the various minerals in the broad and sandy valley above.

This is my favorite piece of rock art of the maybe 1,200 or so in the canyon. There's another one that is so cool, but unfortunately I won't be able to post it for a week or so because of the following;

Right now I'm packing for a day trip to a place I've been trying to get permission from the U.S. Army to shoot for about 8 years. Used to be able to trespass on the Army Base to get to the location, but by not wanting to take the chance of developing a federal rap sheet, I was delayed another 6 years. Finally. Tomorrow's the day!

Bitter Springs


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