The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

INDIAN LEGEND

IN TUCUMCARI, THERE IS A MOUNTAIN BY THE SAME NAME.
THERE IS AN INDIAN LEGEND THAT TELLS HOW THE MOUN-
TAIN WAS NAMED. IT SEEMS THAT THERE WAS AN INDIAN
PRINCESS WHO WAS LOVED BY TWO BRAVES. SHE LOVED ONLY
ONE AND HE WAS NAMED TUCUMCARI. SO THEY TOOK THE TWO
BRAVES TO THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN AND HERE THEY WERE
TO FIGHT IT OUT UNTIL ONE OF THEM KILLED THE OTHER
ONE. THE FIGHTING WENT ON FOR A FEW DAYS AND
FINALLY THE ONE BRAVE PUSHED TUCUMCARI OVER THE
MOUNTAIN. INSTEAD OF MARRYING THE MAN WHOM SHE DID
NOT LOVE, THE PRINCESS JUMPED OVER THE MOUNTAIN ALSO
AND FROM THIS FIGHT, THE MOUNTAIN WAS NAMED.

Where learned: NEW MEXICO ; TUCUMCARI

James Callow Keyword(s): LOVERS' LEAP

Date learned: 06-00-1965

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