Once a long time ago, the Comanches and the Shoshone were one people. There are many legends as to why the Comanche left their brothers the Shoshone. One legend states that the seperation came about because of an arguement over whom killed a bear, another version, which is the Comanche version is this legend:

Two bands were living together in a large camp, One band was on the east side; the other on the west. Each had its own chief.

Every night the young boys were out playing games-racing, and so forth. They were having a kicking game, they kicked each other.

One boy kicked another over the stomach so hard that he died from it. That boy who was killed was from the West camp. He was the son of a chief.

When this thing happened, the West camp cried all night.

In the East camp it was silent. Next day, they buried that boy.

The boy's father, the chief, had his crier go around announcing that there would be a big fight to see which camp was best so as to settle the question of his son's death. There was big excitement. Both sides had good warriors. The East camp ran to its horses. "If they really mean what they say, they will kill us," they cried.

The two sides lined up, and the chiefs met in the center, old man from the East camp came up into the center. He told them it wasn't right for them to fight among themselves like that. They took pity on him. Then other old men came out and ga with him, "You have plenty of enemies to fight," they cried. These were just boys playing a game. Don't take this thing so seriously. You are setting a bad example for the children, Whatever this chief wants to keep the peace, we'll do it."

That chief called it off. He said he did not realize what doing. So the East camp brought them horses and other things.

After that the chief had his announcer tell the people it was time to move camp. "We have had bad luck here. There has been hard feelings ." While they were still there, smallpox broke out.

Then they broke up. One group went north; those are the Shoshones. The other group went west.