The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-06-16
A Curious a riEDe.
The MOqHis Indians Ofthe Colorado The Only
NOn-NOmadiC Tribe.
From The Central City Register.

Inc MOQulS Indians are interesting as
an exhibit of the degree Of civilization at
tainabe by savage tribes, 1onder c0mpuI-
SION Originally a numerous people, oc-
cupying both sides OF the Colorado river,
other Indian tribes conquered and deci-
mated them, till in selfdefense the rem
nant-about 5000 strong-located in six
villages, capable from their position OF
easy de ence. Their traditions place the
camping grounds Of their ancestors along
the southwest sea coast Of the United
5 ates and Mexico, SO that possibly their
progenitors may have been akin to the
Aztecs and others of that date, who ex-
hiDited "a greater capacity for civilization
than any Indians of the present day.
Their religion cannot be called strictly
idoatrous, since the images they have are
merely symbolical Their deity is called
" Tow-wau e-na or Sun Father, and now
resides in the heavens, from thence dis
pensing unto His faithful and we'll below
ed the blessings of life, rain and faithful
seasons and furnishing all others by Wis
iting upon them his anger. Their sacred
temple is also the chief workshop of the
village, and contains q rude stone sym
bol of their deity The figure is adorn-
I'd with costly heads feathers, and sacred
she!s-relics of their forefathers. In
front OF it are wooden figures of all kinds
OF domestic fowls, painted and adorned
10 initiate nature Corn and water are
placed before the fowls, and at their side
are hung the skins of wild beasts, that of
the fox, as more sacred than Others pre-
dominating. In their ceremonial wor-
ship men form in rows in front of their
image, and Shaker like, speak and sing
praises, accompanied by the music Of
rude instruments. The women join with
the men in only one religious ceremony.
In the centre of he village is public
square, within which is stone altar,
where sacrifices of food are laid on holy
days Around the altar the men dance
in rotation, and during the ceremony the
old men and women OF the village sprink
lie pinches OF holy meal on the backs Of
the dancers, and then scatter little to
the four winds of heaven. Astronomical
ly, they believe that the sun shines for
them alone, and rises by the little Span
lsh town Of Planea, and sets by going in
to a hole near New-a t-ki-be, the San Fran
cisco mountain of the whites. They are
good and careful agriculturists, produce
large quantities of fine peaches, and raise
domestic animals of all kinds They al
so grow cotton, with it and wool manu-
featuring their own clothing, which is Of
a very serviceable quality.
In public work of any kind all the
able-bodied men ana women join, and are
directed by two co che mas "--lnen
dressed like clowns and in complete dis
guise, who carry whips and lassos, using
them upon loiterers and dellnquents with
terrible severity. Their buildings are of
stone, laid ip kind of clay mortar, and
have no doors, but are entered by ascend
ing ladders to the roots and then descend
ing from within. A witness describes
their marriage ceremonies as follows:
" In the moraing the interested parties
breakfasted in the workshop to which
the bridegroom belonged, after which
the manufacture of a new pair Of blank
cts was commenced out Of the purest
white material obtainable The parties
ate their dinner in the second, and then
supper in the third story, of the brides
fathers house. The pair OF blankets
we're not completed until the second day.
During this time the bridegroom and
bride were put into private room,
where they were required to battle each
other IN pure cold water, as witness
that they were pure, healthy, and fitted
for the cares and responsibilities of the
married state The happy pair occupy
the new blankets on the second night
Their amusements are principally con-
fined to foot racing. The race course is
a foot trail some ten or twelve miles in
circuit. Another feature is the competi-
tive kicking of piece of cement and
hair up certain steep and crooked steps
One of their instruments OF warfare, by
singular coincidence, is almost identical
with the Boomerang" used by the
natives Of Oceanica With this missile
strong men will break the skull of man
OF the leg Of an antelope at the distance
of from one hundred and fifty TO two
hundred yards. When a person is given
up to die, his under jaw, the back Of his
hands and the upper part Of the feet are
c0lorpd black, and friends begin to mourn
as though death were already present
4 corpse is dressed ike the living, IA
blanket wrapped round the head and
shoulders and a string tied round the
meek. A grave is dug several feet deep
and walled within with stone, into which
the body is placed in sitting posture.
4 pole long enough to extend Two feet
above the ground is placed Between the
legs, and around it the arms are folded,
Wrapped az in the bosom of the dead is
q loaf of bread and bowl of water.
The grave IS securely covered with earth
and the surface around the pole orna-
mented with pebbles They believe
that the spirit of a good person first goes
to the Sun Father, and then travels down
the pole on its homeward way to the
body. These Indians are regarded as,
frienIiv. aud ara. II irelg eel alnpoitLnr.