, 1870-07-10

The mounfs Indians OF the Colorado
-Ihe Only Non-SolnadicT Tribe.

tAc HAV0Af* HUMANS Oh the CpIOfNu 10
-Ths only Non-Sornadic Ir,bc.
For" the Central City R.yts:e:
The MoQuis 1ndiaus are interesting AZ an OK
hibit OF ihe degree OF civilization attisiua5le by
savage tribes under compulsion. ORIGINALLY
numerous people, Occupying both eidoa OF
the Colorado liver.-otller 1l,lian tribes cou-
quered and deciulated them. till, in se1f-de-
fence, 1he remnant-about 5000 stroug-lo-
Gated IN Elx villages, capable, from their posi-
fion. Of casy defence. Their traditions place
the camping grounds Of their ancestors along
the southwest sea coast Of the United States
and Mexico. 70 that possibly their psoycultors
may have been akin to the .Aztccs aud others
Of that date, who exhibited greater capacity
for civilization than any Indiana OF tue pres
cut day.. Their religion cauuo. 10 called
strictly ldolastous, since tho images tuer layn
arc merely symtolicaL Tleir deity il called
.Tow-wau.e e.na,, Or Sun Father, and now re-
unto His faithful and well beloved tie blessins
Of life. rain, ard faithful seaso1.s, and p,nisG
ms all others b: visiting upon them his anger.
lher saered temple ls Also the chief work
Ebop OF the village, and contains : rude
stone symbol OF their deity. The figure is
adorned with costly beA.ls, feathers, and
sacreu shells-rcl'cs Of their forefatlers. In
itont Of il arc wooden figures OF Ill kinds OF
domestic fowls, painted and adorned to imi-
tale nature. Com aud water arc placed be.
fore the fowls, and at their eide are hung tha
skins OF Wild beasts, tLat OF tho fox, ~ more
sac1ed than others, pEvdominating. In their
ceremonial worship men form in rows in
front Of their image, and, Shaker like, speak
aud sing praises, accompanied by the music
Of rude Instruments. The women join with
the Ien in only ono religious ceremony. In
tue coptEe Of the yillage il In,blic Square
al! III Nhici. is atone altar, w.lctu sacrifices
Of fooa arc laid on holy daye. Around this
afa1 the Men dance in ro:asion. and, during
tlec rrncnv, the old men ard women Of tho
,si!tEe srtnkle plncnes Of holy meal On the
BACKS OF tie dancc1s, and t4eu scatter little
to the four winds Of heaven. Astrouomjcally.
tue! believe tllAt the sun shines for then,
alone, aid 1ises by the little Spanish town u
IlA1ca. sul stk Ly going into hols near
y, w"at-.i-le. the San Francisco Mountain OF
Luz "hiset. They are good AMI careful ssri-
cnifu4lsts. FEeduts large quantities OF iine
luts. They also grow cotton, with it and
wool manufacturing their own clothing. whici,
le or very seryiceabie quality.
In public ~otk Of any Find al the abfe-boJ-
ietamen aud women Join. and are directed by
two "co-cLe-nas men dressed Ike clowns
and IN complete disgllise. Who carry whips and
'Aheos. ueiug them upon loiterers aud Ielin-
luepta with terrible severity. Their buikliuCs
Ae Of stone, laid in a Kind VI clay mortar.
and having no doors, but are entered by aA-
cenai,g ladders to the roofs an4l then deseeud-
ins within. witness .iea.ribcs their mar
mage ceremonies as follows:
In the morning tie interested parties
treakfastel in he Workshop TO Alieh tho
bridegroom belonged. after which t1a man
ufactu1e Of = new psir OF blankets Was COM
menceds out of the puEent white material Oh
tAnAble. Tie pAftie. ate their dinners III tho
second, and then supper in the tlir,l STORY,
Of tho brides fstLer;s house. The pair
~ N lat
tho second day. During this time
tho bridegroom And br,,Is were put
into private room, where they wese requi1el
10 hathe each other in purs cold water, =. =
witness that they Were pure, healthy, AMI
atted foE the eA+ss and responsibilities Of the
new blankets on TIC second night.
lheir amusemsats are Principally confined
to loot racing. Iha E.ce course il / foot trail
aonne ten OF sse!vs miles ii circuit Another
feature is the competitive kicking Of > piece
Of cement md hais up cettain steep and crook
fare. By singular coincidence, IL almost iden-
'ical with the " boomerang" used by the n.y.
tlve1 Of Oceaniea. With this missile strong
men can break the skull OF man or the leg
of an antelope 1t the distance Of from one
hundred h.! and nssy to two hundred yarla.
Jaw the hack Of his bands and the upper past
Df the feet are colored black. and the friends ]
egin to mourn as though death were alreaJv |
rresent. 4 corpse is dressed like the living, :
lAnket wrapped round the head and shoul- |
iers and string tied round the neck. A grave
i dug several feet deep aud walled within With
:tene, into which the body Is plAced in sltting
>o-ture. A pole long enough to extend two
faet above tie ground is placed between tho
eer. and around it the arms arc fold
Il. Wrapped up in the boeou Of tho |
lead is a loaf or bread and : bowl Of |
.ater. The grave is securely cnvered with !
.asth and The surface around the pole or1lA- |
nented with pebbles. They believe that tho |
lilil OF good perron frs; goes to the Sun !!
Father. and then travels down the pole on its !
way to the body. These Indians !.
Ire regarded as friendly, and arc entirely self
They no longer live nomAdic ;
lie, but, like the patriarrhs Of old, h,ye set ::
led down in the midst Of thar t1cck. and /.
.erds. seyerI Of Brigham Young'a followers !
ave vieited them. aiming to impa1t higher
legree Of t3Iormon) civilization.