Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-07-13
A Curious Tribe.


Desert Ne'os, and will be read with interest
by all:
The Moquis Indians are interesting as an
exhibit of the degree of civilization attaina-
BILE by savage tribes, under compuLsion. Or
lglnally numerous people, occupying both
sides OF the Colorado river, other Indian
tribes conquered and deceminated them, till
In self. defense the remnant-about 5000
str png-located in six villages, capable from
their position of easy defense Their tradi-
tons place the camping grounds of their an
cestors along the south west sea coast of the
United States and Mexico, SO that possibly
their progenitors may have been akin to the
Aztecs and others of that date, who exhibit
ed greater capacity for civilization than any
Indians OF the present day. Their religion
cannot be called strictly idolatrous, since the
images they have are merely symbolical.
Their deity is called "Tow-wau- e ma" or
Sun Father, and now resides in the heavens,
from thence dispensing unto His faithful
and well l-beloved the blessings Of life, rain
and faithful seasons, and Furnishing all 9th
ers by visiting upon them his anger.
Their sacred temple is also the chief work
shop OF the village, and contains rude stone
symbol of their deity. The figure is adorn
ed with costly heads, feathers, and sacred
shells-relics of their forefathers. tn front
OF 1t were wooden figures of all kinds of
domestic fowles, painted and adorned to i'm
itate nature. Corn and water are placed be
fore the fowls, and at their sides are hung
the skins of wild beasts, that of the fox, as
more sacred than Others, predominating.
In their ceremonial worship men form in
rows IN front OF their image, and, Shaker
like, speak and sing praises, ccompanied by
the music of rude instruments The women
join with the men in only one religious cere-
mony. In the centre of the village is pub
lie square, within which i, stone alter,
where sacrifices of food are laid on holy
days. Around this alter the men dance in
rotation, and during the ceremony the old
men and women OF the village sprinkle pinch
es of holy meal on the backs of the dancers,
and then scatter little to the four winds of
heaven. Astrononically, they believe that
the sun shines for them alone, and rises by
the little Spanish town of Planea, and sets
by going into hole near New at kl-be. the
San Francisco mountain of the whites. They
are good and careful agriculturists. produce
large quantities of fine peaches, and raise
domestic animals of all kinds. They also
ii Il g.
their own clothing, which is of very SER
vicable quality.
In public work of any kind all the able
bodied men and women join, and are direct
ed by two co chcnas' men dressed like
clowns and in complete disguise, who carry
whips and lassos, using them upon loiterers
and delinquent. with terrible severity. Their
buildings are of stone, laid in kind of clay
mortar, and have no doors, but are entered
By ascending ladders to the roofs and then
descending from within. A witness describes
their marriage ceremonies as follows:
I'm the morning the interested parties
breakfasted in the workship to which the
bridegroom belonged, after which the man
ufacture of new pair of blankets was COM
menced out of the purest white material OBJ
tainable. The parties ate their dinner in
the second, and then supper in the third
story of the fathers house. The pair OF
blankets were not completed until the second
day. During this time the bridegroom and
bride were put into private room, where
they were required to bathe each other in
pure cold water, as a 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 confin-
ed to foot racing. The race course is a foot
trail some ten or twelve miles in circuit.
Another feature is the competitive kicking
of piece of cement and hair up certain
steep and crooked steps. One of their in.
struments of warfare, by singular coinci
dence, is almost identical with the Boom
erang' used by the natives of Oceanica
With this missile strong men will break the
skull of man or the leg of an antelope al
the distance of from one hundred and fifty
to two hundred yards When a person i.
given up to die, his under jaw, the back Of
his hands and the upper part of the feet are
colored black, and friends begin to mourn a.
though death were already present. A corpse
is dressed like the living, blanket wrapped
around the head and shoulders and string
tied round the neck. A grave is dug sever
al feet deep and walled within with stone
into which the body is placed in a sitting
posture, A pole long enough to extend two
feet above the ground is placed between the
legs, and around it the arm. are folded.
Wrapped up in the bosom of the dead II
a loaf of bread and bowl Of water. The
grave is securely covered with earth and the
surface around the pole ornamented with
pebbles. They believe that the spirit of {
good person first goes to the Sun Father and
then travels down the pole on its homeward
way to the body. These Indians are regard
ed as friendly, and are entirely self Support
ing. They no longer live nomadic life, but
ike the patriarchs of old, have settled down
in the midst of their flocks and herbs. Sew,
eral of Brigham Young followers have Wis
L., har n