The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1874-06-13
THE wooUIs PUEBLOS.
AppetizinS Habits of Our Red RelS
ffons.


A traveller in Colorado gives the fol-
lowing incidents of his solonrn among
the natives of that region
Before retiring for the night, went
up into the town and paid the chief
visit, during which witnessed a scene
that may be set down as remarkable
example of Indian refinement.
While we were regaling ourselves on
wrtermalons and vegetables, the old
gentiemau's wife came III and seated
herself in front of us, followed by her
daughter, ten years of age, gotten up
in all the Derfection of a natural toilet,
/. e., perfectly naked. supposed that
they were about to join us at supper
but, instead of this, the old lady dellb-
erately began picking the lice from the
child's head. and cracking them between
her teeth, with dexterity that could
only have been acquired by long prac-
tice.
am not generally accused of having
a delicate appetite ; bur confess that,
upon this occasion, my desire for food
vas easily satisfied nor was 1t until l
got out my ola pipe and began 10
SIN Ike, that my stomach resumed ITS
natural tone.
Lice. eating is not confined to the Mo-
duis. for, IN the Andes and the ANA
IONS" Orion saws 50 We found the
chief, one day, taking lice for his lInch.
Sitting behind his little boy, he picked
ont the little parasites with his nails,
and crushedfthem between his teeth
with a look OF satisfaction. Eating
lice is an old Indian custom, and uni
versa1 in the. Andes. We have seen
half a dozen, women sitting on the
ground in r,w, picking ont vermin
from each otlA heads. We thought
the arrangen,sA was little unfair, for
the first in sxBE.ss had no lice to eat,
- IS w.. e - - s<--roam I'M
disturbed m TIE capillary forest of the
last"
Custom IS everything and, while to
an eastern man this must seem ANYTHING
but choice taste, it appears the dainty
of daIntIes 10 the Indian epicures, and
is in proof of what I have before men
toned, that, while the Moouis are
clearly TO a degree rare among the alb
original tribes, still they have habits
that are extremely filthy.
While disgust is excited by many Of
the peculiarlhes OF this people. there
still remains much to commend. in the
women especially, who spend a good
par, of their time IN washing them
selves and combing their hair. thus
keeping their persons extremely tidy.
Their mode of bathing is worth notice.
The women bring water for drinking
and culinary purposes IN large earthern
pots or Jugs these they sling over their
shoulders IN a blanket. which is tied
over the forehead. Every morning a
large concourse of water-carriers g.
down to the pools for the DAYS supply.
Stepping down into the pool, and wad-
ing in up to their knees, they fill their
jugs then, placing them on the bank,
they return to tie water. where they
wash their faces and hands, and some
times the entire body, all the time
laughing and splashing round like a
flock of duckg.
As the first bathers are followed by
others with jugs, until fifty or hun
dred families are supplied, it might ma
turally be Supposed that the last of the
water thus obtained is not very pure.
Not being 4 Moquis, I made a point Of
arising aud dlling my calteen lust be-
fore daybreak, while the pools were vet
undisturbcd