New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-08
INDIAN USAGES.
A VISIT TO THE TRIBE OF UTEs.

TRAITS OF TEfE UTES-fhiiuiVo' 80"
DITIoNs ALMOST EXACTLY CoINcipiNe WITH b.
BILE msToRY-THE EVIL AND GOOD SPIRITS
lrRox AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBUskl
Los PINos INDIAN AGENCY, COL, Aug. a.
rb,, mint IA AZ miles west OF saguacha the Coche-
iona trail to Antelope Park In the valley of the Coche-
topa and Los Pnos creeks. The ocer who had charge
Of locating the agency instructed to put It on Los
Pinos River. 100 miles southwest Of here. but he
said "Put t anywhere and call II Los Pnos." SO here
The valley is eight ten miles long and three OF
four wide full OF good and water surrounded by
high timbered hills. and is favorite Indian camping
ground. we-that is, the Hayden Expedition
camped at the agency about week, occupying the
time principally in making Indian pictures, but II
was with the greatest difficulty that negatives could
be obtained for the redskins have superstition that
calamity will follow the photographng of groups aud
camp scenes although at time IL safe enough
The squaws were especially superstitious about It,
MAKE heap Injun heap SICK" they averred. But one
morning remarkable for its rare magnifcence OF sun
rise color the previous evening for Its beautiful
sunset the train moved off, leaving me behind to get
such mail might come but chiefly because wished
20 "interview" Ouray head chief OF all the Ute nation
which confederation of seven tribes Through
the kind exertons OF Mr.. Harris, posrader and inter
prefer operation satisfactorily accomplished In
his store and tho result OF the conversation is given
below.
INTERVIEWING AN INDIAN CHIEF.
With respect to origin OF the Ute Nation, Ouray
stated that they first occupied little district at the
southern end OF the Uncompahgoe Mountains, about
the sources of the Rio San Juan and Rio Uncompahgoe
where according tradition, they were without horses
had no arms other than bows and arrows, and used
stone implements exclusively metals being unknown
They knew how distinguish the hardest varieties OF
n aud with It fashioned softer stone to the desired
shape Whenever II was necessary to break stone AT
certain place or cut of an exact amount they tied
gature about the around the place to be cut
off and Clipped up to this He could tell me nothing OF
any artificial continuance for boring in stone without
ne al averring that 1t was rarely DONE After the al
vent OF the Spanards who introduced metals, the use
of stone weapons and implements gradually declined
until now none whatever are used by the tribe. HAY
ing only bows and arrows, no horses or dogs, and
yet trusting to the chase for their main
tenance, they secured all their wild game
by driving it into ambush along the ruoways
They had at this primitive time no goats sheep' or
cattle. there any current means OF excnahRe'
any legal tender unless the buckskn In which
the medicine men, who sometimes gave instruction IN
traditions and knowledge Of national import received
their pay might be called SUCH This teaching OF the
medicine men In addition to the regular family
instruction eDjoined upon the fathers. Their only
enemies this time the plains Indians and some
mountain tribes TO the north OF them From these they
constantly obliged to defend themselves but they
made few aggressive raids beyond their own narrow
limits South Of them were the Jicarra Apaches. with
whom they were always on friendly terms, and even
intermarred but curi0usy enough. 1t was always an
Apache girl marrying Ute, and never young Ute
girl giving her hand to Apache brave There was no
law about it-ony usage had confirmed the custom.
Through these the Utes communicated with the Span
iards who had already settled south and west OF there
In what is Eastern Arizona and from them obtained
o few horses and dogs, which by being carefully bred
soon multiplied until they had accumulated sufficient
stock This was the first step toward their subsequent
prosperity.
ORGANIZATION OF THE TRIBE.
They now changed their attitude of defense to one Of
oense and pushed the holly against their old enc
miles, refusing ght the Spaniards nearly all OF the
village tribes south Of these were doing 1t was IN these
raids that they first obtained and learned to use fire
arms capturing them from the plains Indians who had
been visited by traders Gaining in strength, numbers
and courage with victories through long years and
weary battles, they finally drove them east of the
Rocky Mountains. actually to the plains, and were
of all the territory now included in Utah and
Colorado. between the Wahsatch Mountains and the
main range
or course it is difficult to tell how long ago all this
happened but that the main account is true history
of the tribe have little doubt The rest we can form
dentive idea Of for Ouray tells that he can re-
member when the Utes first met the white man THAT u.s.
Americans-the spansrds had been long before in
the vicinity Del Norte the Rio Grande His father
Salvador was then chief of the tribe and his mother an
Apache.
they followed by others and the Utes soon
became familiar and friendly with Them and it is their
boast to-day that no Ute in good standing has ever
killed white man.
The head men OF the tribe are constantly watching
the behavior OF the boys and young men, When they
see who intelligent and progressive, whose ideas
are in conformity with the policy OF the nations and
who shows capacity for carrying on their affairs with
credit and advantage, he is looked upon as captain
without further ceremony From the captains the head
chief is elected. Such man was young Ouray, and be
at became chief with the consent OF all the tribe,
altogether through his mert and not because his
father chief, for hereditary honors are recog
nlzed He first succeeded Benito as war chief in 1863
perhaps the nomination and certainly with the sane
ton OF the u 9. Government, which had become con-
WINGED of his ability during the negotiation OF the treaty
that time This election and the terms OF the treaty
together dissatisfied old Nuvava head chief that
with all his band he left the Southern Ues and reported
thereafter the White River Agency. Subsequently
there split in his band, and some $50 went under
the leadership Of Peaah. TO Denver where they now
receive their supplies.
CARNATIONS OF RANK.
Having re'erred TO the captains su6chiefs and head
chiefs 1t may be good place IN which to explain their
respective positions and duties. When anything OF
national interest is TO be deberated as the opening OF
war; notice is given and general mass meeting called
OF all the men in the tribe There all the pros and cons
OF the matter fully discussed and weighed against
one another The matter is then referred TO council
OF the aged and influential men Of the tribe many OF
whom have some authority and are termed subchefs,
who render decision and arrange mode OF action,
the execution Of which belongs TO the captains In
these deliberations no woman has any voice; or II by
chance the sage advice Of any woman is needed the
source is never recognized. When they 20 10 war
everything is in common. All the plans, tactics and
strategy to be employed thoroughly understood by
each man who. acting on this intimate knowledge OF
the plans looks out carefully that his own share OF
the work is well DONE Thus all details OF organization
ana randarad unnecessary. and the actual authority