The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-06-12
THE MOOUIs PUEBLOS.
Appetiziug Habits OF Our Red RI
atiOns.

n AppGLlLAu2 E1aDlbA Oh OuE IGGu LGcls
atiOns.
A traveller in Colorado gives the fol-
lowing incidents of his sojoRrn among
the natives of that region
Before retiring for the night, went
up into the town and paid the chief a
visit, during which I Witnessed a scene
that may be set down as remarkable
example of Indian refinement.
While we were regaling ourselves on
wrtermRlOns and vegetables, the old
gentleman's wife came in and seated
herself in front of us, followed by her
daughter, ten years of age, gotten up
in all the perfection of natural toilet,
/. e., perfectly naked. I supposed that
they were about to join US at supper !;
but, instead of this, the old lady delib-
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 !; but confess that,
upon this occasion, my desire for food
vas easily satisfied nor was it until 1
got out my old pipe and began to
smoke, that my stomach resumed its
natural tone.
Lice eating is not confined to the Mo-
quis, for, in the candles and the ANA
zons," Orton says " We found the
chief, one day, taking lice for his lunch.
Sitting behind his little boy, he picked
out the little parasites with his nails,
and crushed them between his teeth
with a look of satisfaction. Eating
lice is an old Indian custom, and uni
versal in the Andes. We have seen
half a dozen women sitting en- the
ground in a row, picking out vermin
from each others heads. We thought
the arrangement was little unfair, for
the first in the series had no lice to eat,
and the animals were left 10 roam I'M
disturbed in the 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 to the Indian epicures, and
is in proof of what I have before men
toned, that, while the Moquis are
cleanly to q degree rare among the ab-
original tribes, still they have habits
that are extremely filthy.
While disgust is excited by many of
the peculiarities of this people, there
still remains much to commend, in the
women especially, who spend a good
part 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 blanket, which is tied
over the forehead. Every morning a
large cOncourse of water-carriers go
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 the 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 ducks.
AS the first bathers are foIlo by
others with jugs, until fifty or a hun
dred families are supplied, it might na-
tural!y be supposed hat the last of the
water thus obtained is not very pure.
Not being a Moquis, made point of
arising and filling my canteen Just be-
fore daybreak, while the pools were yet
undisturbed.