New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-04-23

parted with the Dancing God, his absence
would be the signal for such war as had
never before been vaged by the Navajo
I nation. OF this there could be no doubt.
But as the Dancing God, and not the
General himself, was the real object OF
reverence, and the actual pledge of peace,
the guardian Of the treasure, aided by Lieu
tenant Brown, soon hit upon an expedient
for quoting the alarmed Indians.
There lived in the vicinity . small
branch of the Pimo tribe. These people,
like the Pueblos, retain many traces Of
their old Mexican origin, and indicate il
in q curious GENERALIZATION. Their
houses and villages are of . superior de-
scription, and they excel in weaving and
in making pottery. A Catholic priest had
once found his way among them, and east
" induced them to become Christians
and build chapel. He, poor man, had
unfortunately been killed or otherwise
removed during war, but the Pimos still
adhered stoutly to their chapel, and to
what they could recollect Of their religion.
This had become very singular faith, its
principal tenet being that 30 long az the
chapel stood in safety their crops would
flourish, and that the grand buffalo hunt
O0RCAAO00 OA4 A40vAAA6 . PAASOV AV5NAnAA
employed to insure success. The rites
and tenets were partly adapted from the
old Mexican religion, partly from the
bewildcr an ethnologist. The incumbent
Who held this singular cure of souls was a
half Indian, half Mexican, and entire
himself into this easy WY of getting liv-
Ia S~a
ton of both tribes that the Dancing God
should be safely deposited in this chapel,
to share in the worships, and be carefully
tended by the Pimos, who were on no &C.
count to neglect such sacrifices and cere-
monies as it might be judged agreeable to
him.
To this opinion there was but one dis
senting voice-that of Jose Maria Itzliti-
putzlititl, the padre of the chapel, who
mildly protested that the Dancing God
did not. to the best Of his knowledge.
belong to the Christian religion. He
might, he admitted, be mistaken in this
perhaps some of the better informed who
were present would kindly enlighten him.
In any case, he hoped that his friends, the
Navajos, would consider the extra expense
and care to which the Pimos would be
subjected by this addition to their Pam
theon.
This was answered by the Great Medi.
cine Man Of the Navajos, with incredible
dignity, in a speech Of great length. His
very act Of rising was SO prolonged. and
80 grandly graceful, as to suggest that
what was to come would be polite, yet
overwhelming. He began by compliment
ing the priest on the success which had
attended his efforts a. medicine man, of
which profession he himself was, as every
body knew, the greatest living member.
And, as omniscience was one of his least
accomplishments, he was delighted at
being able to answer his humble colleague
to his own entire satisfaction. The ques-
ton was, did the white mans medicine
include q Dancing God, when they
all knew that here was the real
Dancing God himself, well known in an
cient prophecy given to them by the white
man. But, waving all such points, he,
for his part, would suggest that the best
way to test buffalo robe was to wear it.
Let the Dancing God be deposited in the
Pimo medicine lodge, and if he did not
wear well then let him be turned out. He
regretted, however, his brothers ignor-
ance of his own medicine, and intimated
that, if any further and similar blunders
should be committed, he himself might be
under the necessity of assuming the func-
tions Of pastor among the Pimos in man
ner more in accordance with the true spirit
of Christianity which case his first
step would be of course to take his, the
padres, scalp. 4
It is needless to say that this talk set
tied the question. The Dancing God was
borne in very magnificent procession to
his new home, where he remained until
recently, end where, for aught know, he
still receives great honors. 1t may be re-
marked, in conclusion, that an examine
ton of the puppet, and discovery of the
wire by which he was worked, did not in
the least detract from the awe with which
be was regarded. It was all medicine"
and all in accordance with what was
once told me by Mr.. Ross, who had
been for twenty-five years trader in the
far West One day he found among his
stores common German toy mask. Put
ting it on, he at once stirred up q great
excitement among . tribe Of Indians,
which was not diminished by his showing
it to them and explaining its manufac-
ture. Every time it was replaced there
was the same outcry. It Was great
medicine, and the first effect was every
thing, the means by which it was pro-
duced nothing. 1t is knowledge Of this
and other mental idiosyncracies which
produces the remark 20 often heard
among the aboEigines. that Indians ways
are not white mems ways, nor Indian
heart white mans heast - Temple Bor.
FLoanr-rhss discovery from tho oct