The Arizona sentinel., 1878-08-31
Grand Indian Memorial Service in
Honor of their Dead.
COLORADO RIVER INDIAN RESERVE,
AnV1ISt 2Sth- 1878

COLORADO RIVER INDIAN RESERVE,
August 2Sth, 1878.
EDITOR SENTINEL:
For some time past preparations have
been making among the Mohavc Indians
for a general mourning of the tribe in
cOmmemoration of relatives and friends
who died of small poX last May. The 18th
of this month, full moon, was the time
set for the funeral service, when all the
Mohave Indians assembled from far and
near, to take part in the sad ceremony, the
last tribute to the memory of their dead.
For two or three days previous, the In
dams belonging TO the tribe from Mohave
Valley had been coming down, some on
rudely constructed RATS, some on horse
buck, while others walked. The largest
delegation, however, numbering about $50,
arrived on foot on the morning of the 11th,
at once repairing to the camp of Hook-a-
row, the head-chief, to pay their respects
80 that parsonage.
The morning of the 18th dawned bright
and clear, and early on that day could be
seen these children of the desert, with
their heads bowed in grief, vending their
way, in long strings, by trail and road,
to the scene of their misery in the bottom
lands, where SO many of their friends had
breathed their last.
Arriving Oh the grounds we found that
large brush house, fifty feet square, had
been erected for the occasion, in a clear
space of about fifty acres, fringed on the
four sides with tall cottonWoods. At each
corner of the house pole was erected,
and from the top of each pole three red
spotted handkcrchiefs were flung to the
breeze as flags, emblems of respect to IN
dian dead; while from the center of the
house was erected another pole, with four
Fed handkerckiefs, as a token of respect
for the death of the late agent, Major
j. G. Mallory, Jr., who was loved by all the
Indians, as he truly deserved to be. The
house itself was fcstOoned, or rather
weighed down with the quantity of calico,
muslin, red flannel, beads, clothing of ALI
descriptions, and food, suspended from its
sides and top. All the articles were con-
tributions from relatives and friends to
the deceased in the happy hunting
grounds. Visiting Indians from the Yu-
mas, Maricopas, and other tribes, also
contributed to the general stock of pres
ents.
All heinr now in readiness for tho Scr
vice, Hook-a. row, the head chief, took his
place in the center of the building, never
leaving it for twenty long hours, but once,
and then only TO receive and escort the
party from the Agency, consisting OF II.
R. Mallory, Acting Agent, Dr.. Taggart and
wife, and myself, to position where we
could see all the ceremony. The head
chief then exhorted his people after their
own fashion, when all Immediately COM
nenced a low. piteouS wall; then warm
ing up in his work, the mourning increas-
ed in violence, until it WIS past AL human
endurance. That their sorrow was most
intense, as well as genuine, could not BIC
doubted by any eyewitness. To attempt
perfect portrayal of their agony defies
description by pen.
In front Of the main building, level
space, about LOO yards long by about 25
feet wide, was held sacred for the chief
doctors and soOthsayers, who, escorted by
their attendants, gaily attired, commenced
preparations for their portion of the cere-
at first for a maE) deserves mention; her
hair had been clipped close TO the skull,
what was left sticking up like bristles;
her face full, with heavy double chin; she
was about six feet in stature Her dress
consisted Of a willow hustle eyer which
and around her waist, was piece of cot