Arizona weekly citizen., 1882-08-27
NO %
Indian Children and their PetS.

Many people suppose the Indian
 children have no dolls or pets. Tbs IS
 8 mistake. The Indian baby or
 papOOse, IS provided by its squav-
 mother with a sort of doll from Its
 earliest infancy. The baby itself Is
 tied to a board, which Is covered with
 buckskins and fanciful bindings, or
 with bright-colOred cloth oruameuted
 with beadwork and tinseL The baby
 board, which IS carriage and cradle lu
 one, looks like the toe of large slip
 per, and has piece of wood bent across
 the head to prevent its Ittle copper cOlOred occupant from being struck bg anything. Just as her convenience may prompt, the squaw hangs her papOOse, thus cradled, on her back,
 while walking, or on tree when work ing about the tent, or on the saddle pOmmel. From the protecting head board hangs suspended the doll, com posed of feathers, beads and red cloth. perhaps representing an Indian warrIOr. The little papOOse looks at this danI ms image all day long, and this mOnOtOnOus endeavOr often causes a horrible squIut, from which tue little Indian never re- covers. The squaw-mOthers sOmetlmea make miniature papOOses, bound tu cradle-bOards in fancy covering, like theIr own, for the older children t0 play with; but 1t IS a sJIll commOu5r sight to see the girls carrying puppy in little blanket over their shoulder.
 lt seems strange that they should make their pets of what is considered Che
 greatest deicacy stew being the chief dish of feast gwen Iu com memOratiOn of a child having reached certain age. The little Indians also make pets of crows. 4 little girl will often daily carry about her wicker basked filled with baby crows just as they are taken from nest by her brother. Beside her an old dog will often ue wiled along, dragging her pUppIes in similar net or basket stretched across parallel poles. The Indian boys have pet colts to ride, and they make pets oi young eagles, which they put on sort of stand with a strIug attached Co one leg to prevent the birds from hyiug away. The boys also early learn to Use the bow and arrows. and are often Oc- cupied m driving blackbirds and crow birds from the growing maize Corn ls she great crop cultivated by the h. dians, and the Chippewas, who are semi-civilized, grind this grain into sort of coarse samp by pounding it in mortar with a wooden pestle. They also roast the ears, and dry it for winter use. Great groups of children will sit. with squaw )perhaps meudIug noe casIns) to help them at their work au. preserve order, on high platforms the whole day, overlooking the cornfeids, so as to drive away the birds as they allght in iOcks. The older boys amUse themselves by different games while tending the horses. First they spread upon the ground buffalo hide, on which they kueel facing each other Then one takes a little stick and passes 1t from one hand to the other, first be- hind and then before, while the other boy guesses which hand 1t is in. He is entitled to three guessss. The first, # right, counts him three; the second, two; and the third, one. If he misses he loses according tO the put up for stake. The enc designates his guess by hitting his right or left shoulder, according to the hand he thinks his opponent holds 1t in. This, like other Indian games. k made interesting by the stakes. which generally consist of some ornament, OF some service to be rendered. The ln- fpriOr