The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-08-09
10! THE 81 POOR INDIAN.
- - 49,. 7 |-l.. -',-.- y IS =
Interesting Account of Various Tribes OF Red
hen-Their Manners, Customs and &@
= Curious characteristics.
The Lagunas, Acomas and Apaches at the New
Mexican ExhibitiQn-What They Do and
How They Dress and Behave.

uy 64.-1O Vl6lCOT 10 N0W MoXlCO tuo 4uu- l
ans constitute the most attractive feature of the
exposition now in progress at this place. Even
persons whose lives have been spent in contact
with them regard with surprise and gratifca-
ton the showing that has been called forth by
this occasion, and. it is q matter of remark
among residents that not only has such gath
ering never before occurred, but that in the
nature Of things few years longer must work
such developments, both in the way Of prog
ress. and extinction, as to make it very doubt.
full if anything so curious and essentially
unique can occur again. It is, of>course, hardly
supposable that tribes disposed to peace and
recognizing the importance to themselves of
obedience to law, will be soon disDanded, let
the strides of civilization be ever so rapid; but,
there are living examples here Of the effect of
white settlement in an Indian section, showing |
how the character and habits of tribe may be |
changed within few years.
THE LAGUANAs.
Tho Laguna Indians are represented here, |
not by braves and chiefs in savage toggery, |
but by a company of militia under such dis |
cipline that the second prize for general e1-
cellence and proficiency was awarded them at !
the competitive drill on the Fourth. They were
Pueblos long before their territory was ap-
were they tanner than the Apaches. While not
IN aggressive tribe, self protection demanded
of them skill in warlike arts. From childhood
for generations they have been trained to the
horse and with the bow and other Instruments
Of combat This training, indeed, has
ever been the price through all
| the country in which the Laguanas are located
| of safety for their homes. Tribes unable to
l ofo hou had 70 TO-
| since the days of tradition. The theory of the
survival of the ft:est is singularly applicable
to Indian experience in New Mexico, as attest
the shiftless stragglers, wandering through
! the streets and over the grounds alone, as they
come into town. their tribal Identity gone, self
respect and personal pride uprooted and the
brand of vagrancy stamped on every move
ment of their degenerate bodies. The identity
of the Lagunas has not been impaired by the
civilizing processes through which they have
lately passed. They keep to themselves, main
tain a unity of purpose and interest in peace
and adversely alike, and their alliance with the
new corners has in no sense detracted from
their tribal importance. Their country
is adapted to grazing. The establish
ment of ranches among them
turned some Of them into herdsmen
1t also invited the thievish attention of cattle
| raiders. The Indians soon found that their
interests demanded protection against new
enemy, with new methods of fighting. No
longer were they called upon to match their
cunning against old-tinle foes. but against.
white desperadoes, bold in plans and execu-
ton, never stunning fight or seeking cover
80 long as chance remained of a fair and
even match Cattle thieves do not start out to
murder, but, like the burglar, prepared for
bloodshed, and are hard fighters if forced to
it. The Lagunas we're not long in acquiring for
themselves small properties. They took to
white ways, and when raids operated against
live stock that was owned partly by themselves,
it was but step for them to adopt methods of
protection suggested by the settlers Conse-
quently something over year ago, when Maj.
Marmon announced that he would form and
train company of militia, recruits at once
1ocked to him, and within three months
the company, starting with men wholly I'M
versed in such matters. having never seen other
MALTA companies and utterly ignorant Of the
language, presented themselves at Albu-
uuerque and won special and honorable
ton that brought out the best talent and skill
} in the Territory. The new company was called
upon for service against tho cattle raiders IN
the summer. and so effective their work
; | LDAC l0rOlQE mas SINCE DCen d SaIo BUSINESS III
the Laguna country. The encouragement
furnished by praise of their skill at Albu-
querque last year and by their subsequent sue
cess in driving off cattle raiders sharpened
interest in their venture, and the other
day n, they presented the tS
world, winninasecond honors in general con-
test of Territorial militia. 1t is interesting to
watch them when under command The bust
ness seems to be a very serious one for them.
! &c. :..1-
purpose to give the lie to the old boast that
IN Indian cannot fit himself for disciplined war;
! fare Every man, at the captains word, gives
himself to the business before him. A round
ness Of shoulders that seems born in the tribe,
and to which their masses of long hair give
quite as much prominence as the bungling
breasts Of their jackets, detracts somewhat, per-
haps, from soldiers idea of erectness, but the
apparent stoop is at least uniform, and their
glistening helmets and well-brushed clothes
) ion.
A curious and striking contrast is afforded
between the Lagunas and Acomas, the latter a
powerful and picturesque tribe from the
Northwest Their common dress, though
, often shabby, displays an innate love Of color
: which even the brilliant banketed Navajoes
hardly approach Their shawls and blankets
Gang from their shoulders in folds as stately
as ever Roman wore his robes, and are decor
|
that glitter in the sunlight like jewels But
c their glory is most respondent on festival and
t gala days, when their appearance is to be COM
pared only to oriental pageantry. The colors
of a kaleidoscope are not more varied or bril-
liant than of their dress, which leaves exposed
and fits closely to the. neck above,
n the front to the waist being adorned with bits
In of contrasting color and trophies Of fur and
i metal. Kerchiefs of f. nciful print are wound
y upward from tie top Of the robe, encasing the
neck and lower face, while from tho forehead
downward the head and face are hidden be-
mind folds equally picturesque, leaving only
. the eyes and nostrils in sight A hat shaped
!. like bishops with mitre, studded with bright
: colorsd beads and flashing with crown-like
t splendor completes this unique outfit and fifty
braves 80 attired furnish sight that dwarfs in
interest spectacular drama, and invests with
regal splendor, from a distance, costume
whose intrinsic value would be highly ap-
praised at SIS. The Acomau are fairly indus
p. trious people, as Indians CO. They raise from
deft fingers of the woman IN fancy work and
Ut the men in pottery and quaint decora-
tons yield them abundance from which
to indulge their passion for bodily
3 wants, Between the Lagunas and the
Acomas in respect to the qualities anc
habits under consideration are the Zunis
They have not assumed the white mans
dress, and are strangers to his language
nor on the other hand do they affect or inherit
the barbaric fondness for display that charac-
{ terizes the Acoma and some of the Pueblo
. tribes The valley where their homes are had
been until within child's lifetime the whole
world to them for centuries. They knew Of
other tribes, but only as they had driven them
: as hostile invaders from their territory, bn,
they had neither ambition nor curiosity tt
penetrate new country or to make conquests.
They we're sufficient unto themselves. If thei
arts were rude and their capabilities limited
there were no critics to apr rise them Of it, and
Mr.. Gushing, who is full-fedged
Zuni, as fast as they will let him,
/ has now warmed their simple habits and
we'll developed traditions with the colors o.
romance so wildly and thoroughly that nothiu E
act here, and that is rather of a negative
nature. The quarters provided fer them are
in q low building of stone, that was started Al
a jail, and on which work was stopped several
years ago, the appropriation giving out 1t is
a long, low structure, partitioned off into
compartments about the size Of ordinary
dwelling rooms They use four or five
of them with perhaps ten persons to 8
, room. Inc passer by may always see some.
thing going on in each room. Shield painting
on circular, skin covered disks, occupied them
during the early days of the exhibition, and
since then most of them have found other EN-.
| and there are loungers among their numbers
but the common instinct is to seek occupation,
and therein 80 far as outward appearances 20,
is the main difference between them
whose capacity for solid loafing is
boundless. The dress of the Zunis could moi
be palmer. Loose shirts and breeches both Of