River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-08-09

.mong residents that not only has such gath
,ring never before occurred, but that in thu
nature of things few years longer must work
such developments, both in the way of prog
-ess aud extinction, as TO make it very doubs-
'ul If anything so curious and essentially
unique can occur again. 1t is, Of course, hardly
,upposable that tribes disposed to peace ana
the importance to themselves OF
obedience to law, viii be soon dispanded, let
he strides of civilization be ever so rapid; but
here 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 wears.
THE LAGUAEAs
The Laguna Indians are represented here,
aot by braves and chiefs in savage toggery.
but by company of militia under such dis
cpline that the second prize for general ex-
cellence and proficiency was awarded them at
the competitive drill on the Fourth. They were
Pue bios long before their territory was ap-
preached by the settler, but in no other respect
were they tanner than the Apaches. While not
an 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 prpe through all
the country in which the Ltguanas are located
of safety for their homes. Tribes unable to
defend themselves have had to go to the wall
since the days of tradition. The theory Of the
survival of the finest is singularly applicable
to Indian experience in New Mexico, as attest
the shiftless stragglers, wandering through
~ oatpa cyrnufIa a16nn q q fbpV
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 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 THEN
interests demanded protection against a new
enemy, with new methods of fighting. Nc
longer we're they called upon to match theil
cunning against old-tima 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 aud
even match. Cattle thieves do not start out to
murder, but, like the burglar, prepared fol
bloodshed, and are hard fighters if forced t.
it. The Lagunas were not loug in acquiring foi
themselves small properties They took tC
white ways, and when raids operated agains
live stock that was owned partly by themselves
it was but a step for Thorn to adopt methods OF
protection suggested by the settlers. Conse-
quenty, something over year ago. when Maj.
Marmon announced that he would form and
train company of militia, recruits at once
flocked to him, aud within three months
the company starting with men wholly un
versed in such matters, having never seen othel
MALTA companies aud utterly ignorant of the
language, presented themselves at Albu
querque and won special and honorable
mention for military proficiency at an exhibi
ton that brought out the best talent aud skill
in the Territory. The new company was called
upon for service againstthe cattle raiders IN
the summer, and so effective was their WORK
that herding has since been safe business in
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 new venture and the Other
day they presented tho spectacle O.
the only Indian military organization in th'
world winning second honors in general con
test of Territorial militia. 1t is interesting t
watch them when under command The bust
ness seems to- be a very serious one for them
Their set jaws and fixed eyes bespeak plainly
a purpose to give the lie to the old boast thai
an Indian cannot fit himself for disciplined war
.,,a- I .~fnra
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 theil
glistening helmets and we'll brushed clothes
move along in line with machlne-like precis-
ion.
THE ACoMAs
A curious and striking contrast ia afforded
between the Lagunas and Acomas, the latter s
powerful and picturesque tribe from the
Northwest Their common Dress though
often shabby, displays an innate love of color
which even the brilliant blanketed Navajoes
hardly approach Their shawls and blankets
Gang from their shoulders in folds as stately
as ever Roman wore his robes, and are decor
ated with blending of feathers and beads
that glitter in the sunlight like Jewels Bu
gala days, when their appearance is to be com
pared only to oriental pageantry. The colors
of q kaleidoscope are not more varied or bril-
liant than of their dress, which leaves exposed
at the bottom only beaded moccasins,
and fits closely to the neck above,
the front TO the waist being adorned with bits
of contrasting color and trophies of fur and
metal Kerchiefs of nciful print are wound
upward from the top Of the robe eucasing the
neck and lower face, while from the 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 a bishops with nitro, studded with bright
colored beads aud flashing with crown-like
splendor completes this unique outfit and fifty
braves so attired furnish sight that dwarfs in
interest spectacular drama, and invests With
regal splendor, from a distance, costume
praised at so The AcOmaB are fairly indus
trious people, as Indians go They raise from
the ground enough for their stomachs, and tue
deft fingers of the woman IN fancy work and
Of the men in pottery and quaint decora-
tons yield them abundance from which
to indulge their passion for bodily
adornment Beyond these they have no
wants Between the Lagunas and the
Acomas in respect to the qualities and
habits under consideration are the Zunis.
They have not assumed the white man :
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 childs 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, but
they had neither ambition nor curiosity tc
nene5y ate new country or to make conquests
They were sufficient unto themselves. If THEN
arts were rude aud their capabilities limited
there were no critics 10 apprlse them of 1t, aud
Mir Gushing, who is a full-tledged
Zuni, as fast az they will let him,
has now warmed their simple habits and
well-developed traditions with the colors 'oi
romance so wildly and thoroughly that nothiu &
can be said of them except how they look ard
act here, and that is rather of a negative
nature. The quarters provided fer them are
n low building Of stone, that was started as
i jail, and on which work was stopped several
Years ago, the appropriation giving out 1t is
4 long, low structure, parttIoned of into
about the size of ordinary
iwelling rooms. They use four or five
Jf them with perhaps ten persons to Q
room. Inc passer by may always see some.
hing going on IN each room. Shield painting
IN circular, skin- covered disks, occupied them
Turing the early days Of the exhibition. and
lince then most of them have found other en-
3loymenk Ii is a holiday season with them
md there are loungers among their numbers
)ut the common Instinct il to seek occupation,
ind therein, so far as outward appearances 90,
9 the main difference between them
md several of the other tribes.
yhose capacity for solid loafiug is
,ouudess The dress Of the Znnis could not
- palmer. Loose shirts and breeches both of
lubleaehed linen, and common moccasins make
heir wardrobe. except nsir of clouts, to be
worn with nothing else during races and
James. Ordinarily they go bareheaded, never
wearing more than a coloTed handkerchief,
Usually Of black, bUuud across the forehead
nd ned behlnc. 1hsT nave given several e1-
libitions Of running ana one or two of their