The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-11
THE APACHE INDIANS.


Interesting Description of the Tribe Given
by Prof. Bandelier.
Lettor in st. Louis Westliche Post
The "Apaches," strictly so-called, do not
possess tribe name in their own language.
The word Apache was borrowed by the
Spaniards from the Zuni dialect, in which
the word "Appachu" applies as well to the
NavaJoes as to the Apaches This nomen-
eiature has been repeatedly adopted. The
word Moqul is also of Zuni origin Mequa"
"Pecos" and 'Zuni" itself are words in the
"Queres' dialect, the former calling them
aiken" and the latter "Shi-ni." Taos"
l'Tani'D is borrowed from the "Tehua" dia-
lect
While the Navajoes, with their larse-boned
muscular develodment, their tall stature,
with their deep-sunken, often narrow OPEN
| ing eyes, and their keen, wolf-like glance, re-
mind OF their Northern race origin, the
Apaches on the other hand with their sen-
der build, small stature and the wide open
eye. would appear to be descended from the
so-called "Pueblos" Their women are small
and frequently very meager, which is only
natural when the hard condition of their
lives is taken into account.
The Navajoe wears his hair smooth behind
and tied in q small queue the Apache per-
mts his to hang free like the pueblo" the
only difference between them being that the
Apache, unlike the "Pueblo;'' dispenses with
the queue. The married Apache women imi-
tate the men. The maidens, on the other
hand comb their hair back and tie it In a
queue with gay ribbon. 1t is to be under
stood that the combing to which l here refer
is of the most primitive description.
The Apaches do not appear to possess a
tribe organization. Ii is only in war that
they select leaders, like Victoria ana his son
Name and the invulnerabe "Ju" of our
day. The picture which the Apaches pre-
sent is, however, not the less interesting from
an chronological standpoint. That which
appears to be an assemblage of one race is in
reality an aggregation of independent tribes
like the Gems" of Rome the "Clans of
Scotland" the "Calpulli'' of Mexico and the
"Ayllu," of Peru, bound together by COM
munity of blood. Each one of the tribes
build so-called "Rancheria," i. e., num-
Der of tents crowded together, each tent be-
ing made out of strong boughs bound to-
gether with the fiber of the Yucca, or with
willow, Every family has its own tent. The
young man bent on matrimony seeks a bride
from another Rancheria; he buys her or
steals her. Marriages among them are reg
uated with strict regard to caste,
just as it is among all peoples among whom
the clan idea prevails Concubinage exists
among them as among all Indians. His wife
is his most valuable material possession, for
she works for him. When the man dies, the
wife, or wives, becomes the property of his
next male kin. 1t is proper to remark right
here, that the idea of enduring marriage
does not find favor with these people
Should u wife no longer please, she is given
up. The women mourn their husbands.
They cut off their hair as a sign of grief, but
the lord of creation does not make much ado
over the death of a wife. Each rancleria
has its own chief. When we deuominate the
underlying principle OF Indiana tribe organ
izatiOn as Democratic, it is not to be inferred
that the forms of modern democracy are OBJ
served among them. There is no election
day" among the ApacIIes The chief of the
rancheria is chosen through esteem, or he
becomes such through cunning, bravery or
descent
Concerning the religious tenets of the
Apaches, | am not able at this time to speak
The only information on this subject that I
have cleaned from them after repeated ques-
tioning is that, like all Indians, they possess
distinct mythology OF their own, which
they insist on keeping inviolably secret from
strangers. At all events it is certain that
superstition plays great role in the life con-
Germs of every Apache. A superstitous fear
will induce them to change their place
or habitation, and they regard most of the
actions Of the whites with a superstitious
mistrust. The whites frequently unwittingly
offend the views of the Indians and deadly
conflicts ensue in consequence. Should
blood flow the question is asked, on whose
side? The Apache is prepared to give up a
life for every murdered white man. but he in
S1StS on the same retaliation Tor every muir
dered Apache. In most cases our civilization
does not take this doctrine into account
hence vendetta is proclaimed and every
competent branch of the rancherla takes up
arms; they send for help to She next; they
take their revenge where they cam 1t is not
always however. a class misunderstanding
that leads to dangerous outbreaks. The
Apache is, like every man, susceptible to be
rendered a slave to the influence
of strong drink He breeds from
crushed Indian corn a dangerous intox-
icant, called ''ti-suin." This drink is, like
all suoh liquors among Indians, a medicine,
and he fasts before he INDUCES his appetite
for it. Then it works double mischief, and
brother is not safe from brother. Now, while
the Indian has well-estabished rules by
which he atones for his msdeeds, the white
man does not know this, and this ignorance
results in further incentives to enmitv.
Finally, it is not to be concealed that many
provocatious arise on the side of the col
onists. But these are not as frequent as
might be supposed. The Anglo-Americau.
although theoretically intolerant toward
those who speak tongue foreign to his own,
is practically tolerant The man of the bor-
der often gives very great oflense in his
speech and such thoughtless otienses some
times lead to regrettable results Generally
the white man invades the reservation first,
and then the red man is pursued with bow
and arrow until he is scattered over hill and
dale.
Within the borders of New Mexico and
Arizona there are, including the Navajoes
about $4,000 Apaches.