Arizona weekly citizen., 1883-10-06


 they will live always. The Yuma girl or boy when they get to puberty will tattoo their chIns, arms and limbs. This has a great religions significance with them. They firmly believe that just as soon 6s person dies his spirit goes Co that place in the west, and they spend theiFtime there through out all eternity in making love, singing, dancing and having happy, good time.
 The land there is fertile to iuxuriance. The cattle and deer are fat and sleek. Food grows spontaneously, and there is nothing but continual and everlasting joy and happiness. There is a guard to the entrance ot this happy place, and he will not let in those who are not tat tooed.
 The Indians at times were very sOlici- tiOus fer the doctors future salvation, and they persuaded him to allow him. self to be tattoOed. The Indian, who did the work, took some powdered char coal, and made a paste of 1t with water. He then took and marked out wsvy line on the doctors arm just below hls wrist. A sharp needle was then taken, aud the Indian rapidly Jabbed 1t into the flesh. He would go over the pattern len or twelve times, and then rub off the outside charcoal to see how perfectly he was doing the work, and then recom- meuca the operation. The doctor en- dlred the pain as long as possible, and then refused to submit any longer to the operation. 4 second one was com menced, and he backed out of thls. So 1t is a question if the doctors entrance into this happy West landhs guaranteed
 The Yumas cremate all their dead and it is very inUffensIye operation. 4 trench about two feet deep is dug, and little longer than the body. A tall pole is then stuck down on each side of the trench. The trench is filled up with wood till lt is some four feet above the ground. On top of this the body E placed in a depression in the wood. All the deceases's clothes, his wickiup, and many presents are piled on top of hlm SD he will not go empty handed to the West-laud. The torch IS then applied to the windward side of the pyre and the mass is consumed. Afterwards the diriI Is filled back on the grave. The moment a person dies the relatives and friends all commenced wailing, and this Is gen eraIy continued till the body Is con- sumgd.
 The Yumas and Apaches do not be- Eeve it is right for one to marry within Ia year after their partners death. It ls done sometimes, but 1t always causes great scandal and gossip among the In iiaus. and brings forth their severe com demuation. Only few weeks ago a young woman, whose husband had not been dead a year, re-marrled. Some fe- male relatives of tbe dead husband tooS the young woman down, and cut of her nose us a sign of disgrace. In the scuf- ie they were not able to do very neat job. and the doctor hal to finish their work.
 The Yumas and the Apaches are very supersu,ious. The doctor had some Gila monsters in his yard. The Indians have repeatedly warned hlm that they would vet cause 0 great storm of wind
 nd rain that would destroy his house As the cyclone has not yet come, the doctor rejoIces In his unbelief.
 They will starve before they will eat fish of any kind. Frequently the doc tor permits some clean Indians 10 dine with nm Recently some were at hls table, and be had some canned salmon prepared. The Indians had never seen -uch red meat. The doctor assured them lt was ''corz-l-ty, or beef. They thought it might be fish, but finally made up their minds to try the new ''cork-i tv,' and ate heartily Oi #. The doctor says he lives in mortal fear they may yet discover the deception and get even with him for It.
 They believe the spiuts ol those un- able to enter the Westland will return md take the form of an owl. The AuacLes call It "cheed-on" The 0umas call it "mee-a." They believe fl shey do not burn everything 0 person owns when he dies his spirit will come back in the form of au owl, and take them by the throat when they are sleep, and with it's claws kill them. They will run in the house whenever hey hear an owl hOOt The Chirlcahua owl dance is one os their most supersti- lions dances, and always attended with avll results. It has been suppressed II The reservation. The Indians, when ianclng it, would put on horned masks, and owl feathers on their arms and holding them aloft. would lance around a fire, hootIng in reiri manner like an owl. They would continue this tIll perfectly frenzied, and seemingly possessed Of the very Devil himself.
 A very comical circumstance occurred last year. An Indian was trying to scare his little boy with stories about the "mce-a,' and booted to confirm the de- caption. Finally he reached up tO the roof of his wickiUp, and, taking hold oi lis gun, sand he was going out to shoot uat "mes-a." As he dragged his gun ont hy the muzzle It went off. The bal went right through his back, and he was .md up several months. The ''mee-B' was shot that time, sure enough.
 The Apaches buy their wives, paying horses or blankets therefor. They look 'n their wives as SO much property. Not SO with tue Yumas. They used to buy ls the Apaches, but they gave that up. They generally accompany the marriage with presents. There Is no marriage ceremony among them.
 While Colonel liifany was agent there were schools at which the Indian chil- iren learned to write, and well. Some four Yuma and Moiave and three Apache boys are at Hampton, Virginia, and are making creditable progress
 The worst enemy of the Indians is the veuereal diseGse among them, and this is rapidly decimating their num- bers.