The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-05-15
ARIZONA LETTERS.
In CAMP ON GILA, A. t.,
April 1885.

DOWn IN the valley Wnen the air Is
hot and close, a pleasant breeze is
found up on the Mesa. would prefer
the Mesa but the question of water
must be settled by camping close to
the river. The Indian women carry
all the water for household use in a
willow Jar or jug swung from her fore
head by band, and resting upon her
back. Some of these jugs are quite
large and will hold from four to six gall
ions. They carry the weight with
ease. Climbing the stony Mesa as
though unencumbered. Their wood is
carried in the same way, except that a
basket is used. These women perform
all the heavy labor without murmur.
In fact. they are better qualified phys
ically. Short of stature, broad shout
dered, large limbed; the men are no
match for them in strength. The men
are generally of a slender build, with
small hands and arms, and are soon
exhausted when it comes to heavy la
Dor. In comparison, the men are finer
formed and better featured in short,
while the women are coarse and home
ly, many of the men are handsome.
Nature develops beauty only in the
sex where the opportunity is offered.
The males among Indians, as well as
among birds, are remarkable for their
beauty.
The intelligence, as shown by the
faces of the Indians, will average one
Indian with another. Their advanta-
ges all being the same, the same ex-
preston of features are bound to be the
result. What opportunity have had
to compare the faces of the Indians
with those of the white men ON the
reservation, is that the Indians have
the advantage in intelligence as well
as good looks. Social equality and in
dependence shows itself in the features
of the Apache, and gives him bear
ing that will compare favorably with
the leading classes among white peo-
pie. He is sociable being. No Indi-
an ever goes off to live by himself, but
their houses are clustered together in
small villages. OF an evening they
gather together in small circles and
spend the time singing, talking, laugh
ing, dancing and smoking. Usually
one talks at time, and all of the rest
listen and give their approval by short
grunts or by loud laughter. A joke on
any one is enjoyed to the fullest extent.
Their language isfull enough to express
all their thoughts. and signs are used
no more among them than among the
whites. To show the fullness of their
tongue l will illustrate. A baby is
called me; pronounced with the short
sound ofe. A boy when a year old is
called ishkene; when at u or over, he
is called icluden; pronounced with the
short sound of and u. A man is call
ed enda; pronounced with the broad
sound a. A girl when year old is
called itdden; long sound of a; abilene
when at II, ard isunnd when woman.
They cut their words off at both ends
when talking and it is hard to under
stand them, though one knows many
words. 1 have Mexican who was
captured when boy, and who still
lives with them, to do my talking; but
am picking up many words. So with
what English they know and the nu-
merous signs we both know, we come
to an understanding.
The men have several games at
which they play. One called nayush,
IS played by two players, each with a
slender rod. A small hoop with a
string across it is rolled, and these rods
ire cast so that when the hoop falls it
ialls on them. The position of the ,
string to the rods decide the winner.
There is bit little science in the game, ]
out the Apache puts up his good mon
y and spends many hours playing.
Another game, mostly among boys. is !,
,asting arrows so that the feather ends
will cross each other. Another game i
s like pitching horse shoes, only ,
ound flat stones are used and hole to
lrop the stones into instead of a peg. S
IN all these games or anything else in
which there is chance, an Indian will :,
gamble. To him money and property c
lave their chief value because he can S
,amble with them. '
Marriage consists in man buying /
lis woman-she is his property as
much as his horse. Some of them have Y
everal wives. Should man die and I
cave woman, she belongs to his ell :.
er brother, who can live with her or c
ell her just as he pleases. All of them G
how great love for their children, and {
he little fellows pass through child I
ood's years without much fear of the
cd, the schools or being washed. Yet n
have noticed they obey readily what Z
estraints or requirements are put up j
n them. Death is mourned by the II
Tomen, who cut off their hair, and
heir sad wall is often heard of an even II
lg, long after the burial. The White >.
Apaches place their dead in 5
ne ground and pile heaps Of stone on a
hem; while the Yuma bury theirs,