The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-01-01
Old Settlers in q New Country.

Old Settlers in q Now Country.
About eight centuries ago tho noun
In n country in what is now Northern
Arizona was in very much tho same
condition that it IS at tho present time,
except few volcanic peaks OCCASION
ally yolnitcd forth showers of rcd hot
pumice stones and cindcrs which, hav.
ing boon burned dccp down IN the
bowels of the esrth until they wcrc
honey-combcd and light rs cork, float.
cd off on tho wind and foil in showers
miles away.
Thcso eruptions caused frequent
rains and snow.falls, and consequently
thefc was growth of grass and other
vegetable matter covering all the
mountain land.
For long timo before the Tenth
Century several bands of Aztccs, com.
ing from tho Older countries lying far
southward, had inhabited this region,
and at the dato mentioned rival clans
occupied tho cliff dwellings in Walnut
Canon and tho cave dwellings several
miles northward, near San Francisco
pcats.-
Thesc people, being advcnturors
originally and in now country,
sought tho locations 1hcy did for
dwcllins. knowing that tho ovorhans-
ing rocks forming their roof was a
protection from the showers of lava
stones and cindors that sometimes rs.
sailod them, and as there were no
ovcrhanging cliffs near where tho
cave dwellings arc they burrowcd into
tho steep hillside seeking tho same
protection.
AT that timo there were no pine.
trces in tho country (tllc north winds
not having yet brought tho socd), ex.
ccpt tho littlo pinon, which had been
planted originally from seeds brought
by the Aztecs from their Southern
homes. Scrubby mountain collars
we're abundant. and furnished fuel
and such other I'LL amount of tim,
bcr as was required by tho Inhabitants.
These inhabitants worc compactly
Observation-Disclosures people. SIM
ple-mindcd and industrious, temperate
and virtuous The skins of tho ante.
lopc and deer, and tho cloth made
from tsc fiber of tho yucc;, plant, will,
sometimes II mantle woven from tho
fur of rabbits, supplied their clothing.
Their feet wcro protected in summer
by sandals braided of yucca leaves,
and in winter by covering of skins.
Their heads. being covered by mag.
nificcnt coat of black hair, needed no
other protection, the bow and arrow
was their principal weapon. and 5,
stone axe. or hammer, fastened to :,
wooden handle by thongs OF raw hide.
completed thor equipment. lhoil
agricultural implements were rudo
sharpcnet sticks. and tho hands that
Nature gave them; the hollowcl stone
and rubber ground their corn.
Having no domestic animals, except
some few antelope and dcor caught in
infancy and tanned. the utmost cunning
Of these expert hunters was cxerted il,
getting sufficient supply of meat
but this trouble was abridged in tho
late fall by whole band turning out
and making what modern hunters cal
"a drive" which is done by forming
circle embracing largo arca o
country, and within which tho unsus
pccting game is grazing. At - given
time tho hunters all start toward tho
centre, which is tho mouth of some
pent-up canon. and drive tho game
before them. When once successfully
corrallod within tho canon's rocky
wall tho slaughter of such rs thcy may
need is easy amt certain.
In this way a winters supply ol
meat was provided, and, the summer
growing the bread in corn and pinons,
happy winter is before them.
And yet they were not idle. The,
household utensils were to be made Of
clay. and to bc burned into pottery in
the early spring; and baskets were to
be made. no.y bows wcro to be strung,
and willow rods cut and seasoned for
arrows. and stono heads Clipped will,
other stones either from flint or
agatizod wood (Which is abundant in
all this rcgion).
The skins from tho fall hunt must
bc tanned, and the yucca plant gath.
cred and carried home. and boiled and
pounded into cotton fibre, and then
spun into threads on spindle held
and turned by hand. and after the
thread is made it must bc woven on a
loom formed Of only two sticks, to
which the warp is tied at the ends, and
tho wool, or filling. was woven in by
hand. And thus they plodded on,
through tho short winter days and
long winter evenings. by the bright
light of the dry cedar wood fires the
work went on. The old men watched
tho burning mountain peaks. which
were their storm gods. and whenever
they saw them vcilcd in clouds they
knew that anger was in their 6osoms,
which could only be allayed by tho
dazzling rays of warmth and light
from their good spirit tho sun.
Like all other human beings, they
courtcd, loved, married and multi
piled. but in moderate and becoming
fashion. One wife was enough for all
their wants, and of children not moro
than Two or three, and of thcsctho
man took most of tho care when his
duties in tho field permitted. Tho
woman wove tho cloth, and helped in
forming, burning and painting tho rot.
terry. and cooked tho food, and always.
in most graceful fashion. carried the
water in an carthcn vcsssl on her head !;
but not like in savage tribes was she a
slave to her lord-but not master.
And thus some hundreds of years
rolled on with little change, except as
by increase when tho villages became
ovcrcrowdcd; little colonies started
out, some going north and others cast,
located some Of the pucblos, scattered
here and there in what is now Arizona
and Now Mexico, and live in some of