Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-09-27
FANDANGO.
THE PIUTE HOP.PICKERS HAVE A
BIG DANCE AND EAT.
They Are a Success In the Hop
Fields-Speeches of the Indian
Braves-Habits and Customs.

mento county is that OF hop-ralslng.
Thousands of bales are annually raised in
this section, and in one or two instances
one seasons crop has made the grower
wealthy. There is much labor attending
the raising of this crop-the planting of
the roots, the cultiyating, the polling of the
vines, and the picking. The last has to be
done in very few days, and necessitateg
the employment of large number of
hands. For several years the Chinese had
an entire monopoly of this labor. they die
tated their own terms, went on strike
whenever they felt so disposed, and the
growers were continually at their mercy.
Last year Mr.. Mackey, Superintendent of
Haggin's ranch, secured the services of a
hundred or more Piute Indians from Ne
yaGa. 1t proved grand success. Their
work is very much superior to that of the
Chinese. The hops they gather are free
from leaves, the poles are taken down and
piled up, and the yard-owners can give
them ten cents more a hundred for their
work than they do the Chinese.
TREY ARE IN GREAT DEMAND.
This year the Indians were in great de-
maud, every hop-grower was after them,
and 300 found employment in the hop
yards of John Rooney, A. Menke and J. +.
Camp.
These Indians belong to the Piute tribe,
end live in Nevada, along the Humboldt
from Reno to Wadsworth. They are q
hne-looking set of natives, the men large,
OF powerful build the women rather good
looking and the children healthy and
active They are all workers, going into the
field at the break Of day and, with the ex-
ception Of lunch time, stick close to their
work until the sun sinks beneath the west
ern horizon.
HOW THEY LIVE.
Their wickiups consist of four poles
driven into the ground in the form of
square, poles are placed across on top from
one to another. forming a frame, which is
covered either with canvas or the green
boughs of willows, that grow in profasion
on the rivers bank. They divide off into
families or messes, from five to seven in a
mess, and one squaw stays at home. keeps
house, takes care of the pappooses, and
cooks, while all the others are hard
at work in the hop fields. They
are good livers and do not confne them
selves to the cOarser foods, but purchase
everything that the market affords. Mr..
Camp says they ate bullock a day, from
one 10 two wagon loads Of melons, ali kind
otyegetables. fruits, canned goods, and we're
particularly fond of preserves and iellies.
They gave the boss of the ranch" ev ery day
orders for the provisions theywanted and the
same was deducted from their weekly pay
ments. Some of the gangs that were more
expert than others, and consequently earned
more wages, put in orders for chicken pies.
eggs, etc. They came to the State broke
and lily clad, and go back well clothed and
pockets full of money.
THEY SAVE A DEMOCRATIC MERCHANT.
They were Godsend to an uptown
merchant, who some months ago laid in
large stock of bandana handkerchiefs for
the campaign. He got stuck on them, but
Captain Sam took them all as a ''iob lot"
and every Piute of the party is now trying
to emulate 1.-The Old Roman even the
squaws showing their appreciation for the
free-trade doctrine by wearing bandana
turbans.
SUPERIOR TO THE MoNGoLIAN.
While the immigration society has
brought people to this section that are de-
sirable as settlers, ii is safe to say that
none have come to this section which have
been more highly appreciated. They filled
demand for labor to the full satisfaction
of the employer. They have caused several
hundred Chinese TO leave this section for
pastures new, and in this they have pleased
everyone. They are industrious, sober and
honest. No one can say that they are not
faithful workers. They do not use fire
water. They buy everything they see that
they want and they pay cash for all they
get. They do not associate with the lower
class of whites or the tramp element, and
whenever any of the latter go prowling
about their camp they are sent away in
short order.
SUPERIOR TO THE DIGGEEs.
The Piutes are an entirely different class
of Indians from the ''Diggers" of California
The latter are lazy, treacherous, devoid of
virtue, filthy and fast becoming extermin-
ated b. disease. The Diggers, especially
the squaws, go into mourning for the dead
by covering their foreheads and cheeks
with tar, and, although natives of the for
est, they abstain from the use of water, ex-
cept for drinking purposes. The Piutes
are of cleanly habits, which no doubt, in
great degree, accounts for their healthy and
robust appearance. In the morning, imme-
dlately after arising, they took a plunge
IN the American, and again another
SWIM at the close of their DAVIS
work. They are all expert swimmers. All
swim at the same time. One of the ranch
men who saw about 200 bucks and squaws
in bathing at one time said the scene re-
minded him very much of Santa Cruz. The
only difference was that at the fashionable
bathing resort bathing suits were worn, but
such things were entirely unknown to these
children OF the forest. Two Indian women
conducted laundry during the hop-pick-
ing season on the banks of the American.
and gentleman who saw the washing
hung out" on the rocks to dry said
it reminded him of the back ward
OF rag carpet manufactory There
was q total absence of underwear and
stockings but great profusion of red
shirts, skirts and bandana handkerchiefs.
A GRAND DANCE.
The Indians having concluded their hop
picking, wished, before their departure, 10
have harvest feast" big dance, or as
they termed it "fandango.n When thew
made known their desiIe the movement
was Immediately seconded by Messrs.
Rooney, Camp and Menke. Rooney con-
tributed year-old heifer, Menke g.
fatted calf, and Camp four year-old bull
lock, and the Indians appointed yester-
day as the time for their grand pow-wow.
The cattle were slaughtered and divided ND
between the different camps pro. rata.
Feasting commenced in the morning and
lasted throughout the day. The bucks
were dressed in their best clothes, their
heads decorated with feathers, their cheeks
tatooed with brigh-colored paints, and
about half of them wore broad brimmed
white felt hats with stiff brims, around
which was a red band or bandana hand
kerchief. The squaws were gaily attired in
Mother Hubbards of bright colored mate
rial, and the youngsters and piccaninnies
were dressed up as for picnic, When
tour o'clock arrived, the hour set for
the dance, st least two hundred
white people, men and women, had
assembled at the campoody on the Menke
ranch, about mile beyond Perkins station,
on the Sacramento Valley road The camp
was IN an open alfalfa field that had been
grszed with stock, forming a good sod, free
from dust, shaded on one side with long
row OF cottonwoods. In the center of the
field were the wigwams of some two hun
dred Indians. When the visitors arrived
the camp contained only the women and
children, the bucks having gone down 10
the river to dress and paint for the "war
dance
ON WITH THE DANCE.
At fifteen minutes past 4 the bucks
marched into camp, headed by bamboo
band, three abreast. Captain Johnson an
aged Indian, who is interpreter and chief
spokesman for the tribe, made a circle for
the dancers, and the eager spectators and
tho Indians who did not daroo IL