Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-12-18
A VERY SINGULAR TRIBE.
SURROUNDE BY A STUPEND-
Gus WALL OF STONE.
4 Tribe OF Indians Nearly fNtinct--They Live
Absolutely Alone-They DO Not Marry
with Other AbortxInes-Nor do
:HEli4 with the Whites.

A well -nown photographer OF AL |
buquerque. being OF an adventurous
turu of mind took Il trip up the canon
and located tribe of Indians in the
narrow. vallcy-like enclosure between
the mighty walls of the Supai canon.
Supai is the name which he gave the
canon himself after having made a
trip to the region.
On reaching the canon he found the
Indians in the midst Of a marvelously
fertile valley, dmirutive as it is,
where all sorts Of grains and fruits
grow in rank profusicn. where there
are splendid climatic influences nearly
the twelvcmonth through, and where
all that tends to build up physical
power is at hand. He made investiga-
tons. too. into their language, their
rites and ceremonies, their legends,
and into all the phases of their present
| and past history possible, and he is
confirmed in the belief that they are
in no way allied to the Aztecs. He
says on the contrary. that rs far rs
can be ascertained they are allied to
the Wallapai.
The tribe is a most singular one.
Their valley home has on either side
great lodges OF rocks running up in
benches thousands of feet. In the
valley are groves OF cottonwood trees.
| and q luXuriant vegetation is seen on
all sides. There are about 2t5 or $50
in the tribe OF the Supai. They live
absolutely alone. They do not inter-
marry with other tribes, neither do
they mix with the scattering white
people of the regions round about.
When they are in need OF forage or
food outside OF that which they can
get in their own rich valley. they sally
out, make their trades or purchases
and return home. They are mono.
gamists, every man having one wife
and no more. They do not live in &
communal form either. but preserve
the family in its integrity. The mer
are a little above the average height
they are strong and active. and they
are noted for their skill in climbing
the mountains and in bringing dowr
tho game they need. They are very
| shy and suspicious of Indians from
other tribes, and it is only by the mos
careful and adroit means that q whit
; man can approach them and gain an.
, Information as to their life. The VIC
men arc smaller in stature. very fon
OF adornment, and given to fantasti
decorations OF their faces. The Supa
Indians appear to be far above man
other tribes in morals. They loo
} with scorn upon any one who ask
. them questions Us to their married re
J lations, holding that this is no one
= business but their own, and the fat
that the woman Of the tribe who goe
wrong lie subjected to the most pr.
nounced neglect and generally is pr
out OF the way, is pretty good pro,
-. that they are possessed OF sort
), simple, heroic virtue.
:, Some Of the women who would h
!, seen sitting barefooted In front OF the
matched roof houses have the mo
- peculiar big toes that ever were see
or human being. The toes wei
!, not so very large, but they were
abnormal width at the ends. In son
:, cases the big toe would be an inch al
q half broad at the end and ve
- fiat and thin. When Mr.. Wittick Il.
:. his party entered the canon they fou,
=. the Supai very gentle and hospital
:. their aboriginal way. but very retice
at the same time. Proceeding dov
|. the canon through the fertile vail
- along which was a slender stream
=, never-failing water. the purest al
y sweetest in the land. they reached
!. magnificent waterfall. where the silv
~ stream plunges over a precipice
=, feet in height and falling in strea
:, Of the rarest beauty down to the pc
"A below. Cottonwood trees were felle
~ and l;shed together and ladd
"a made in section. the whole sevcnty-s
~ feet long. and down this the explore
" climed in their exit from OF the
m strangely interesting semi-snva
=. folk. Tho beautiful stream has be
"a utilized by the indians in irrigati
= those portions OF the valley that We
- sterile. and it appears that for cen
a, ries they have known OF this meth
40 OF aiding nature.
=. |
:! A 0eorxia Wedding