Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-02-14
A REMARKABLE TRIBE.
Home Of the supai fndians, Surrounded
by stupendous Natural Wall.

Home OF the supai Indians, Surrounded
by stupendous Natural Wall
Ben Vttick photographer of
Albuquerque. n. NJ. gives an interest
ing account of the Naya-Supais Of the
Supai canon. Some time ago he went
to New Mexico. settling at Albu-
qucrque. Being a man of adventurous
turn of mind he took a trip up the
canon and located the tribe in the mar
row yalley-likc enclosure between the
mighty walls Of the Supai canon.
Supai is a name which Mr. Supai gave
the canon himself after having made
trip to the region.
On reaching the canon he found the
Indians in the midst OF a uaryellously
fertile valley. diminujve as it is, where
all sorts of grains and fruit grow fn
rank prolusion where there are splcn-
did climatic influence nearly The twelve
months through, aud whore all that
tend to build up physical powers is at
band. lie made investigation, too, IN
70 their language. their rites and ccre-
monies, their legends, aud into all the
phases OF their present and past history
, possible, and be is confirmed in the
belief that they are in no way allied TO
the Aztccs. He says on the contrary,
that as far as can be ascertained, they
are allied to the Wallapai.
The tribe is most singular one.
Their valley home has on either side
great lodges Of rocks RAINING up in
lev are groves Of cottonwood trees,
and uXuriant vegetation is seen on
all sides There are about 2l5 or 250
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 nre in need OF forage or
food outside Of that which they can ret
in their own rich valley, they sally
out. make their trades or purchases
and rctWa h.ne, They are mouoga-
uists. every man having one wife aud
no more. THny do not i've in COM
munpl form either, but preserve the
family In its integrity. The men are
"A little above The average height. they
are strong and active. aud they are
noted for their skill in climbing the
mouuttins, aud in bringing down the
game they ned. They are very shy
and suspicious of Indians from other
tribes, aud il is only hy the most care
iul and adruit means that white man
! can approach them and gain any inior-
nation as TO their life. The women
are smaller Ia stature, very fond Of
adorument and given 10 fantastic dec
| orations of THEN faces. The Supai
Indians appear 20 be far above many
| other Tribes in morale. They look
| with scoru upon any one who asks
| them questions as to their married re-
! latons, holding that this is no ones
| business but their own, and the TACT
| that the woman OF tie tribe who goes
wrong is subjected to the most pro-
nounccd neglect, and generally is put
| out of the way, is pretty good proof
! that they are possessed of sort Of
| simple. heroic virtue,
Mr. Wmttick found eleven of the
men totally blind. He believes this
| was due to the splitting of the arrows
| wheu the bows were stretched too
taut Some of The women who would
| hp seen sitting bWeiaoted in front ui
/ their tn2tchpd-roof houses have the
most peculiar biz taos that ever were
seen on a human buiow. Tho toes
were not so very large. but they were
! oil abnormal width ut tho ends. In
some cases the big toe would be IA
| inch and 4 half broad mt the end aud
VERY Hat aud thin When Mr.. Whit
tick and his party entered the canon
they found the SupIi very gentle aud
ho,pitahit Ia their aboriginal. way, but
verv retjcent at tine same time. Pro-
cprdiug down Che canon through the
fertile valley. along which was a slcn-
der stream vi ucyer-failiHg water the
pugc-t aud sweetest In the land, they
| reached 20 magnificent Waterfall where
! the silver stream plunges over "a preci-
pirc POI feet iu height and falling in a
! stream of tht ravest beauty down Ia
the pool below. Cottonwood trees
were le.lcd, la,hei together and .
ladder made in sections the whole
soNrnty-siN feet long aud down this
the explorers climbed IN their cNit
from the home of these Strangely I'M
/ tpvcsling seni-sayaga folk. The beau
! tiful stream has been uliiila. by the
Indians in iri.a,n1 those portions of
the valley tina, were sterile, and Il mp.
pears that for centuries they have
known this method OF aiding nature.
| AitNgGUJ IS iOuWy..