The National tribune., 1891-02-19
CHATS ABOUT INDTANs.-No. g.
Christmas Doinos.

Christmas at Sacaton this year was q revelation
10 the Indian girls aud boys. Very few 81 them
had ever hcnru 81 the day by the name Of Christ
mas aud fewer sill understood the religious sig
nhcance ~ This holiday Time. Their mode % ceie-
braginR Chrizt's birth o. a succession Of drunken
fCa4tH, dinners aud dances.
This year they were given regular Christmas
dinner, treat 81 candy, apples, nuts aud POPCORN
with presents for aIl-iies aud handkerchief for
the boys and lace collars for the girls. Chapel ex
ercises held, and no doubt Christmas means
something new 10 them. for even The old settlers
said never had there been such "dOins'" at SAGA
ton Anyway the Pima children seemed 10 enjoy
u all very much and. dressed la their new c.oluug
bright and happy, they were attractive crowd
Christmas might there was 81 Indian dance aud
feast at the house Of a pHpaRu la the village, who
10 also one 81 Tie Agency employees. Many Of the
PapagUs had come up from the south TO attend
They are n uOmadlc race who roam from Yuma
90 Tombstone, aud follow the lower form Of Meri-
can life. The scene al tle dance almost battles de-
sorpiiOn. First, there was corral made al cscuel
cactus. stakes aud wire and connected Co his house
Then. at the farther corners from The house were
two small sheds. Under Of these sheds sat tie
musician, who played upon large, rude iustru-
ment resembling Rn Aloilan harp. On the ground
al intervals 81 a few feet were beds Of live Goals
and around Them, seated tailor-fashiOn were the
women, many 81 them with babies Ia their arms,
aud ali of them with long unkcmpt hair. aud bare
footed. The women do not dance with the men at
all
In front Of the musician was a small cleared
space, left Tor the dancers. Number one was n
pretty briRiIi-luOkinE boy Of perhaps - years Of
age-one OF The school boys, la las Sunday suit
minus Tie coat aud with hlr hat perched on one
side Of his head. With arms held loosely nj his
sides he danced back and forth and round and
round with something like a waltzFfep, and keep
ing perfect time. his movements were graceful
ln the extreme. Next "A PnDagO unn. who
kept on his Mexican sOubrcro while lac danced.
lie was fne clog dancer, cut pgcon-wiuEs
Nhitzed the hgure eight aud various other designs
danced with his body in different odd positions aud
wound up his performance by WALKING ia n circle
with one hand on the ground. lie was "A splendid
performer, aud was loudly cnc0red. The Indian
seems 10 he naturally graceful IN his motions when
surrounded with primitive environments but more
than awkward when placed in civilization. AheF
several more dances aud the smoking Of some
home made cigarcts. feast 81 beef was served,
perhaps Furnished with totierrcs pinolR mesquits
bean cake and other Pima delieEcie=
Tie girls have dance peculiarly their own. A
ring D. formed aud they circle around in n rude
imitation ~ the polka step, singing al the while
! "a not uumelOdlOus song, that rises aud falls at
regular intervals. Every few moments some girl
steps to the center Of the circle, until only a small
humber are iHft then they begin again.
The PinRs not affected by the ghost dance %
u though they no doubt lave many superstitiuus
notions concerning such things Yet they are far
above the minority Of Indian tribes Ca civilization
aud have always been friendly 10 the whites Their
lack 81 Judgment D. q great obstacle in The wav al
] theiF advancement just as soon as they obtain q
I suit and bright hand scrclicf OF bead collar are
I invested in Then they hHye way 81 sharing
/ Things in common that makes 10 pretty hard on
! the lEdiHn who b. disposed 10 he industrious and
/ accumulate property lie b. n bad Indian uules.
bis wheat melon patches, etc, are at the disposal
al liis more iudulcu nciglibor who may DC hungry
Nature has Furnished nuts little game and
very few fruits Tor iher subsistence here and II /,
work, beg, Steal On s,arye--Lola Moss, Sacaton
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