Arizona weekly citizen., 1892-03-12
INDIAN SKELETONS.
The Curious Burial Customs of the Papagos-T Plucky Ending of an Indian Murderer's Life7A Papago Cemetery.

| News was brought In to the citv
 which at third or fourth hand was to
 the effect that two skeletons had been found in deserted mine fifteen miles
 out.
 Investigation back to the originali re- port brings out the bodies were merely
 buried, in regulation manner, after the
 fashion of tEe people to whom they be-
 long. The Papago burial custom Is a
 curious one. In the present instance
 the discoverer of the skeletons-for the skeletons were there, all right enough
 was looking ior mine. He saw a heap of boulders and small rocks and though | them the entrance.
 Throwing them back he met sur
 prise. He had picked up a human skull and found the remainder of the bones of two bodies, in q sitting pos ture, with them rags, an Indian bridle | and saddle. The skulls were unmis- takably Indian in shape, and the bodies lay in the shape of letter V, the feet together.
 The the costume of the Papago is to "5ury" all the possessions of the de- ceased with the body. As the Papagos go it does not follow that 1t IS an expen- sive custom. Saddles, blankets and bride are usually the limit. Speaking of the foregoing find Tue son man tells of an instance of a Papago funeral and it's cause. Two brothers n ad quarTeled and one struck the other on the head with large stone. The blow killed him and the murderer was taken before the big chief of the village. It was a short, crude trial, but answered the purpose as we'll as though before jury of the twelve true and good men, and repre- sentatlves of the law. The old chief made his own law and saw it executed. He condemned the murderer to be killed not hung, but killed. The original sentence was executed but not as or dered or anticipated. The condemned man became his own executioner. He told the others to never mind, that he would klll himself. He backed up to.a hillside spot, placed his rifle butt there, the muZzle under his chin. Then he touched the tri2ger-an explosion, a hole through his head and he rolled
 
 The bodies of the two brothers were laid side by side near the scene, the squaw of one of them finding relief in making all the noise she could. As us- ual the traps of each were placed along side and then their tribesmen brought huge stones, as large as they could handle, placing them about, and soon the bodies were safe from the prowliugs of coyotes, The village was then moved from the sceIe of the murder. "Superstitlous" was the only reason put forward.
 The traveller to Olive Camp will no- tice in one of the very stony spots ad jacent to the San Xavier reservation huge piles of the rocks dotting hillock there. In each pile a number of sticks are placed upright and the Odor there about is truly none of the pleasantest. It is the cemetery of the Papagos and trifie more collective in formation than the burial places of the wanderers of their tribe, already instanced. Closer investigation reveals great rock piles. rude sepulchres, the wall stones laid about sufficiently neara part to keep out the coyotes. Within are the dead, h varIous conditions, lying feet in, the ghastly heads orskulls within reach of the observer.