The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1892-10-08
THE MoJAvE INDIANS.
Among Their traditions They Have one
Conserving the Flood.

II
Concerning the Flood.
The Mcjaves have number Of ira
ditions concerning the origin OF the
world, which date back many CEN
turies, though how many we have been
unable accurately to ascertain, but the
traditions seem clearly to point to the
existence of these clans in prehistoric
times. Some of the old members OF the
Moiave tribe relate, with much awe
and reverence, a tradition to when
they still cling, regarding rugged
mountain-peak north of the val
lev, known rs Ghost mountain.
The story says that many years ago.
before the Indians came to this region,
a large volume of water covered this
part of the earth temporarily; that
there was a small boat or raft which
tioated upon the surface of the water
many DAYS, saving the lives OF a small
number of persons, the rest being
drowned. At last The waters reccded,
and the little craft rested safely on the
highest ledge of Ghost mountain, and
not brave among them viii ever visit
| the spot, nor are they willing to have
their white neighbors explore the
mountain, believing that should any
| one ever reach the spot where the
boat rested he would suddenly be
stricken with death. Among other
strange beliefs held by the Mojaves, is
one resembling that Of the East In
dams, Of the TRANSPORTATION OF souls.
II teaches that the evil spirits which
have inhabited the body during life are
transmitted at death to the body OF
some bird or animal The physician at
the Herbert Welsh Industrial school,
being summoned on one occasion to at
tend young Mojave woman who was
very i'll with fever, was told by the
Young woman's husband that his
remedies would do no good; his wife
could not recover. as she had, some
years before, eaten the flesh OF . beaver.
These superstitions and traditions
are, in many cases, serious obstacles to
| the establishment Of and success OF the
hospitals at the government schools
and agencies, where the people may be
intelligently treated and supplied with
proper remedies; many Of the more con
sentative preferring the methods EN-
ployed by the native medicine men, u
those of the white physicians. Some o
the more advanced, however, are glat
to avail themselves of the treatment o
the government physician. Soon ate
the establishment of free hos
pital In connection with the in
dustrial school mentioned above,
Young girl who had been given up u
; die by the medicine men," wa
! brought distance of eighteen mile
through the broiling sun of an Arizon
summer, upon an improvised street.-the
: carried by two men, to receive medica
treatment at the hospital She wa
. | carefully treated, and nourishing foo
I prepared for her, but she was very Ill
On the day after her admittance to tn
hospital her relatives and friends gath
cred around the building and bega
Z: the death wall" all efforts to quis
d them proving Intellectual. They d.
n manded that the patient be given thel
in order that they might take her
the river bottom, where wood was MOI
plentiful and her body could the mol
easily be disposed of when she shout
die. The situation called for col
. siderable firmness on the part
!. the superintendent and the phys
" clan, who resolutely refused to compl
:, with the demand of the importunas
= relatives, telling them that they coul
!" have their kinswoman back when ST
. recovered, or would be given her boo
y in case of her death. Finally, this a
= rangement being satisfactory, Il
~ deatb-wail ceased and the crowd dl
= persed, leaving the young woman to
cover undisturbed by the visions
= the funeralpile and its barbarous Il
!. tivities In ten days the patient w
= delivered TO her relatives cured, al
- her recovery has been potent fact
p in weakening their faith in the o
:. heathenish rites of the medicine-me
.o and breaking down, to degree
= least, some of the strongest barriers
= civilization and enlightenment.-Sten