The herald., 1894-08-26
THE MOJAVES; BIG POW-WOU
Their Tribute to the Memory of
Their Dead.
Description of Peculiar Annual
Festival.
Wailings of Hundreds of Aborigin ss /.
The Spirit Drive-The Mourn
era Dance - Character
tstio Inctd,nts.

The Needles Eye publishes the follow
ing account OF the snnusl pow-wow OF
the Indians OF that place last week, in
honor OF those who died during the pre-.
ceding year:
One of the meet prominent traits OF
the Indians ia their veneration of tie
memory of the Gea d. and go strong Ia it
that it enters more or less into all their
customs. They have a firm faith that
the spirits OF the departed are ear
them, and that the actions and conduct
of the living are always under the scr u
tiny OF those in the other world. This
belief is 30 deeply rooted in their nature
that an Indian cannot under any cir
cumstances be induced to speak aloud
the name OF a dead person for fear the
departed will wreak vengeance upon him
for manifesting 60 little respect for his
or her memory. As an evidence of their
deep feeling in this matter it ia to be
noted that their greatest annual festival
is held in honor OF the dead. The Mo-
iaves, the strongest tribe west OF New
Mexico. holds a big pow-wow yearly at
this point. which is attended by not
only most OF the tribe, but many other
tribes as well.
The pow-wow is held about this time
of the year and always at the full OF the
moon. This years festival was held
last Wednesday, beginning at sunrise
and continuing until sunrise the follow
| ing morning, the site chosen being
about half mile north of town, near
the river.
An early riser, stationed at point OF
vantage where he could command
view of the bottoms both ways on the
river, would have witnessed an interest.
ing sight. From each direction came
long lines OF Indians, decked in all their
tneIy, who slowly advanced towards
large pole and brush shelter that had
been erected near the bank Of the river
on the site chosen for the celebration.
The majority OF them were Mojaves, but
there were also Yumas, Maricopas.
Cocopahs, Hualapais, Piutes and Chem.
ehuevas, some OF the visiting tribes
having come over 800 miles to attend
the pow-wow. A constant wall was
kept up by all the old squaws, as we'll
as by some of the bucks.
Reaching the ground, after much
handshaking and patting OF each other,
as many az could do 80 squatted on the
| ground under the shelter OF the pole and
brush house, which was S0xlOO feet in
size. The chiefs and medicine men took
o pnsitinn near the middle of the house
and addressed the multitude, which at
O'Clock must have numbered over 1900.
At times there were two. and sometimes
four and five, speaking at once, while
above it all was heard the
wAILING OF HUNDREDS,
pitched in discordant keys that only ma
tivss can initiate.
While this was going on-snd the
wsiling continued until sunset-a num-
ber of old Indians were busy arranging
the rods used in the spirit drive, which
was to occur after sunset. Eight willow
wands. some 10 fest in length, were
sharpened at each end and feathers at
tacned, each feather representing one
who had died during the past year.
Each OF the RODS was in charge of a chief
mourDer, and as feather-the quill Of
which had been wrapped with red cloth
and streamer or long string left with
which to fasten it to the rod-wae hand
ed in an outburst of means proceeded
from the relatives of the deceased. About
70 feathers were attached to each of the
rods, from which it is seen that the
deaths during the past year were 240.
THE SPIRIT DRIVE.
AS the shades of night fell eight young
braves, dressed in only an undershirt
and breechclout, who acted as bearers
to the rods, attended by two braves car
rying bows and arrows, took their sta
tion for the spirit drive. The two braves
with the bows and arrows wore immense
head coverings of feathers that reached
far down their backs. Also accompany
ing these 10 were two young equaws.
The eight rod bearers occupied posi-.
tion in the middle, the archers at either
end, and just behind the archers or at
their sides, the young squaws. In front
of them, as q leader, was an old buck,
dressed in regulation breechclout and
carrying very large bow and an i'm.
mense quiver full OF arrows; he also car
ried two arrows in his hand, ready for
the foe.
After considerable exhorting by med
icine man peculiar war note by the
leader and yell By the braves with
the rods is sounded. an echo by an old
souaw stationed at some distance from
the start is given, and they dash away
abreast. A run of about 200 fest and
they turn about, another owl hoot,
yell from the braves, an echo from the
old equaw, and they race back to the
starting point near the mournere. This
chasing the spirits away is repeated
eight times, then the rods are stuck in
the ground, short rest is taken, talk
ia given by the medicine man in glib
bersh that is understood only by the
medicine men themselves, IAN exhortstion
by the chief mourner, and then the
spirit chase is repeated. This was kept
up ell night with only slight intermis-
eions.
. TIE MoURNERs' DANCE.
At midnight mourners' dance was
started, five bucks and five squsws par.
ticipating, three squsws facing the
bucks, the other two bssids them. The
danos was side motion Of thu body to
slow. low dirge or chant, with bend.
ing OF the knees and slight movement
of the feet. An old buck led the chant
and there were hundreds to assist. The
bending and shutting vas kept up by
the dancers as long as they could stand,
and when one gave out he or she stopped
for moment, only to again start up as
soon as somewhat rested.
A young Moiave of some learning, in
answer to q question as to the meaning
of the words used by the daucers, said
They sing that they are sad and they
sorrow for the dead, and they wish to
nake than hDppv' >,