The herald., 1895-02-24
LA FIESTA
DE LOS ANGELES

The subjects to be presented in the
Fiesta floats are so closely interviewer
with the early history of Southern Cali
fornia that an extended review of the
origin, CUSTOMS relig on and manners of
the different Indian tribes will be of vast
Importance to those who will witness the
pageant
1t will excite greater interest, when
the peculiar habits and religious ce emo
nies OF these ancienc inhabitants are
known, and the artistic and re ,listic dis
play will be more fully app ciated.
Last Sunday The Herald published Il
history OF the Aztecs, Toltecs Iunis and
lncas and in the following columns some
OF the other incidents and peoples to be
portrayed in the floats, vii be described.
The II ctlre of the Aleutians viii be ex-
ceptionally interesting and insp riug.
That ancient race is Of American cont
mental origin, and when first discovered
were engaged in active hostilities th
the Kaniagmats of the continent. Their
very name, which means People of the
East, suggests heir @ igin.
The number of Aleutians was origin
ally estimated at 10000, but at present
LETT from the ancient tribe. They are di-
vided into two classes the Otkans and
Unalashkans. The former belong to the
western part of Alaska, while the latter
originally inhabited the eastern part of
the island.
The Aleuts are light and nearly the
same color as the Innuit of the North
west. Their features are more intelligent
and pleasing, owing to the admixture of
Russian blood. Their stature is about the
same as that of most civ lized races, if
anything, above the middle height. The
women are shorter but better proportioned,
and some are rather pretty in personal ap-
pearance.
When the Aleuts were first discovered
their national dress was not what would
be called stylish nowadays. 1t consisted
of long shirt, without hood but with
a straight collar and tight sleeves. They
wore no trousers, but this defect was rem
edied by high boots that reached to above
the knees. The shirt was made of the skins
of fur animals or of birds. In rainy
weather or when in his boat the native
wore waterproof shirt, highly embrod-
cred and fringed with feathers. The shirt
was made of the entrails of sea lions. His
hat was made of very thin piece of
wood, bent and painted, and adorned with
thin sheets or strips of bone. On top
he had a bird, somewhat similar to the
latest fashion in female headgear
The women dressed more expensively
and elegantly. Sealskin sacques, so treas
ured by the modern woman, were matters
OF little value to the Aleut bellies, They
were always dressed in furs.
Their houses were dug in the earth,
lined with upright poles OF driftwood and
rooted with planks covered with turf.
They entered through holes in the top by
means of ladders. Some dwellings had
two and others five or six entrances OF
this kind.
The idea of tenement houses seems to
have originated with this tribe, as the
houses were occupied by several hundred
persons, who were divided by partitions
of stakes, each space being appropriated
by family. Notwithstanding the close
association, no record has been made of
any neighborly quarrels, and it seemed
that all lived happily and in peace.
No fires were made i'll the houses, and