The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-03
CURIOUS INDIAN LEGENDS.
Arizona Tribe Gave Up PoIygamy
Because of Superstition.

AT the time and for centuries after
the advent of the Pima Indians into
this country they practiced polygamy,
ana this will show how little super
stitious belief will change a custom of
centuries. AS the story goes, a short
time after the restoration of the
Sahuaro Hass-en), the whole tribe was
stricken with a strange disease 1t
was malignant in form and many
deaths resulted. The great medicine
men and magicians from all parts Of
tine country were called together for
counsel to see by what means they
could propitiate Mo-kik-a-num, the
death god. The magicians labored long
and earnestly, but still the death god
refused to stay his hand.
1t seems that fasting has had much
to do in the ritual of the aboriginal. L
nave always noted that when com
municat1ng their superstitious beliefs,
When they wanted to solicit or petition
any one of their gods they always
considered it necessary to fast for a
given period. When they found they
could not subdue the evil god by magic
the magicians FASTENED to an open
plain and there tasted for three days.
They were, however, privileged to
eat roots and drink water carried from;
the river in the tanned stomach of an
antelope, and all the time singing their
songs to the sun god (Tas-o-Tham).
Finally, on the afternoon of the third
DAY, an immense herd of antelope APP
peared on low hill not far distant
On their appearance the chief magician
arose and said to the others: what
ever these animals do our people must
do likewise; they are spiritual and have
been sent by the great sun god" While
the medicine ms n We're 10 k ng the ante
/ ~ off 49,
last pair disappeared the chief magi-
clan again spoke:
/ He said: Return to your homes and
then let each man consult with his
7neigbor and be content with one woman
(ova for wife. That will appease and
crafty our sun god. Continue to pro-
hibit plural wives and the death spirit
will abide with us no longer" The peo-
pie. were very reluctant to break up
their polygamish homes, but, being
+ driven by fear of death, they consented
Ii is a known fact that the Indians gave
up polygamy long before the Jesuites
arrived in this country. But the aboli-
ton of the practice has wrongfully been
attributed to the influence of the Jesuit
fathers.
+ Strange as it may appear, witch
craft was neither known nor practic-
ed among the Indians prior to the adj
vent of the Jesuit fathers. The first
martyr to the witchcraft was an old
Indian woman who lived alone with a
blind daughter about ten miles from
San Xavier. She was put to death for
stopping the water running down the
Santa Cruz. A short distance from the
Woman's house the water sank Where
the water disappeared some of the In
dams saw the old woman digging holes
in the sand with her hands. That was
sufficient evidence of witchcraft against
her. She was arraigned, condemned
and burned at the stake. Finally the
medicine man got too assiduous in the
hunt after witches. There were toe
many human bonfires being made, Sc
the people changed the proceedings and
burned several of the medicine men
From that time to the present day
instead of accusing human beings OF
aNitchcraft the present generation OF
Indians accuse and find witches in ami
I.nals-dogs, cows and horses-and in
many cases they find witches in IMAM
innate things, such as stones, rags and
sticks.