The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-08-19
soME lnhlAn LEeENns


At the time and for centuries aft
er the advent of the Pima Indians
into this country they practioed po-
lygamy and this will show how n
little supsrstitious belief will change
a custom of centuries. AS the story
goes. a short time after the restora-
ton of the Sahuaro (Hass-en) the
whole tribe was stricken with a
strange disease. IL was malignant
in form, and many deaths resulted.
The great medicine men and magi.
clans from all parts Of the country
were called together for counsel 70
see by what means they could pro-
pitiate Mo Xix a mum, the death god.
The magicians labored long and
earnestly, but still tho death god re-
fused to stay his hand
II seems that fasting has had
much to do in the ritual of the
aboriginal / have always noted
that when communicating their SUI
perstitious beliefs. when they want
ed TO solicit or petition any one Of
their gods, they always considered
it necessary to fast for n given pc
riod. When they found they could
not subdue the evil death god by
magic, the magicians hastened TO an
open plain and there tasted for three
days. They were, however, privi-
legged to eat roots and drink water
carried from the river in tho 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 ante
lope appeared on a low hill not far
distant. On their appearance the
chief magician arose and said TO the
others: Whatever these animals
do our people must do likewise.
They are spiritual and have been
sent by the great sun god. While
the medicine men We're looking the
antelopcs paired of and passed ON.
AS the last pair disappeared the
chief magician again spoke he
said:
Return to your homes, and then
let each man consult with his neigh
Dor and be content with one woman
(ova) for wife. That Will nppense
r and crafty our sun god. Continue
to prohibit plural wives and the
death spirit Will abide with Us no
longer.
The people were very reluctant "a
, break up their polygamish homes,
? but. being driven by fear Of death,
they consented. lt Is "A known fact
that the Indians gave up polyeamy
long before the Jesuits arrived II
p this country. but the abolition Of the
b practice has wrongfully been attrib
, utcd 10 the influence OF tho jesuit
: fathers.
Strange as it may appear, witch
ID craft was neither known nor prac
l. ticed among tho Indians prior 20 TN,
n advent of tho Jesuit fathers. Tn,
=. first martyr To tho witchcraft wa
!. an old Indian woman who hveS
J. alone with a blind daughter abou
ten miles from san Xavier. Sh
was put to death for stopping tn
water running down the Santa Cruz
A short distance from this woman
house tine water sank. Where tn
water disappeared some of the In
dians SAW the old woman diegin
= holes in tho sand with her hand.
! That was sufficient evidence q
y witchcraft against her. She WI
y arraigned, condemned and burned q
y the stake Finally the mediciu
II men got too assiduous in the hur
" after witches. There We're too man
human bonfires being made. so th
people changed the proceedings an
l. burned several of the medicine mel
i From that time To the present dal
i instead of accusing human beinl
: of witohcraft. the present generatio
of Indians accuses and finds witch,
N in animals-dogs, COWS and hors,
ut and in many cases they fin
~ witches in inanimate things, sue
:. as stones, rags and sticks.-Tucsc
"a. T.) Citizen.