The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-07-28
THE M0JAVEs OF ARIZONA
Nest Backward Of RedSkin Tribes
in the Country.
''THEY ARE BORN THIEVES
Bad Estimate Placed Upon Their
Character by the superintendent
of Their Training School-Teach-
crs' Admopitions Meet with Silent
Contempt.

"Tbe Mojave Indians OF Arizona are
about the most backward redskins In the
United States" said s. NJ. Meow an, su
| perintendent OF the Fort Mojave Indian
Training school
Five years of uninterrupted work among
these Mojave Indians develops the fact
| that our school children have Inherited
many very undesirable qualities, which
seem to be firmly rooted in their natures,
| and which will require years of earnest,
faithful effort TO eradicate What virtues
they possess are of the negative order.
Ii they do not break certain Of the COM
mandments 1t is because OF their inertia,
and not because OF any conscientious
scruples against breaking them. They
are born thieves. Their parents laugh
at them when they are successful, and
ouly chide thea when they are detected.
The only property that is safe is that which
belongs to some one OF whom the Indian Is
afraid. They are very reliable and faith
full liars. They are also very ciannish,
and will lie for each other to any extent
when they are pretty sure they win not be
caught. When one is proven q liar, how
ever. he does not rest till all his clan are
punished equally with himself.
Their utter nonchalance and sangfUid
is magnificent. Their complete indiffer-
ence is superb. Seldom openly hostile, yet
a weak and tfmid teacher can accomplish
nothing simply because the dusKy pupil
treats her advice and admonitions with
contempt.
''They are singularly free from all lau-
dable ambition. They do not care TO
excel partly because they do not see any
good to come from IL, and partly because
the person who leads is made the target
for the jests and jibes OF all the rest Of the
tribe. If they have aspira ton il is toward
mediocrity; that safe middle state where
they cannot be punished for accomplishing
nothing, nor laughed at for being lea ders.
These remarks are true OF a very large
majority cf all TIE children OF the tribe.
"TheSe qualities make teaching ex-
tremely difficult and trying. The bold bad,
active and ambitious child can be corrected
and his natural impulses stimulated and
guided. Nothing pleases a teacher more
than quick respose to appealor admonition
Nonchalance is contempt, and IL. takes a
brave, well balanced nature to quietly
overlook such insults and continue striving
to create interest and ambition in a
THE young Mojave Indians are ex-
trenlely shy and bashful Put in the same
classes with older children and a whole
year will pass before they accomplish any,
thing
Nothing is being done outside the school
Tor these Indians In missionary sense.
IL is good field for systematic effort |
N the missionary line. 1 have always |
noticed, however, that those who are the
most deserving are the ones who are left |
put In tie cold to the last. This is true
morally as well as financially The Indians
who most Strenuously object to education
are The first to get schools. Those Indians
who beg to be let alone and who wish
% work out their own salvation are soon
'rowded by undesired sympathizers and
helpers.
around the Mojave school are the UuaI-
'ai and Snpai Indians. The Hnlpais Num-
'er about 700 and are doing well. More
nan zoo or the men work steadily on
wages Many OF the Indians are emploved
the mines. Others are employed by
'attle men, Several OF these Indians own
setie. n number OF the women have
earned to do simple homework and several
re employed in white families. smau
chooi has been established among the
iualapais by the Massachusetts Indian As
ociation. The children are eager and
Wiling to learn and the school has had a
eI eIoeptib!e influence on all the Indians
he great drawbacks to the advancement
these Indians is their fondness for
Quor and gambling"