The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-29
SOME QUEER iADIASs.


.Ial SOuAs men connected wan the etn-
,aviVo.SaI DuiS.lu VI me oihi.nsVhidh 4"
s.it~.lVn nave come Into LVs Anseies
.l,SI Il lhe vi 4 Jew weeks among tn-
.Ava-e1pI 1nuldns IA the eAtlenie MOI IA
,al. tasL VI Arlzvna leItItViy. incS
m,Ie lnvre aIter having spent several
InvD,ns ia tie NavaJO and Mvuui coun-
tries, anu theIr purpose was 10 ousefNs
tne nIe vi the 4ANa-oupsS ahd get lneii
t.lVai iescnus and Whatever or history
tn.y have.
we ale glad we went up to see the
Ava-oupIs," said Prof.. Horace Weiiing
of the party wnlle speaking OF these
InuIans wnne in the POMONA the otner
ody. "Iney are by long ouds the most
interesting sayages we nave IN the Union
Uutslue OF the Hunls, from an ethnoiog-
zeal point of view. We were told that
We were the hrst whites (outside OF two
or three cowboys) that had been in the
Ava-Supi Locality in several years. AS
soon as they believed in us-for the av-
erage Indian of the Territories nowadays
agrees with the ancient Psaimist in say
ing in HIS heart that all men are liars
they were the most genial and hospitable
Ieu hien We nave ever DSen ai4.ViiS
and that is saying good deal. too. II
any young American of means and taste
for studying Indian habits and observing
human nature as it was among the saw
ages In the days Of Cortez and Coronado
will visit them. he will find enough TO
aot only interest. but fascinate him
among the Ava-Supis for a long sum-
der. In tnelr triDdi customs the Ava
Supis have changed less by contact with
civilization than any tribe in the I'm
ion. l don't believe their language has
altered a bit in the last two centuries.
Yes. you may be sure we shall go there
again, when we shall be better prepared
10 study our hosts"
The home OF the Ava-Supi tribe is be-
tween the deep defies of Cataract Cam
on tributary of the Little Colorado
river, which has its rise in the Bill Will
liams Mountains. The narrow valley IS
from 100 10 GOO yards wide, with walls
of sandstone and granite rising perpen-
dicularly on either side TO a sheer height
of 1900 to 1900 feet. The approach Is by
a narrow, twisting, tortuous trail. which
descends from the broad plateau above.
winding in and out between the tower
ing walls and precipces. In some places
1t is so narrow that a single person with
a burden finds it difficult TO avoid pitcn-
ing into the depths below. No tribe IN
the country occupies such an inaccessl-
BILE locality as home. White men never
go there unless on science bent
Through the centre of the little valley
flows cold, clear stream, fed by the
mountain SHOWS of the distant Bill VIII
liams Peak. The current is rapid. and
the power utilized in a crude way for
grinding the grain which is one OF the
~, n Of 10 1fnF
At the lower end of the stream the water
IS diverted into acequias, which carry
1t to the fertile fields. Irrigation is leces-
sary for all crops as the rain clouds
seldom pour their contents into the hid
den valley and the snow never fails.
rhe soil is rich. black loan. debris
left by overfows of an adjacent Colo
RADIO in untold seasons. 1t produces, in
addition to various kinds of grain, peach
es grapes, mesquite beans and a species
of guava.
The Aya-Su6s have no extensive flocks.
neither herds Of cattle or horses. like
many Of their prosperous neighbors above
Tor all their available land is required in
agricultural pursuits, but profitable
trade Is carried on with the Moquls,
Lunis, ana Navajos, fruits and meal
-odrse cloths. The tribe ut the present
time numbers about 300. They are care
July obseryant of law and order as pre-
scribed by the authorities OF the pueblo
and are courteous and hospitaDIe 10
outsiders. Down in this sylvan retreat
.he onmate IS deligntIul. .NeiIner the
extreme heat Of the summer nor the
severity of winter is felt While the
chill winds are raging overhead this
sequestered glen is all abloom with flow
RS and green with waving grass.
The Ava-Supis practise monogamy.
with the exception of the head chief. to
whom is granted u special dispensatjon
permitting him to take as many wives
as he can secure and support. Failure
10 provide Justihes Il wife in securing a
divorce which is done in the simplest
possible manner, by leaving the lodge OF
her husband and refusing thereafter 10
recognize him In any manner. Should
there De man at the bottom OF the
domestic row, the chief has the the salts
Iactlon OF arraigning him before the
council, and II Is the duty Of that au-
gust body TO assess the damages The
amount is usually based upon the abll-
ity or the defendant to pay, and when
a sum has been fixed upon II must be
instantly liquidated. or the death pen-
atty Is the alternative. This rigid ius-
tice Is supposed 10 exercise q beneficial
restraint upon the hot blood of the Ava.
Supis. The government OF this primitive
Is In the hands of a chief
who is elected by popular vote. The
office is not hereditary, and II is seldom
that a son succeeds father. The dis
position seems to favor passing the hon.
ors around, and thus maintaining a pure
democracy.
There IL a rather interesting tradition
which the Ava-Supis tell concerning
In the early days. ages and
ages ago. the legend Rms. their fore
fathers dwelt in d great walled city
on the mesaS above. They We're con-
tented and prosperous people, cultivating
vast fields and raising enormous herds
OF stock. In the course of time, ex-
allied by power and riches. they became
aggressive and domlneering toward their
weaker neighbors. For weeks at a time
they would neglect their fields and herds
while they raided some nearby tribe.
The great spirit which they had always
worshinped grew angry at them. for he
was the father OF all the tribes alike.
md resolved TO send some terrible WIS.,
tation. that they might know the
strength of his hand. II came at noon
lav when ali the wen and women we're
n the fields. Suddenly cut Of clear
.kv a bright IiTht burst and great
wind followed by trembling Of the
whole earth. The frightened people turn
~ to run for their homes but before
hey could reach the walls OF the pueblo
lhe ground opened and they were all
swallowed w. ~Chen darkness covered
the sky. ar Rpy hours the shrieks