Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1901-03-30
THE M0HAVE INDIANS.
characteristics Of Tribe That Live
Along Santa Fe Route.
AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT.

Tho Mohave men are nno specimens
Of physical manhood. They are the
! typical Indians Of the old time novel
How Cooper would have royclled In
the sight of one hundred Of these
slightly redskins. Tall and straight aH
a poplar. with shoulders square aud
thrown slightly back. deep chcstcd.
small waist lolnR slender but com.
pact aud we'll rounded long. slnowy.
muscular limbs and small feet Head
held high and Tilted slightly back.
keen. piercing eyes az black IA the
ravens wing. high cheek bones. nose
nf tho 0rCcian build. mouth fun set.
with white. sound teeth. massive jaw
and hairless face Their strength ls
In their lower limbs, due TO much run.
ming walking. ieapiug and wrestling
I he arms are long and stately. but
not strong. None of the Muhaye men
are Corpulent.
The squaws are IN striking contrast
10 the men. Tboy are short thick set.
corpulent aud greasy. Their bodies
are about the shape of barrel This
refers to the older squaws. Many of
the young girls are wellshapod rthe
aTd willowy. They are Old az 20.
owing to their early maturity The
girls are gencvnliy married az n or
~ years of age. They are not sold
by their parents but are given NOR,
freedom In the selection Of a compau.
ION than any young lady on earth
They go with whom they please
their PARENTS Offering no objection and
giving NO advice. They are even en-.
titled To che privilege OF showine
their preference Tor n man hy word of
D.
ever, thoy like to appear COY. shy aud
hard tp please. They are not bound
To- live with their husbands for any
stated period They plight their
VOWS and sWoarg hy an that's holy that
they will love tili called 10 tho happy
hunting ground but this does not nee
cssarily mean that those vows must
bo Ecpt They can leave their hus.
bands Tor any other man nt any time
The deserted party takes matters
philugophically and. although he may
grioyc he does 80 silently, and doesn't
make the offending party trouble. or
disturb her In her new found hnppi
nes hy quarrels aud fights or threats.
Tho dress Of the young sQuaw g.
cool. picturesque and becoming. II
consists Of skirt ~ some bright ma.
terial, red preferred and n long Auw
ing red wrap Of thin bright red calico
or flannel, trimmed with white braid
pinned loosely at the throat The body
from this waist up Us bare showing
fine natural development of bust and
round. plump arms Their fcpt arr
bare or cnCased Ia sandals or untan
ned cowhidc, strapped around the an.
klCs and toes. They cut the hair
square on al the shoulders hanging
that just above the eyes The bangs
are worn long. almost covering IN,
eyes. They paint their faCcs in red
black or yellow following no partic
ular designs. They are fond of beads
and wear thom in masses over thCiI
shoulders as capea. or around the
neck These capcs are found often
fringod with bright silver dimes. hy,
or ten dollars being attached 10 u
single cape Whenever possible they
secure a string uf sleigh bells which
they tie around their legs jest below
the knee.
Babies are numerous. but many die
young, owing 10 exposure and ne
gloct. They never carry baby on
their backs, but on the side. the urch.
In strnddling the hip and clutchiug
the arm or neck of the mother Young
babies are carried ia cradles made OF
willow limb. bent Hike an OK bow. with
q net Of willow bark ur strings of
cowhidc on the bottom The baby
rs wrapped tightly Ia this so that il is
impossible for Il TO move any part uf
the body except the head when On.
gagged In household duties or friend
~ game OF cards. the mother lays the
cradle fat on the ground, or leans Il
against the side Of the house. where
there "a instantly a contest between
the vOrnCiousnCss OF the ly and tho
endurance OF the child.
The squRWs are the burden bearers
carrying immense loads on the head
ar In bundles wrapped In long sheets
and hanging from the head down tho
back. II "A family owns a horse OF
hurro, the man, Of course, rides. while
the squaw follows ON foot with the
load
Tho Mohavc men are excellent
workers, however and strange to say.
hire themselves out te white families
to do hOuspwurk the family wash
ing and ironing, etc They work at
anything they can get 20 do. and are
faithful, industrious lnborors MANY
Of them are employed as section
hands ON the Santa Fo Pacific and
Ia the coal Chutos aud round houses
Of the road. and are the best hands
the road can secure They have no
ingenuity and never try Co nnd an
easier way ~ doing their work Once
shown how to do a thing and they do
n that way precisely foroycr.-S. NJ.
MOI ffnNuu Iu tho HhnnrIN MufIUa