Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1901-03-27
THE MOHAVE INDIANS.
characteristics Of Tribe That Live
Along Santa Fe Route.
AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT.

The Mohave men are fine specimens
of physical manhood. They are the
typical Indians OF the old time novel.
How Cooper would have revealed in
the sight Of one hundred of these
slightly redskins. Tall and straight as
q poplar. with shoulders square and
thrown slightly back. deep chested,
small waist, loins slender, but com
pact and well rounded, long. sinewy,
muscular limbs and small feet. Head
held high and tilted slightly back,
keen, piercing eyes. as black as the
ravens wing, high cheek bones. nose
of the Grecian build. mouth full set,
with white, sound teeth, massive jaw
and hairless face Their strength is
In their lower limbs, due to much run
ming, walking, leaping and wrestling.
The arms are long and stately, but
not strong. None of the Mohave men
are corpulent.
The squaws are In striking contrast
to the men. They are short, thick set,
corpulent and greasy. Their bodies
are about the shape of a barrel. This
refers to the older squaws. Many OF
the young girls are w~ellshaped. 1.-THE
and willowy. They are old at 20,
owing to their early maturity. The
girls are generally married at IL or
12 years OF age. They are not sold
by their parents, but are given more
freedom in the selection of a compan
ion than any young lady on earth.
They go with whom they please.
their parents offering no objection and
giving M advice. They are ever en-.
titled to the privilege of showing
their preference for a man by word OF
mouth. Like their white sisters, how.
ever, they like to appear coy, shy and
hard to please. They + not bound
to live with their husbands for any
stated period. They plight their
vows and swears by all that's holy that
they will love till called to the happy
hunting ground. but this does not nee
| essarlly mean that those vows must
be kept. They can leave their hus
bands for any other man at any time
The deserted party takes matters
philosophically, and. although he may
| grieve he does so silently. and doesn't
make the offending party trouble, oil
disturb her In her new found happi
mes by quarrels and fights or threats
The dress Of the young squaw Ii
cool. picturesque and becoming. II
| consists OF a skirt of some bright ma
terial. red preferred. and q long flow
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 Is bare, showini
fine natural development of bust anC
round, plump arms. Their feet ar,
bare or encased In sandals or untan
ned cowhide, strapped around the an
kles and toes. They cut the hal
square of at the shoulders, banging
that Just above the eyes. The bang
are worn long. almost covering tn,
eyes. They paint their faces in red
black or yellow. following no partiC
ular designs. They are fond of beads
and wear them in masses yer thei
shoulders, as capes, or around tn
neck These capes are found oftel
fringed with bright silver dimes, iv,
or ten dollars being attached to
single cape. Whenever possible the.
secure a string of sleigh bells. whicl
they tie around their legs just below
the knee.
Babies are numerous, but many di,
young. owing to exposure and ne
Iglect. They never carry n baby Of
their backs, but on the side, the urch
in straddling the hip and clutchinI
the arm or neck Of the mother. YounI
babies are carried In cradles made O
willow limb, bent like an ox-bow, wit
a net of willow bark or strings O
cowhide on the bottom. The bah
is wrapped tightly In this so that II |
impossible for II to move any part @
the body except the head. When en-
gagged in household duties or friend
ly game OF cards, the mother lays tn
cradle fiat on the ground. or leans
against the side of the house. wher
there is instantly a contest betwee'
the righteousness of the fly and tn
endurance of the child.
The squaws are the burden bearers
carrying immense loads on the heat
or In bundles wrapped In long sheet
and hanging from the head down tn
back. If a family owns a horse O
burro. the man. OF course. rides, Will
the squaw follows Oh foot with tn
load.
The Mohave men are excellen
workers, however, and strange to sa.
hire themselves out to white familie
to do homework, the family wasl
ing and ironing, etc. They work q
anything they a get to do, and ar
/, faithful, industrious lahorors. Man
of them are employed a. sectio
: hands on the Santa Fe Pacific an
/ in the coal chutes and round house
, OF the read, and are the best hand
the road can secure They have n
ingenuity and never try to find a
easier way OF doing their work. One
shown how to do a thing and they d