The Savannah morning news., 1901-05-03

they go. TO lonely places and wall con-
tinuously for several nights and days
An epidemic of measles killed off many
of the tribe last June, During the cere-
monies following the burial of victims
of this plague .much property was de
stroyed. Many horses were killed and
wagons burned. When the victim Is q
woman all her domestic utensils are
burned or knocked to pieces. When child
rem die all their playthings are likewise
sacrificed. Upon the death of a husband
the wife returns 10 her family. and upon
the death of wife the husband returns
to his.
THE tribe has few scanty flocks
about 100 cattle, and few horses They
were formerly very rich; but their custom
of destroying property when a death oc-
ours has slowly reduced their possessions
They are now very poor, but are yet the
proudest Indians in all the West. They
are quite an agricultural race, and they
cultivate little fields of mesquite beans
and melons, and grow some fruit in the
more fertile soils in the canon. They are
wonderfully domestic, and seldom so
more than few miles from their wickiup
homes. Their nearest aboriginal neighbors,
The Mokis and Navajos. however, are
great travellers, and go all over that re-
gion from a mere desire to see new things
and to keep moving. The Ava-Supis are
genial race. They welcome all new
corners 10 their canon abode. and by
numerous acts Gor none of them can
talk English) try to show that they are
friendly. They are bright people, but they
have not the least desire to know how
other people live; most Indians are in
terested in knowing about white mems
ways. The Ava-Supis are good observers
of the laws of their tribe. a few years
ago they made away with a young man
A..sAx
but that is subject upon which the
least quest for information would be
haughtily resented. Down in the canon
retreat of the tribe the climate is as
delightful as one can imagine. Neither
the extreme heat of summer nor the cold
of winter is felt. While the chill winds
are raging overhead, this sequestered glen
is all abloom with flowers and green with
waving grass
THE folklore of the Ava-Supis abounds
in marvellous traditions. One of them
concerns themselves and the famous en-
chanted mesa, about which there was
such a stir among archaeolosists a few
years ago. The legend has it that ages
and ages ago, when there were no white
men to trouble the red people the Ava
SUPP forefathers dwelt in a great walled
city on the mesa out on the plains. They
were a contented and prosperous people,
nous herds of stock. In the course of
time, exalted by power and riches, they
became aggressive and domineering to-
wards their weaker neighbors. For weeks
at a time they would neglect their fields
and herds while they raided some near
by tribe. The Great Spirit whom they
had always worshipped grew angry at
them, for he was the father of all the
tribes alike, and resolved to send some
| terrible visitation, that they might know
the strength of his hand.
1T came at MONDAY when all the men
and women were in the fields. Suddenly
out of a clear sky a bright light and a
great wind burst, followed by trembling
of the whole earth. The frightened people
turned to run for their homes, but before
| they could reach the walls of the pueblo
the ground opened, and they were oil
swallowed up. Then darkness covered
the sky, and for many hours the shrleks
| of those who had been left among the
walls were heard above the sounds of the
falling of their homes. When light came
| again there was not sign of habitation
| left upon all the wide mesa. Nearly the
whole tribe had been swept away. In one
place where the ground opened it had
only partly closed5legain, leaving two
separate mesas uponsits sides. The lower
was broader than the upper, and, more
! q
| great stream, but the upper was cut off
I from approach. At the bottom life might
be supported on fish and stray fowl, and
| on the sides of their rocky prison grew
| bushes and stunted trees, which yielded
an abundance of berries in season.
1.-THE little band on the lower mesa
first of all sought to build path to their
| imprisoned brothers on the upper mesa.
| Their numbers were few, and they had
- L.. -
might be made from the tough young
saplings. Each day saw them painfully
and slowly advancing upward, but each
| day told upon the hungry and suffering
people in the towering prison. AS the
| days passed by the workers made fever
ish haste. Sometimes, when the winds
were still, they could hear the cries of
anguish and distress floating out upon the
quiet air. Then they would see the glar-
ing, eager eyes as the despairing crea-
lures hung over the precipice. and shout
( ed for aid. Constantly some agonized and
crazed creature would throw himself from
| the heights above to the plains below.
When, after weeks of toll and anguish,
the workers reached the summit of the
mesa city, they were struck with horror
to find that not one of their kindred was
| left Strewed about in all manner Of
| shapes were the remains OF the loved
ones and friends. Their famine-stricken
faces would have told the story of their
death, il it had not already been know.
Sadly, and after the barbaric rites OF
their people the remains were committed
to their final rest.
Thereafter the Ava-SupIs became wan
derers over the barren plains. They were
attacked by a powerful red race to the
south, and the remaining numbers were
decimated in brief warfare They wander
ed TO the north. and there they got seeds
and fruits and sheep, and with these
they once more turned southwark. In
their weakened and melancholy plight
they were sure they would again be at
tackled so they went and obode in the
deep canon, having been guided to the
place of safe retreat by the Great Spirit.
There the Ava-Sups have lived ever
/