The National tribune., 1903-06-25

Goodwin a small number of Chiricahuas
whom we had captured red-handed while
| completely intoxicated. They were yefi-
| table hyenas of the desert After cap
turing two carts loaded with mescal IN
fiery liquor distilled from the agave) and
killing the drivers, they drove the oxen
into a secure place, and killing one began
i to feast upon the meat roasted on the Goals
of small fire, devouring like the inveter-
ate gluttons that they are, paunch, intes-
tines, etc. Unfortunately for them, they
could not resist the temptation of indulg-
ing freely in the fiery stimulant eHuding
from between the slaves and bungholes
of the liquor barrels. They became so in
toxicated that they failed to use their Gus
tomary precaution against attack; some of
our soldiers, out on a scouting expedition,
had their attention attracted by the smoke
of the fire; they hurried towards the spot,
found and captured the drunken savages
without firing shot, and took them to the
fort, where they We're confined i'll the
guardhouse.
During the night two of them asked to
be taken to the rear; four men of the
guard were sent with them; after a few
moments some shots We're heard and the
returning guard reported that the prisoners
had attempted to escape, and were fired
at in consequence.
The would-be fugitives were brought in
dead and laid in a corner of the guard
room. Their comrades contemplated them
in stole silence. On the following day
they were buried, and we had then the
opportunity of observing that during the
captivity Of the band the survivors were
most careful not to approach the corner
where their dead comrades had lain. They
would lock at the spot with awe in their
faces, and edge away from it as far as
space would allow, giving one the impress
Lie al. 81 Al. a
Apaches have a superstitious fear of dark
ness, and some indefinable feeling Of
dreadCD, respect(D, awecD for the dead.
A combat with Apaches is possible only
in the case of coming upon them unawares,
ard even then, they will fight only when in
greatly superior numbers, or when every
chance of escape is cut off from them. On
level ground they will soon outrun the best
infantry; on a steep incline they will leave
good horse far behind, and ON steep,
rocky hills l verify believe they will even
outcimb a goat.
OF San Carlos Reservation I shall say
nothing. Sanguine people like to believe
that the Apaches will there be made self
supporting and civilized. Let us hope so,
but still-we had better feed them yet
awhile. Tie your camel up first and then
pray to Allah that you may find it safe in
the morning.
Every Apache has, like nearly all In
dams, n so-called good medicine or tails
man, which he carries with him generally
in n small buckskn bag: it consists gem
orally in q few bears claws, a braid of
horsehair, colorcd rag dry snakeskin,
n small sculptured stick, the tail of some
animal or Il combination of several of
these things. For the celebration of GER
tain feasts they put on their finery: he'll
NETS Of buekskin beautifully and tasteful
} ly adorned with turkey feathers; red and
striped cloth and blankets, anklets and
wristlets with rattling and jinglng metal
bells and moccasins and leggings with more
or less elaborate beadwork. Their dances.
accompanied by the monotonouS music of
Il reed flute, n crude fiddle and drum and
several rattles consisting of followed gourds
partly filled with pebbles. appear to us to-
gether with their equally monotone and
. plaintivc chant, very clumsy and devoid of
all elastic or graceful motion; in fact, they
merely consist of continuous circling round
of six or eight men (Squaws take no active
) parD, who with bodies bent forward clap
: their hands together and then slap in turn
their thighs and protruding hips, keeping
time with the music as well as they may
l and chanting about the following mean
ingless words which they repeat over and
iover again in sad, minor key: "Hoyal,
hOyah, hOyah, hah, hayah hOh. hoo. hoo,
! hoyah hah, hayah hoo" the "h'' at the be
ginning of each syllable being strongly as
plTdteu.
A very important occurrence appears to
be for them the period when a girl attains
: to her wOmanhoOd. For this occasion all
the members of the family are invited to
. grand feast which consists mainly of
eating, drinking, dancing. various ceremo-
nies, and giving the girl in question new
: name: of which, more anon. The female
Apaches are, as rule, virtuOus, both be-
fore and after marriage. Adultery COM
e Initted by the wife is Immediately, upon
Its discovery, punished by the husband by
! the cutting off of the guilty ones nose, and
her eviction from the premises. real
marriage ceremony does not exist: the can
! dldate for cOnjugal bliss simply bargains
for the object of his affections with her
parents, and, the conditions of the trade
being fulfilled, takes her to his wigwam;
:, a girl is, however, never forced into mar
5 riage against her inclination. In the case
lof proyea in6delity the husband demands