New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-10
INDIANS USE BOOMERANG
Skill of PuebIos IN Ne5c-M erico IN.
the Use of the Cured Stick.

Santa Fe. y. NJ. April 15-The Santa Glars
Pueblo Indians recently held rabbit hunt OF
enormous proportions. Strengthening thousands OF
the pests that have grown 70 be menace to South
western ranchmen- At these rabbit hunts BOOM
erang thrOwers play a leading part in the work OF
determination
The New-Mexico boomerang throwers have been
using this primitive weapon for countless genera
lions. When the spaniards first penetrated New
Mexico in search OF gold mining districts OF
the territory the Pueblos were using the boomer
ang almost exclusively weapon The Pueblo
Indian boy OF to-day occasionally saIlies forth.
with his bow and arrow. but most OF the tribe
stick to the ancient boomerang. especially when az
their favorite sport OF rabbit hunting The boom
erang is not. properly speaking. the returning
boomerang of the Australian savages. but IS
variation Of that deadly instrument It Is simply
a curved club which is thrown with wonderful skill
and precision by the Pueblo Indians. TO the
smallest boys and girls
The Indians begin practising throwing the boom
erang at early age Mere infants can be seen
on the sagebrush plateaus initiating their larger
brothers and sisters. and hurting tiny sticks at
each other. shouts Of glee going up some par
ticularly clever shot is made Some Of the older
Indians manifest a degree OF skill with the boom
erang which is little short OF amazing It is a
common sight 10 a skilled boomerang thrower
bring down bird the wing. and 10 miss a jack
rabbit the in the open is little short Of a
disgrace The RABBIT hunts. which are held every
winter made the occasion of festivities IN the
pueblos OF the tribes The Indians have peculiar
dances in which they indulge just before the ar
rival OF rabbit hunt day. These rabbit hunting
dances vary little from the deer and corn dances
and other picturesque ceremonials Of the tribe
The Pueblo Indians, the most civilized OF an
Southwestern tribes. have suffered severely owing
to the depredations of rabbits The PUeblOs are ex
pert farmers They had the science OF trrtgaucni
at their finger tips before the SDaniards first IN
vaded America. To-day their irrigated farms arei
models which the white follow TO good;
advantage Consequently these aboriginal farmers
have taken to rabbit hunting not only for sport bu
S SS IIeaIlS b III scattsr over broad arsa
with shriH cries that fgten the rabbits from their
| never fail TO bring down the Ieapng animals-i
the indian boys gather about With sharpened sticks
and dig until the animal Is forced to make a 2res
the hunt. Of course. and the scene IS a sJlrrlnS
| ing ing every e arroyo for lurking rabbits.
The real feature Of an Indian rabbit hunt y Lns
A sixteen-year-oid boy, straight as an arrow and
ht F frn a c1ump 81 sagebr 81 To the eye Of ths
inexperienced there is no RABBIT there but the Ind
rabbit starts from his Pacs o. sii T Sh
away from an Ordinary enemy the Indian youth
gives a shril cry and draws back the hand hold
he poises an instant. and then. with an overland
swing. the boomerang is sent forth cutting ne ne
sending the rabbit head over heels Inasmueh as
VIII rn5 ~ ne. T-ecision Tecessarv 70 kin one
| Of the animals with a club be readily under
stood The average white boy. however he may
pride himself on his skill in throwing the baseball
: would owe it purely luck should he bring down
a iackrabbit with a boomerang Yet an Indian
boy thinks nothing of killing ten or a dozen reb-
bits in a days hunt and not having a single miss
scored against him
Scientists have speculated in vain 70 the Use
Of the boomerang among these Indians Is, NO oIEer
tribes OF the West or Southwest use this weapon.
which has figured so long IN the history OF the
Some scientists have claimed that the
boomerang shows the Pueolos 70 be descendants or
the Asiatic tribes that used similar
weapons This however. is regarded as mere specli-
lation though the ancestry Of the F'ueoos as Well
of several other tribes OF the Southwest. IS 80
shrouded in darkness that one guess Is seemingly
as good rs another At rate, the Puebios can
not be induced 70 part with their ancient ana
lie ueaDOn- They the improved agrfcult-
uraI indictments OF the white but they have
no use for the white mans gun They cling 70 the
boomerang in preference TO the revolver or the Te-
peatinz rifle and in all probability this primitive
weapon will be in use as long as the Puebos exist
a nation