Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1912-11-29

g. = - been welcomed as
an important ad-
dition To the short list OF dsmesticat-
ed fowls.
The turkey was introduced into
Spain in 1920. and into England in
1924 and soon was reared as a barn
yard fowl in both countries. Not for
nearly half 2 century was ii taken TO
France. So far as can be learned.
the first turkey ever seen In that
country was shipped I'm 1870 from Bos-
ton. then a little settlement in the al
most unknown American wilderness.
for the delectalion OF the guests at
the wedding feast OF King Charles TX
and Elizabeth OF Austria.
Civilized man prizes The turkey
solely as a table delicaey but strange.
~ enough, the Americas indians es-
teemed It more for tn. sake Of its
feathers than "a IS IfcSE When the
bow and arrow consr+4lsd the most
important weapon OF war and of the
chase. feathers were of the greatest
utility to the tribespeople. being at
tached to the shaIls of their arrows
10 give them buoyancy. and to cause
them to carry straight For this pur-
pose. most of the tribes employed the
feathers of eagles. some those Of tur-
keys, and some those OF both birds
The Cheyennes, whose hunting
grounds comprised most OF the pres
ent state Of Wyoming. are said TO
have used turkey feathers exclusively
for their arrows, and were known to
the neighboring tribes by a name that
signified striped arrows in refer
ence to this preference. The Apaches.
also. used turkey feathers for arrow
making. as did the NavajOs. Sioux.
Arapahoes and many other tribes. al
though no others employed them SO
exclusively as did the CheYeEnes and
Apaches
Beyond doubt the most striking and
attractive headdress ever worn by
any aboriginal people was the war
bonnet Of the western Indians q was
composed Of the tail feathers OF tur-
keys or eagles depending upon the
practice Of the tribel. It was fash
toned to encircle the crown of the
Tearer's head and extend down his
back to the ground The wal bonnet
was worn only by chiefs, and every
feather was supposed to represent a
separate deed OF valor
In the ceremonial dances. strange
and grotesque masks are worn by the
participants, some of whom personate
the nature gods, while others take the
role OF the clan anc'ents Many o.
these masks are deliberately decorated
with feathers Of turkeys, eagles. owls.
hawks and other birds. In tho deco
ration OF the affairs erected on cere-
monial occasions for the worship of
the nature-sods, feathers are coaspic.
uous. But perhaps the most common
use OF feathers is in the making OF
prayer sticks, which are planted at
springs. by the banks of running
streams. near the shrines of the gods.
in the fields where crops are growing.
or where seed has been planted. and
IN hooks and crannies among the
rocks. The prayer sticks are made by
the priests and given to the people
Analogous to the use Of feathers in
the making of prayer sticks and altar
decorations. is their employment for
the making of fetishes. used by the
various secret orders, or fraternities.
These fetishes. of course. possess
magical virtues, understood only by
the initiated. Among the Zuni is
fraternity known as the "Hlewekwe."
or sword swallowers. The sword" is
a long. wooden implement. which in
the course of the ceremonial dance OF
the order is thrust far down into the
throat Of the performer and then
withdrawn. To the upper end OF the
sword Is attached a large bunch OF
the tail feathers Of the turkey, to
which. of course, the ceremony owes
much Of its supposed magical power.
This dance Of the sword swallowers
is important for the reason that il is
supposed to bring the SHOWS OF win
ter. which melt and sink into the
ground. thus preparing the soil for
the reception Of the seeds at planting
time in the spring.
Feathers OF many birds and particu-
larry Of the turkey. are used in the
sports and games of the Indians The
game of 'Pokiianni" favorite among
the Zuni. is played with shuttlecocks
made OF corn husks and turkey feath-
ers. Fetishes are made by the priests
for foot racers, consisting mainly OF
feathers from the legs Of turkeys.
which are supposed to give feetness
OF foot to the runners