Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-08-21
Explorers. Claim That Ancient In.
dians Smoked Cigarettes.
Evidence 10 Discovered In Arizona and
New Mexieo-Pottery Also Found
Birds Had Significance In
Religious Ceremonies.

That cigarettes were used by the
ancient Pueblo Indians seems estab-
lished by the Investigations Of the
ancient pueblos, or villages, of the up
per Gila river region Of New Mexico
and Arizona. But they were prob.
ably symbolic offerings. for those
found at Bear Greek cave were in the
form of hollow reeds stuffed with
aromatic herbs which burned with a
pleasing odor, according to a recent
report on the Museum Gates expedi.
ton made public by the Smithsonian
institution.
DR.. Walter Hough Of the United
States National museum, states that
among the thousands OF interesting
and valuable objects connected with
the lives Of the early inhabitants were
found dried vegetables, fruits and
other "perishable" articles, even
desiccated turkey. Early historical
reports show that the Pueblo Indians
raised turkeys. but the discovery of
the desiccated bird and chicks, It is
explained, proves conclusively that
turkeys we're kept in captivity, prob
ably for, their feathers, which were
used in the manufacture Of native gar
ments.
With other things, upon excavation
of cave which formed the rear
chamber of a row of ruined stone
abodes on the banks Of the Tularosa
river, tributary Of the San Fran
cisco river, was found brush made
of grass stems bound in rude bundle
similar to those in use by the Pueblo
Indians Of today. In one corner, near
q rock mass, were found some small
bows and arrows, with other offerings,
indicating the location of an ancient
shrine.
From the rubbish and debris the re-
mains Of several mammals and birds
were identified, among them deer,
prong-horn. bison, woodchuck, mice,
rats, muskrats, rabbits, lynx, fox,
skunk, bear a hawk, an adult turkey,
chicks. and eggs, and many feathers
of other birds. all OF which occupied
the cave at one time or another e:
were killed and stored there by the
early Indians. Ears and scattered
grains of corn of a smooth and short
grain, yellow, blue and carmine, but
much faded with aging, ERE also
found, as we'll as the remains and
seeds of gourds, squashes. beans. other
vegetables, and fruits and nutsA
In the Tularosa cave there was pot
terry of a rude form, while from sew
eral large open-air pueblog examples
of a very fine finish and ornamental
ton, were collected. The designs on
the. bowls commonly consist Of four
elements based on the world quar-
tiers, the bottom usually being cir
cular and blank. Other designs are
of combined matched and solid color
or of checkered variety. Many
small collections of pottery were
found in caves and springs, where
they had been deposited as offerings.
In the religion Of these early in
habitants the bird had an especial
significance and Is found in nearly
all their ceremonies, appearing as
solid Image in pottery and carving,
depicted on surfaces as a fetish, but
more frequently its plumage Is used
in one way or another.
In a great sacred cave on Blue river
were found bows, arrows, painted
rods, baskets, miniature potter, cigar
cites, cotton cloth, beads, painted
tablets, etc.. deposited in pit shrines
on the floor of the cavern. These
were objects offered to the supernat-
ural beings, and show the extremely
complicated character of the ancient
native worship.
Much of the territory covered by
the report has never been scientifical'
ly explored before, and the maps, field
notes and natural history collections
will throw much light on the life OF
the ancient peoples Of this region.