The Washington times., 1917-01-11
zUNI SQUAW HAS
IGHPOST IN TRIBE
Doesn't Hesitate to Gust In
satisfactory Husband
From the Home.
AIDS IN RELIGIOUS RITES
California Woman investigates
Traditions and Home
Life of indians.

Il II true that all good orthodox In
dians make 1t a point of honor to let
the women do the work. Free born
American women are likely to pity
the squsw, believing that IL 10, her
lord, IL q poor Indian she is even
poorer and lower.
Now comes Miss Enid watkins, a
young Californian who has been study
ing the sun worshiping Indians for
i've years, to tell us that while the
downtrodden squaw does render &C
tive assistance in building the home,
she feels no hesitancy in turning her
husband out afterward II he does not
prove continuously and permanently
satisfactory.
Miss Watkins is giving costume
song recitals at the Punch and Judy
Theater in New York She. recently
gave the results of some of her Indian
observations
THE Mexican Indians are a degen-
crate lot and because of their slack
ness one does not get very much that
is authentic from them. But the
zunis Of Arizona and New Mexico
have kept their tribal rights and ira
ditions through their fraternal orders
since the time of the Incas and are
very interesting. The sun priests ana
governors and different potentates
train the children in the tribal rights
and 20 the traditions are handed down
from generation to generation.
woman Plays Big Part.
"Domestically, the Indian women Of
this tribe are of more importance than
might be generally supposed. They
are not merely pieces OF property, but
are regarded with respect, and what
ever part of the industry of living
they preside over Is not held lightly.
The woman assists in the creation of
the houses built into the hillsides,
and If her Indian proves to be I'm
worthy of her II is within her power
to dispense with his presence in the
domestic circle. This is probably done
under advisement of the council and
probablys does not depend on indi-
vidual caprice. The Indian woman in
this tribe. as in most Of the tribes,
plays a large part In the Industrial
work as she has always done. Agri-
culture Is the leading occupation.
These Indians are Homogeneous and
are generally faithful. They are very
religious. which has much to do with
their domestic reliability.
They have their houses built in
the mesa. which Is a succession of
nat-topped hills. You go in the front
door at the top. which is equivalent
to a hole. In the roof. "A ladder lets
you down to the first floor and be-
meath that there may be two or more
floors And way down deep, under
meath everything, frequently a well
has been dug.
Barred From snake Dance.
y OF their dances there are two, the
snake and the flute dance, in which
women never take part. While they
are very devout and regard their |
ceremonies with utmost. seriousness,
the Indians have a decided sense of |
hunor. For instance, they Will have |
what we will call for lack of better |
term In English their entertainments |
For these affairs they have: their |
clowns, and sometimes these clowns |
will burlesque the serious performs
ances Of the sun priest and variou |
potentates. - -
Frequently the clowns are drum: |
mers and the drummer is no unimport- /
ant person. He souats oncthe ground
with anywhere from nine to eleven
drums arranged in a circle around
him, which he must keep track of ia
the course Of the musical repditiou.
Rich InsettisufioR -FSeId( G \
You have no idea how rich is the |
field out there in the Southwest with
interesting lore concerning Indian
life she continued. 81 don't begin to |
know all there is to find out, and in
the past few seasons have been go
ing back have gathered quite a col
lection OF miscellaneous information. |
The Indian is a good friend IL he |
10 convinced you are his friend. But |
he il very shrewd in reading char
acter. Moreover, he loves to fool |
YOU. II you ask him what the lines
mean on a piece OF pottery and they |
really mean fire. he will tell you they |
mean clouds and laugh copertly at
his little joke. II, however, you are |
sufficiently versed in Indian lore to
catch him in his tfickery he enjoys
the joke on himself"