The Parker post., 1918-08-03
.SACREOFEST|VAL
YUMA INDIANS

The great memorial festival of the
Yuma Indians was held on Sunday
after three days of preparation. All
Yumas from outside, as we'll as those
living on the reservation, participat-
ed, as did many Of the visiting Mo
javes and Cocopahs, there being prob
ably a thousand comprised in the
gathering. according to the Yuma
sun OF last Sunday.
At the upper end of fiat, clear,
rectangle, the Indians had built sort
Of temple Of posts thatehed with will
low and arrowhead. Close up
against the roof they hung cloth bags
containing images of clay and wood,
representing dead tribal leaders, bows
and arrows, spears, effigies of horses,
head-dresses and war bonnets, etc.
Early Sunday morning the camp
began to stir; fires were lighted, cof-
fee was made, and soon the pots of
stew were bubbling announcing to
hungry noses that breakfast was un-
der way. AT sunrise the American
flag was hoisted while the Indian
band played the Star Spangled Ban
ner and all the Indians stood at at
tention. Then breakfast was eaten,
and the Big Day formally began.
Gathered in the temple" the
elders of the tribe talked in low tones
as they squatted or sat or knelt on
squares brought for the purpose; sim
iliarly disposed in the shade of bushes
or wagons, under trees and temporary
sheds, bucks, squaws, children, horses
and dogs spent the entire day. Now
and again, song would start, or a
dance, or there would be a stirring
in search of food or drink, but the at
nosphere was decidedly somnolent
until late afternoon.
When the worst of the heat had
gone by, the Indians shook off their
torpOr and began to move around.
First there was big war dance, a
kind of "before the battle" chant fur
nishing accompaniment to the stamp
ing. turning, gliding movements of
the braves as they went through the
motions Of the ceremonies necessary
to get protection and help of the
Great Spirit in the coming battle The
spectacle was attractive, full of life,
colour and significance. The bucks
wore their finest array of costumes
and feathers, the women their bright
est "tek-kwaak," with bead collars,
cuffs, belts and trimmings of their
own manufacture.
When the dance and song-prayer
had been carried to the proper point,
the fighting began, on foot and on
horseback. In full tribal regalia
warriors of the Cocopah defended
their fort against the attacks of the
united Mojave and Yuma, whipped
them off, and chased them across the
plains and over the mountains until
the remnant OF the tribe took refuge
on the mesa of impregnable Sierra
Mayor.
Next on the program was the saga,
the recital Of tribal achievements,
praise of the great dead, accompan-
led always by lamentation in chorus
by the women. Occasionally there
would be an outburst of oratory that
would inflame and excite the men to
such an extent that their outcry over
whelmed and silenced that of the
squaws.
One striking figure was that of
Cachorra, the Lizard; only about
five feet tall, dressed in trousers and
blouse of the U. S. cavalry of about
1875, with long grey curls hanging
from under a small straw hat, the old
man stood and sang the glories of the
days of long ago, while the chorus
Joined in lament and the spectators
wondered at his virility in spite of
the years he carries.
After the Dance of the Eagle, a
weird rhythmic chant and dance
wherein six braves stood side by
side, moving from right to left
and back, each holding a stalk of ar
raw-weed tipped with the feather of
an eagle, followed the Harvest Dance,
in which opposing lines of men went
through motions somewhat resem-
bling those of the sailors hornpipe,
excepting that the feet were never
moved.
Promptly at midnight, the images
were taken down from the temples
rafters by relatives of the dead, who
then danced and sang in commemora-
tion Of qualities possessed, deeds per-
formed and glories inherited together
with supplications for eternal favor
and happiness to be bestowed upon