Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-04-25

| traits predominant, but the Havasupai
are unique in this respect. They are
peacefully inclined and happy in the
contemplation of their own works.
Expert Corn Growers.
The Havasupai live in camps during
the summer months along the creek in
the midst Of their farms. They are
! exnert in raising corn crops.
The deep canyon bed. irrigated by
| the cataract is an oasis in the arid
desert which surrounds the canyon.
Corn. beans, squash and fruit are
raised in abundance and the peaches
are especially delicious, according to
Mr. Spier. The nearby mountains
abound In sheep, deer, antelope and
wild turkeys, so there is no lack of
! fresh meat
In winter The tribe takes to the
lodges and caves on the mountain side
! high above the danger levels Cataract
| creek always overh0ws during the
! rainy season and mandates the land.
Here" said Mr.. Spier, 81 found some
| most interesting caves, unquestiona-
bly, carved out of the walls by pre-
historic race. found some fragmen.
tary pottery in various places which
supported my theory.
These caves" he continued, serve
| as excellent shelters, and here each
| family builds its stOrehouse for pre-
serving its grain and meat These are
| constructed out of mud, baked hard
and then sealed"
Native Turkish Bath.
| The chief diversion among the males
is to foregather about the various
sweat lodges to gossip and discuss
affairs of the tribe. The sweat lodge
is their Turkish bath. A bed of straw
is laid down and a covering placed
over it. 1t is made just large enough
! for one man TO crawl inside Baskets
containing red.hot rocks are place. -.
| side and water is then poured over
| them, producing cloud of steam.
| The covering holds the steam inside
| and as soon as the sweating process is
| deemed to have progressed sufficiently
/ the bather jumps out for shock" in
| the icy waters of the cataract As
each man finishes his bath he joins the
circle, all in breechcouts, for the dis
cussion of tribal affairs.
/ The women do not devote all Of
| their afternoons to domestic pursuits
! 1Hey have a passion for gambling, Mr.
Spier says, and for several hours af-
ter the lays toll in the fields they con-
gregate end play at dice. The game is
somewhat like the American game of
craps, although four dice are used
fashioned out of goats horn.
Today one never finds American In
dams using anything but matches TO
/ light their fires. The Havasupai still
1 U.S., primitive fire drills. Up to 1910
the stone knife was used exclusively.
| Lately some modern implements have
filtered i'm through the government
agent. They have some herses and a
small :amber of cattle with which
they are having splendid success.
No Marriage Ceremony
Marriage ia the canyon is without
ceremony. The brides consent having
been won in the orthodox fashion the
couple merely live together without
further ado The brave must make
payment, however. to the brides pa
rents. and the customary form is to
/ give his service in the fields of his
"in-laws" until the first child has been
| born. This method of payment is
strictly enforced. There is no divorce
| recognized among the Havasupai.
OF the two chiefs Mr.. Spier said:
..They have absolutely no prerogatives
in the matter of power over the tribe.
The tribe as a whole works well to-
gether and the members feel a certain
definite social consciousness. 1t is the
business of the chiefs TO act as media
tors when matters need Gustment,
| but whatever laws exist are enforced
through public opinion. The chiefs
are charged with advising the young
women and instrIcting the youths
| growing into manhood. There is no
eanitai punishment. and instead of the
death penalty for murder the offend
ing party must make a payment in
land or goods. nlegitinacy does not
exist among them. Every child that
is born has recognized rather and no
odium attaches TO offspring. as hap
mems so frequently among people OF
higher social development"