The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1919-04-25

NdliS dIuOHS TIE fueDfOS-tIdC Oh the
men and women working together in
the field-also exists among the Supai.
'"The men also make clothing out Of
buckSkin, domestic trait character
istic Of the Pueblos. The influence Of
the other adjacent tribes. while slight,
may be seen in the construction Of
various types of huts and tepees. The
Havasupai build four different types.
There is a log and mud hut common
among the Navajos; the conical
matched tepee built to great extent
among the Mohaves and the square
matched hut of the Plateau Indians.
Among the American Indians" he
continued, 1.-THE nOmadic and warlike
traits predominant, but the Havasupai
are unique in this respect. They are
peaceably inclined and happy in the
contemplation of their own works.
The Havasupai live in camps during
the summer months along the creek in
the midst of their farms. They are
expert 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.
In winter the tribe takes to the
lodges, and caves on the mountain side
high above the danger levels. Cataract
creek always overflows during the
rainy season and mandates the land.
Here" said Mr.. Spier,,"I found some
bly, carved out Of the walls by pre-
historic race. I found some fragmen-
tary pottery in various places which
supported my theory. 1'.
"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 covering placed
over it. 1t is made just large enough
for one man to crawl inside. Baskets
containing red-hOt rocks are placed in
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 breechclouts, for the dis
cussiOn of tribal affairs. ..
The women do not devote all of
their afternoons to domestic pursuits.
They have passion for gambling. Mr..
Spier says, and for several hours af-
ter the days toll in the fields they con-
gregate and play at dice.
Today one never finds American In
dams using anything but matches to
light their fires. The Havasupai still
use primitive fire drills. Up to 1910
the stone knife was used exclusively.
No Marriage Ceremony.
Marriage in 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