The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-09

peaceably inclined and happy in the
contemplation of their own works. This
may be attributed in a large measure
to their isolated position. They have
never been warriors because they al
ways have been numerically weak. At
no time could their number have been
more than 225. They are simple and
intelligent. Hostile tribes have never
concerned themselves, apparently. with
assaulting so invulnerable position.
Il was received" said Mr.. Spier,
with the utmost courtesy. There We're
two interpreters assigned to me. One
spoke a little Zuni, the dialect of a
north Mexican tribe with which ! was
familiar and the other a little Eng
lish CLEANED from the Government
agent. In order to make myself per-
soma ordtG 1 addressed an assembly Of
the tribe and stated the aims of the
American museum. I told them how
all the Indians gradually. were being
assimilated into the white mans civili-
cation and it was our intention to pre-
serve their works and those of their
ancestors for future generations to see.
AS a matter of tribal pride they readily
assented TO be represented among the
other tribes. The chief even went so
far as to requisition full exhibit of
all manner of things from baskets and
pottery to cradle board on which the
papooses are carried"
Expert Corn Growers.
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. A great
many important suggestions concern
ing the culture of corn have been
passed along to the farmers Of the
United States by the Department of
Agriculture, which has obtained its in
formation from the Indians
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
| edges and caves on the mountainside
high above the danger levels. Cataract
Greek always overfiows during the
rainy season and mandates the land.
Here" said Mr.. Spier, II found some
most interesting caves, unequestion-
ably carved out OF the walls by a pre-
historic race. l 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
The men and women work in the
! fields until noon. The rest of the day
is devoted to recreation. The women,
| however, are more industrious than
the men, for they devote some of the
afternoon hours to basket weaving and
making pottery.
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 modern 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
placed inside and water is then poured
over them, producing a cloud OF steam.
The covering holds the steam inside
and as soon as the sweating process is
| deemed to have progressed sufficiently
fhe bather jumps out for a "shock" in