Wigwam stories told by North American Indians — John Shaqi
Wigwam stories told by North American Indians
History
Wigwam stories told by North American Indians
Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Folklore
They grind their maize or other grain by hand between stones. They
raise turkeys, and, as they are good weavers, they sometimes use the
turkey feathers in weaving a downy cloth.
The Apaches live near the Pueblos and are well known for their love of
the warpath. They are not Village Indians, yet are noted for their fine
basket weaving. They use the willows found in their country instead of
the yucca fibers.
The different tribes of Pueblos often use stone axes. It is believed
that these are not made by them but were found in the deserted
cliff-dwellers’ homes.
These Village Indians make use of a plant called soaproot, the root of
which will make water foam and will cleanse one’s skin the same as the
white man’s soap. The Indian who lives in a teepee does not know the
use of soap and is not anxious for a bath.
White people have lived for years among the Zuñi and other Pueblos and
have found them patient, kind, and intelligent. Some of these whites
have returned and have written books about the people of whose home
life they have learned so much.
Some of the habits of the Navajos are very odd. After the death of one
of their tribe, his house, or hogan, is pulled down; if this is not
done, every one who enters it fears danger.
A Navajo will not look into the face of the mother of his wife; when
they talk together he looks on the ground or in another direction. It
is said a Navajo once forgot himself and, looking up, became blind.
They believe that the souls of the women of their tribe enter fish when
they leave this world; and they rarely eat fish for that reason. Indian
customs and manners are taught to their children with just as much
earnestness as white people teach their little ones.
All the Pueblos make curious images or dolls of clay. These may
possibly be idols, but are not always, for both old and young sometimes
play with them as toys. They are a religious people. They believe in a
Great Spirit and in a future life. Their forms of worship are very
strange and sometimes cruel.
The tribes called Pueblos of New Mexico are not included with those
which continue to live in the twenty-seven Pueblo towns, for whatever
may have been their customs in past centuries, they are now very
different from the Village Indians, who still live and worship after
the manner of their ancestors.
THE MOKI INDIANS
The Moki Indians live in pueblos the same as the Zuñi people. Their
name is also spelled Moqui and Hopi. The Moki pueblo of Walpi is in
Arizona. It is at the end of a mesa or plateau which rises abruptly
seven hundred feet above the desert. It is here that the great snake
dance is held each alternate autumn.
The Moki weave blankets and cloth for dresses, which they exchange with
other Pueblos for ponies, turquoise beads, and silver ornaments for
neck or hair.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account