The Human Race Part 41

Carrying a ceremonial racket, they repair from village to village and hut to hut, proclaiming throughout the entire tribe the names of the individuals who have proposed the match, and making known the day of the struggle and the place of meeting. As each of the actors is accompanied by his relatives, half the nation is often found a.s.sembled at the appointed locality on the eve of the solemn day, some to take part in the fray, and the others to bet upon the result. This game (fig. 218) is a tremendous tussle, a general scrimmage in which almost the whole tribe is engaged.

Between the Canadian border and Arkansas, sprinkled with flourishing farms, is the fertile domain of the Creek Indians. It is not so long since the warriors there covered themselves with whimsical tattooing; but progress has to-day penetrated into these savannas, and these same Indians to-day read a newspaper printed in their language.

Like the Choctaws, the Creeks formerly inhabited Alabama and Mississippi, which they ceded for a pecuniary consideration to the American government. Their numbers do not amount to more than twenty-two thousand.

A similar estimate may be made of the _Cherokees_, who have abandoned New Georgia for higher Arkansas.

Further off are the _Shawnees_, a nation which is reduced to about fourteen hundred members, and yet was once one of the most powerful in North America. They were the first to oppose resistance to the encroachments of civilization, and hunted from everywhere have strewn the bones of their warriors along their route.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 218.--CHOCTAW INDIANS PLAYING BALL.]

The _Delawares_, who have diminished to the insignificant total of eight hundred individuals, originally inhabited the eastern parts of the States of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Their fate resembled that of the Shawnees; being ever obliged to subdue new territories which they were afterwards compelled to yield to the government. Driven from the plains which contained the tombs of their forefathers, deceived and betrayed by the strangers, the Delaware Indians have repelled Christian missionaries. Placed at the extreme limits of civilization, on the very border of virgin nature, they devote themselves fearlessly to their adventurous propensities. They go to hunt the grizzly bear in California, the buffalo on the plains of Nebraska, the elk at the sources of the Yellowstone, and the mustang in Texas, scalping a few crowns on their way. A Delaware only requires to see a piece of land once, in order to be able to recognize it after the lapse of years, no matter from what side he may approach it; and wherever he sets his foot for the first time, a glance suffices to enable him to discover the spot where water should be sought for. These Indians are admirable guides, and on their services, which cannot be too dearly paid for, the existence of a whole caravan often depends.

_Comanches._--The great and valiant nation of the Comanche Indians, which is divided into three tribes, overruns in every direction the vast expanse of the Prairies: outside those green savannahs they would be unable to live. Those of the north and of the centre are ever hunting the buffalo, and the flesh of that animal const.i.tutes almost their sole sustenance. From the most tender childhood till advanced age they are in the saddle, and a whip and bridle render the Comanche the most expert, agile, and independent of men. They gallop in thousands over the Prairies hanging to the sides of their steeds, and directing their arrows and spears with marvellous skill at their mark. They plume themselves on being robbers, attack the establishments of the Whites, lead men, women, and children away prisoners, and carry off the cattle.

Fig. 219 represents two Comanche Indians; fig. 220, one of their encampments, and fig. 221, a buffalo hunt among the same tribe.

_Apaches._--The _Apache_ nation is one of the most numerous of New Mexico, including many tribes, several of which are not even known by name.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 219.--COMANCHE INDIANS.]

The _Navajoes_ belong to this group. They are the only Indians of New Mexico who keep large flocks of sheep and pursue a pastoral life. They know how to weave the wool of their flocks, of which they manufacture thick blankets fit to compete with the productions of the west, twisting bright colours into these rugs in a way that imparts to them a very original appearance. Their deerskin leggings are made with the utmost care, and have thick soles and a pointed end, shaped like a beak, a necessary precaution against the th.o.r.n.y cactus plants with which the soil bristles. Their head-gear consists of a leathern cap in the form of a helmet, adorned by a bunch of c.o.c.k's, eagle's, or vulture's feathers.

In addition to bows and arrows, they carry long lances which they handle very skilfully as they dash along on their fleet steeds.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 220.--A COMANCHE CAMP.]

In the last rank of the Apache nation are to be placed the tribes of the _Cosninos_ and _Vampays_, thievish, savage, and suspicious hordes with which it has been found impossible to establish any relations, and who are natives of the mountains of San Francisco. Cedar-berries, the fruit of a species of pine-tree, and the gra.s.s and root of a Mexican plant, const.i.tute their means of subsistence, for they are wretched hunters.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 221.--A BUFFALO HUNT.]

Within sight of the Rio Colorado M. Mollhausen encountered some Indians belonging to the three tribes of the _Chimehwebs_, _Cutchanas_ and _Pah-Utah_s, who bear a resemblance to each other. Their complexion was dark in colour, their faces striped with bistre, and their black hair hung down their backs in locks which were confined with wet clay. They were of fine stature, and perfectly naked but for a waistband. They bounded forward like deer to meet the travellers, and their expression of countenance was frank, kind, and merry. Their women on the contrary were small, thickset, and clumsy, but their large black eyes and pleasant manners gave them a certain charm.

The travellers also fell in with the _Mohawk Indians_ (fig. 222), men of herculean forms who were tattooed from the roots of the hair to the sole of the foot in blue, red, white and yellow, and with eyes that glowed like coals under this layer of paint. Most of them wore vulture's, magpie's, or swan's feathers on the top of their heads, and carried large bows and spears in their hands.

Mr. Catlin made numerous excursions among the Indian tribes of the plains of Columbia and Upper Missouri, and we shall quote presently his remarks concerning the _Nayas_ and _Flat-Heads_.

Both these nations dwell to the west of the Rocky Mountains, occupying all the country situated round Lower Columbia and Vancouver's Island.

The latter tribe derives its name from the singular custom which exists among them of flattening their children's heads at their birth.

The Flat-Heads (fig. 223) live in a region where very little in the way of food is to be found except fish, and their lives are spent in canoes. The artificial deformity which const.i.tutes the national characteristic is to be found more especially among the women, with whom it is almost universal; but it is only a question of fashion, and does not appear to have any perceptible effect on the functions of the organs, for persons whose heads have been compressed seem as intelligent as those who have not undergone this strange operation.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 222.--MOHAWK INDIANS.]

Mr. Catlin says:--

"In the course of the year 1853 I found myself on board the Sally Anne, a little vessel flying the star-spangled flag, which having made a few trading cruises along the coast of Kamtschatka and Russian America, was on her way to land in British Columbia several pa.s.sengers who had been attracted thither by the reputation of the auriferous deposits newly discovered in that country.

"On the third day from our entry into Queen Charlotte's Sound, the long and magnificent strait separating Vancouver's Island from the continent, we got into the long-boat to go on sh.o.r.e, and arrived at the village of the Nayas. The Indians had been informed of our visit and were all a.s.sembled in their huts; the chief, a very dignified man, being seated in his wigwam, with lighted pipe, ready to receive us. We squatted ourselves on mats spread upon the ground, and whilst the pipe was being pa.s.sed round--this is the first ceremony on such occasions--hundreds of native dogs--half wolves,--which had followed in our track, completely invaded the approaches to the wigwam, barking and howling in the shrillest and most mournful manner. The sentinel whom the chief had stationed at the door to prevent anyone entering without permission, discharged an arrow at the leader of the band, piercing him to the heart, a proceeding which calmed the rest of the pack, which was then dispersed with many blows of oars by the Indian women. We were not a little embarra.s.sed at having no other way of expressing our thoughts than by signs, yet we seemed to understand each other perfectly, and we gathered that the chief had sent to a village at no great distance in search of an interpreter who ought very soon to arrive. I recommended my companions not to breathe a word before his arrival as to our object in visiting the locality, and in the meantime did not myself lose an instant in endeavouring to rouse the interest of our hosts.

"I motioned to Caesar to bring me the portfolio, and having seated myself beside the chief, opened it before him, while I gave an explanation of each portrait; he expressed no great surprise, and yet took an evident pleasure in examining them. I showed him several chiefs of the Amazons, as well as others of the Sioux, Osages, and p.a.w.nees. The last likeness was a full-length one of Caesar, on seeing which he could not restrain himself from bursting into the most tremendous fits of laughter, and turning towards the subject of it who was sitting opposite, signed to him to approach, gave him a grasp of the hand and made him place himself beside him. These drawings excited great animation in the a.s.semblage; three or four under-chiefs were anxious to see them, and the chief's wife and their young daughter came close to us for the same purpose.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 223.--FLAT-HEAD INDIANS.]

"One detail of their toilette attracted Caesar's attention: a man had a round slip of wood inserted in his under lip and the chief's daughter also carried a similar ornament. Like Caesar, my companions were ignorant of this strange and incredible custom, and contemplated the Indians thus adorned, with the utmost astonishment.

"The chief's daughter wore a magnificent mantle of mountain-sheep's wool and wild-dog's hair, marvellously interwoven with handsome colours in the most intricate and curious patterns, and bordered all round with a fringe eighteen inches deep. The making of this robe had occupied three women during a year, and its value was that of five horses. The bowl of the pipe which the chief pa.s.sed round, was of hard clay, black as jet and highly polished, and both it and the stem were embellished with sketches of men and animals carved in the most ingenious manner. I have seen several of these pipes, and have had many in my possession, with their eccentric designs representing the garments, canoes, oars, gaiters, and even the full-length likenesses of their owners. These designs of the Nayas are different from all those we saw among the other tribes of the continent. The same ornaments are found on their spoons, vases and clubs; on their earthenware, of which they make a great quant.i.ty; and on everything else manufactured by them. Up to the present these figures are inexplicable hieroglyphics to us, but they possess great interest for archaeologists and etymologists.

"I did not find in this Naya Chief the same superst.i.tious dread which the Indians of the Amazon and of other parts in the south of America evinced when I asked them to have their portraits taken; on the contrary he said of his own accord to me: 'If you think any of us worthy of the honour, or handsome enough to be painted, we are ready!' I thanked him; Caesar went for my box of colours and my easel, and I began his likeness and that of his daughter, for he had told me how much he loved this child, adding that it was his rule to have her almost always with him, and that he thought I should do well to draw them together, both on the same canvas. I agreed to his request, telling him at the same time how much I appreciated such natural and n.o.ble feelings on his part.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 224.--NAYA INDIANS.]

"... . As we neared the village a great crowd came to meet us, and I noticed that the throng, especially the women, attached themselves to the steps of Caesar as he marched solemnly along, his tall figure drawn up to its full height, and with the portfolio on his back. So large were the numbers for so small a village, that I asked the interpreter to explain what this signified. He told me that the news of our arrival and the attraction of the dance which was sure to take place in the evening had drawn and would still draw a vast concourse of Indians from the adjoining districts. At sunset we partook of a meal of venison in the chief's wigwam, and afterwards set ourselves to smoke until night came on. Then in the midst of dreadful yelling, barking, and singing, we saw about a dozen flaming torches approaching the hut in front of which the dance of masks now began. Grotesque is an imperfect word to convey an idea of the incredible eccentricities and buffoonery that took place before us, and Caesar was seized with such a fit of laughing as to be almost choked. Picture to yourself, fifteen or twenty individuals, all full-grown men, masked or tricked out in the most extraordinary guise, while many spectators, placed in the first rank, were costumed in similar style. A great medicine man was the conductor of the revels and the most whimsical of all. He represented the 'King of the Bustards,'

another was 'Monarch of the Divers,' a third, 'Doctor of the Rabbits;'

and there were also the 'Brother to the Devil,' the 'Thunder-Maker,' the 'White Rook,' the 'Night-travelling Bear,' the 'Soul of the Caribout,'

and so on, until the names of every animal and every bird were entirely exhausted. The dancers' masks, of which I procured several, are very ingeniously made. They are cleverly hollowed from a solid block of wood in such a way as to fit the face, and are held inside by a cross-strap which is taken between the teeth, thus enabling the voice to be counterfeited and disguised; they are covered, moreover, with odd patterns in various colours. With the exception of that of the leader of the dance, all these masks had a round piece of wood in the under lip, to recall the singular custom which exists in the country.

Entertainments of this description are not confined to the Nayas, for I have witnessed similar recreations in many other tribes in North as well as South America.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 225.--A CROW CHIEF.]

"They also slit the cartilages and lobes of their ears, lengthen them, and insert little billets as ornaments. Those in the lip are princ.i.p.ally worn by the women, though some of the men have adopted this fashion, which becomes more and more in vogue among both s.e.xes as the coast is ascended northwards. The same may be said of the masks, which are to be found as far as among the Aloutis. All the women have not the lip pierced, and those who have do not carry the wooden ornament except on certain occasions, at settled periods, when they don full dress. They remove it when eating and sleeping or if they have to talk much, for there are plenty of words which cannot be p.r.o.nounced with this inconvenient trinket.

"The lip is perforated at the earliest age, and the aperture thus formed, though almost imperceptible at first when the 'barbote' is taken out, is kept open and grows larger daily."

The same traveller had the pleasure of again meeting the _Crows_, but as we have already spoken of the Indians of this tribe, we shall content ourselves with reproducing here his very picturesque costume of one of their chiefs (fig. 225).

Mr. Catlin twice visited the _Mandan Indians_ in the course of the summer of 1832. The solitary village in which they were collected, to the number of two or three thousand, was on the left bank of the Missouri, at a distance of about 1400 miles from the city of St. Louis.

Of medium stature, and comfortably clad in skins, all wore leathern leggings and moca.s.sins elegantly embroidered with porcupine silk dyed in various colours.

Each man had his tunic and his mantle which he a.s.sumed or laid aside according to the temperature, and every woman her robe of deer or antelope skin. Many among them had a very fair skin, and their hair, which was silvery gray from childhood to old age, their light blue eyes and oval faces, doubtless testified to an infusion of white blood.

Almost all the men adopted a curious fashion, peculiar to this tribe; their hair, long enough to reach the calf of their legs, was divided into matted locks, flattened and separated by hardened birdlime or by red or yellow clay.

NORTH-WESTERN FAMILY.

The Indian tribes composing the _North-Western family_ of the North American Branch, are less warlike and cruel than those of the east. They take no scalps. Their stature is not so tall, their face broader, their eyes more sunken, and their complexion browner. M. d'Omalius d'Halloy cites in this group the _Koliouges_ (from 60 to 50 N. lat.), the _Wakisches_ or _Nootkans_ (Island of Nootka and neighbouring coasts), the _Chinooks_ (mouth of the Oregon), and the _Tularenos_, or Indians of California.

A detailed description of these different American tribes would be devoid of interest; in fact, we should be only able to repeat with but little alteration what has been said in previous pages concerning the manners, habits, customs, &c., of the last remaining savages who still people the interior of the North American forests.

In connection with the aboriginal inhabitants of California, we must direct the reader's attention to the fact, that the Californians have a skin of such a deep reddish-brown that it seems black. This colour is certainly exceptional among the primitive inhabitants of America, but the characteristic is so p.r.o.nounced in the present instance, that we felt that we could not avoid pointing it out, although it may be opposed to the cla.s.sification which we have adopted, placing in the Red Race all members of the human family proper to America. This exception is one of the inconveniences of cla.s.sification to which we must submit, without however endeavouring to conceal it.

THE BLACK RACE.