USA > Arizona > The marvellous country : or, Three years in Arizona and New Mexico, the Apaches' home > Part 24
USA > New Mexico > The marvellous country : or, Three years in Arizona and New Mexico, the Apaches' home > Part 24
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Now Don Rafael, like all Mexicans, possessed a most irascible temper, of which fact Jimmy was well aware, having had it demonstrated to his entire satisfaction on several occasions; consequently he stood in wholesome fear of rousing the slumbering demon in the Don's breast; but the present situation of affairs was getting to be un- bearable. While Jimmy stood watching them, Don Rafael, perhaps for the purpose of illustrating more clearly some point upon which the conversation had turned, took the woman's hand in his own, in that peculiar manner which speaks more plainly than words.
This was the "straw that broke the camel's back," and induced Jimmy to announce "supper" in the most stento- rian tones, which summons, being unheeded by Don Rafael, caused Jimmy to angrily exclaim, in a tone of voice that in its volume would have done credit to the Cardiff Giant, "Will yez be afther lavin' the woman alone thare, an' cum to yer supper, an' not be kapin' it round all the night
JIMMY JEALOUS. 455
long?" The fact that Don Rafael made no reply to the inquiry did not tend to reassure Jimmy in the least, much to the gratification of the doctor and myself, as we hoped, by thus rousing the "green-eyed monster" in his breast, to provoke a quarrel between himself and the "plidged object of his affictions."
After waiting a few moments, and no one offering to partake of the supper which he had prepared, Jimmy approached, and in most affable tones inquired for my health with so much Irish blarney that I could not fail to discover the "cat under the meal," though he tried hard to conceal it. A. moment later, under pretence of arranging the blankets, the cat was let out of the bag, for, in a tone of voice intended only for my ear, he said,-
"What's he spakin' ter her, Juge ?"
Innocently enough I inquired, "Who ?"
"That ould black divil, Don Rafael," said Jimmy.
I replied, after listening for a few moments, "O, he's only talking nonsense."
"But what's he sayin' ?" asked Jimmy.
"O, he's only telling her he thinks she's a handsome woman, and he'd like her for a sweetheart."
"An' what duz she say ter that, sur?"
"She says she thinks the Mexicans are splendid people, and that she'd rather have a Mexican for a lover than any one else in the world."
f
456
THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER.
"Thi dirthy ould pig," said Jimmy, "thryin' to thraduce mi characther and win her affictions for himsilf; he can't do't, though; she's thruc to me."
"Truc to you, Jimmy ? It may be so, but it don't look much like it. She's making an assignation with him now."
"What's that?" said Jimmy, staring at them with eyes as big as saucers; "what's a sassination ?"
"O, nothing but an agreement to meet her in a couple of hours for the purpose of taking a stroll."
"Is that it?" said Jimmy. "I'll tache the dirthy black divil a lisson, at thi sassination, wid mi shot goon, that ha'll rimimber all his life long, bedad."
"You'd better not let Don Rafael hear that remark, Jim- my. Ile'd shoot you quick as wink, if he should get mad; and he has as much right to make love to the old woman as you have."
"No, sur," said Jimmy; "she's mi mitber-in-lor, an' she's plidged ter me."
"Well, settle it between you, only take care of Don Rafacl."
"Juge, will yez spake ter him aboot it?"
"No, Jimmy, I have nothing further to say on the sub- ject."
Upon which Jimmy turned away and went out into the darkness, leaving Don Rafael and the "mother-in-law" still engaged in sweet converse.
457
A COUNTER-IRRITANT.
As soon as the doctor and myself were left alone, I in- formed him of Jimmy's engagement, and of his determina- tion to marry his mother-in-law, in spite of all opposition. At first he was disposed to be incredulous, and to regard the whole thing as a joke; but upon becoming convinced that with Jimmy at least it was a reality, he saw that it would be likely to cause us great annoyance and trouble should he persist in carrying out his intention.
"But," said the doctor, "we must endure it, for I am satisfied we can never cure it unless we kill him."
I most certainly deprecated resorting to any violent measures in attempting to prevent the exercise of his pro- pensity to fall in love with every woman whom he met, though I could but acknowledge to myself that Jimmy might as well be dead, for all the service he was to us in his present nervous and dazed condition. After consider- ing for a long time as to the best course to pursue, a thought struck me, and turning to the doctor, I asked if he had in his medicine-chest any tartar emetic.
"Plenty," replied the doctor, at the same time bursting into a hearty laugh; while he ejaculated, . "By thunder! that's a capital idea. I can cure him."
"It's best not to be too hasty, doctor; but if worse comes to worst, we can certainly try its effect."
"True. There's nothing in the world that'll cure love- sickness so quickly as a counter-irritant, administered in 58
458
IGNORED.
homeopathic doses. There isn't a particle of danger in it, and I'll guarantee a cure for the malady."
"Are you perfectly sure, doctor, that no harm can result from it?"
"Of course I am. Only let me know when you want your remedy tested, and I'll administer it."
Having then and there come to a firm determination to prevent the further growth of Jimmy's affection by nipping it in the bud, the doctor and myself smoked our pipes, rather amused to see Don Rafael so literally fulfilling or carrying out the suggestion that had been made to him; while in our mind's eye we enjoyed the confusion and dis- may that we expected would ensue upon the application of our proposed treatment to Jimmy.
The "mother-in-law" having at last, greatly to our grati- fication, signified to Don Rafael her desire to return to the pueblo, he arose and accompanied her.
Scarcely, however, had they left the camp, before Jim- my appeared, following so closely upon the heels of Don Rafael's departure that, to say the least, it suggested a suspicion to our minds that he might possibly have been concealed in so close proximity that he was enabled to witness the manner in which his "mother-in-law" received the attentions of the Don.
Striding furiously by both the doctor and myself, with- out deigning to notice either of us by a look even, Jimmy
459
ALMOST A CATASTROPIIE.
approached the wagon, and drawing from it his "shot gun," procceded to examine it with the air of a man deter- mined on desperate things. After apparently satisfying himself of its condition, he cast a hasty glance around the camp, and. addressing the doctor and myself, who were amused spectators of the scene, said,-
"Where's the ould black divil gone ?"
The doctor smilingly replied,-
"If you mean Don Rafael, you'll find him up at your mother-in-law's, Jimmy. IIe went home with her."
"Will, sir," said Jimmy, "whin he retarns, I shall in- throjuce him to the contints ov this fowlin'-pace, in a man- ner that'll not be very idifyin' to him."
"I wouldn't do that, Jimmy, because the Don is a good shot, and he will certainly kill you if you should fail in your attempt."
"Fail in mi attimpt!" said Jimmy. . "Fail! Ilow will I fail? The ould thafe ov the world's been thryin' to thra- juce mi characther to mi mither-in-lor, an' I'll hev his heart's blood, so I will, bedad; I'll shoot him like a dog."
At this moment I said,-
"Jimmy, I hear Don Rafael coming. IIadn't you better put up the gun before he sees it in your hand ?"
With a bound Jimmy sprang towards the wagon, attempt- ing to violently force the gun into the place from which he had drawn it at the bottom of the wagon. In the effort, one
460
LUCK VS. PLUCK.
of the hammers caught, and we were terribly startled by a tremendous report as one of the barrels was discharged, seemingly through Jimmy's body, who immediately fell to the ground uttering the most terrific yells, as he kicked and floundered around like a decapitated hen, crying,-
"For the love ov God, save me, docther. I'm kilt, shure. Shot through mi body. Howly muther! I'm bladin' to dith. It's me bowels that's prothrudiu'," said Jimmy, as in his agony he seized an India-rubber pillow that lay close by him.
We all rushed to him (Don Rafael, who had just returned, included) expecting to see him fearfully mangled. We were first surprised at finding no blood; but when an examina- tion revealed the fact that the entire charge had passed between Jimmy's body and his arm, without touching him anywhere, and that the only damage that had resulted from the explosion was a bad scar, and a large rent in his flannel blouse, our wonder and astonishment knew no bounds. We all agreed that Jimmy's lucky star was, as usual, in the ascendant, and had certainly saved him this time, although he would not believe himself unharmed for a long time; nor would he then, until he had carefully examined all his clothing for blood-stains, as well as made a close and ex- tended examination of each particular bone in his body, and satisfied himself that they were sound and unbroken.
Then he majestically arose from the ground, and casting
461
EXPLANATIONS.
a withering look upon Don Rafael, who was congratulating him upon his fortunate escape, said, "Ef mi bones is not bruk, me heart is; I might cz will bin kilt thin."
"Why, Jimmy, what do you mean?"
"It's mi mither-in-lor I manc," said Jimmy, bursting into tears.
"I don't want your mother-in-law, Jimmy; I was only trying to entertain her while you were busy. She looked so lonely sitting by herself, and was waiting to see you."
"But yez squazed her hand," said Jimmy.
"O, no, Jimmy; I was only looking at a wart on it."
"Is that so? B'dad! Don Rafael, you're a rale gintil- man, and can appryceate a gintilman's faylins, " said Jim- my, as he grasped Don Rafael's hand in both his own, and shook it with a fervor and carnestness almost paralyzing in its effect, quite forgetting in the excitement caused by the reaction in his feelings, that it was Don Rafael's blood that he was thirsting for but a few moments before.
Matters having been arranged to the entire satisfaction of Jimmy, we all retired, but were hardly ensconced in our blankets . ere we saw Jimmy rise, and silently stcal away in the direction of the pueblo. We did not disturb him, but allowed him to go his way, solacing ourselves with the thought that though he might build his "Castles in Spain," they would exist only in the bright clouds with which his imagination canopicd the future.
462
JIMMY NOTIFIES ME.
The next morning quite early, in fact, before breakfast, I was waited upon by Jimmy, who briefly informed me "that under the exhisting sarcumstances, he filt it to be his duthy to lave mi sarvice."
As I had expected this, I told him that I would talk with the doctor in the course of the day, and see him again.
"I'm roight sorry to part wid yez," said Jimmy, "but mi mither-in-lor thinks I owe her some ripotation for the loss of the gurl, an' b'dad, I'm goin' to pay it wid mesilf."
"Very well, Jimmy. I shall be sorry to hear that im- mediately upon leaving you, you were sold to the Navajoes, as a ransom for the girl."
"How d'ye mane ? What would they sill mi fur ?"
"You know that the cacique told me that the relatives of the girl demanded of him that he should require you to pay what the ransom of the girl would cost."
"Yis," said Jimmy; "but I proved mi innocence."
"Well, if you did that, you certainly owe the woman no reparation."
"Will, but she thinks I duz," said Jimmy.
"In that case, it's plain to me that there is some object behind all this; and that in some way you are to be made to suffer for not protecting the girl you were with; and if, in spite of all that has been said, you still desire to remain here, no one will make the least objection."
"Thank yez fur that," said Jimmy, as, with a bow and a
463
THE MOQUIS COUNTRY.
scrape he moved away, as happy as a lark at the idea that he had at last convinced me of the propriety of his remaining behind among the Zunis, a proceeding that would have sub- jected him to no danger in the least, but ourselves to most serious inconvenience.
Scarcely was our breakfast over before the cacique, accom- panied by two members of his council, appeared for the pur- pose of escorting us to the festival, which was to commence at noon.
Sundry toddies, however, together with a smoke from the doctor's big pipe, so won upon the old man's good-nature that, at my request, he seated himself upon one of our camp- stools, and was soon deeply engaged in giving an account of the wonders of the Moquis country and its people.
When at the Apache rancheria, I had seriously thought of paying this interesting and curious people a visit, but had been prevented from carrying out my design. I was, there- fore, very glad of this opportunity to learn something of them from one who had visited their villages, and whose knowledge of them was obtained by personal contact.
Taking a sip from his glass, and a few whiffs from the pipe, the old man commenced, in the low, monotonous tones that he always assumed in his narrations, a relation of the facts embodied in the information herein conveyed to the reader.
The Moquis country lies to the north and west of the San
464
ITS PEOPLE AND HOUSES.
Francisco Mountain, and not very far from the Colorado Chiquito. It is an arid, barren country, deeply eroded by floods, and largely formed of steep mesas, volcanic peaks, and rocky cañons, with a few fertile valleys interspersed among them.
Their villages, of which there are seven, are built upon the very edge of some of the steepest of these rocky mesas, in so singular a manner that, at a little distance, it is impos- sible for a stranger to distinguish them from the rocks, of which they appear to form a part. The first three of these are built upon a bluff of solid rock, about three hundred feet high and one hundred and fifty feet in width, and are reached by steep paths and by steps cut into the rock in such a manner that they can only be approached by persons on foot.
The houses are built of stone, are generally two stories high, and are laid in a mortar made of mud which is brought from the valleys below upon the backs of. men, there being no soil whatever upon the rock. In form they are similar to those of Zuni, entrance to them being by ladders, as there are neither doors nor windows in the lower stories.
The first and largest town is called Harro, and contains a population of about two thousand persons. All the towns or villages have large water-tanks, or reservoirs, constructed upon the rock, lined with masonry; they are generally five or six feet in depth, and are used for collecting and hold-
THE MOQUIS PUEBLOS.
465
WONDERFUL WATER-TANKS.
ing rain-water. Below each of these large tanks are smaller ones similarly constructed, and connected with those above by means of a pipe, through which water is conducted for the use of their stock. This stock consists entirely of sheep and goats, which are driven each day to pasture, the nearest grass being six miles away.
The population of the Moquis villages numbers, it is sup- posed, something over six thousand. Their government is an hereditary one, not necessarily descending from father to son, however, but any blood relation may be selected as de- termined by the choice of the people.
Of their religious belief, the cacique knew but little. They believed in a great father who dwelt where the sun rises, and of a great mother who lived where the sun sets. She peopled the carth by bringing from her own home nine things, from which sprang the different races of men. First, the deer race; second, the sand race; third, the water race; fourth, the bear race; fifth, the hare race; sixth, the prairie- wolf race; seventh, the rattlesnake race; eighth, the tobacco- plant race; and ninth, the reed-grass race. That after death, they assumed the form from which they originally sprang; thus aiding to form anew the decaying elements of the earth.
They never plough or irrigate their lands, depending en- tirely upon the natural fall of rain; their only agricultural implement is a kind of hoe; with this they plant corn,
59
466
VERY SINGULAR FACTS.
beans, onions, melons, pumpkins, cotton, and a species of tobacco-plant in the valleys around them. They also knit, weave, and spin very nicely, as do the Zunis and the others of the Pueblo tribes.
One very singular fact in connection with the Moquis is deserving of especial mention, viz. the people of Harro, although living within two hundred yards of another large village, - the whole seven of these villages are within a radius of six miles, - speak an entirely different language from those of the remaining six villages, and seem to have preserved their manners and customs intact, as well as their language, for centuries; and another singular fact is, that while the people of Harro understand and can converse in the language spoken by the people of the other villages, they neither understand or can converse in the language spoken by the people of Harro. With these and many more interesting facts did the old cacique while away the morning hours; but as I was accidentally brought into contact on the following day with a couple of Moquis who came directly from Harro, I shall give the reader some further account of the manners and customs of this singular and primitive race in a succeeding chapter.
As the time had arrived for us to start for the pueblo, I asked the cacique if he would give us the origin or history of the "Green-corn dance," to which request he willingly assented, and gave the following account.
467
THE GREEN-CORN DANCE.
As soon as the first ears of maize begin to ripen, they are plucked by women, and brought to the high-priest, who alone possesses the right to strip from them the husks, for the purpose of ascertaining the degree of maturity to which they have arrived.
After the ears shall have obtained a certain age, if the promise for an abundant crop be a fair one, the high-priest sends criers through the streets, to announce to the people that as Montezuma has been kind to them and given them bountiful crops, they must assemble upon a certain day at noon, -- specifying a particular day, -"and render unto him thanksgiving and praise for having so kindly provided for their comfort." This was the day he had appointed for that purpose, and the doctor and myself accompanied him to the pueblo to witness the ceremony, leaving our camp in charge of Don Rafael,- Jimmy, as usual, being absent.
Upon reaching the pueblo, we were assigned a seat of honor by the side of the cacique, on the lower terrace of the council house.
The procession soon slowly approached; the men came in single file, their bodies bent almost double, as though borne down by the immense weight of the load of maize which they were pretending to carry upon their shoulders. Around their loins was tied a small blanket, the upper portion of their bodies being entirely naked, and painted a dark-red color; their arms and legs, which were also naked, were striped with
468
THIE PERFORMERS.
red, white, and green paint; around cach arm above the elbow, they wore a band of cloth, trimmed with the tops of the pine-tree, intermingled with red pimento berries, while a similar necklace encircled their necks; their heads were elaborately decorated with cagles' feathers.
In one hand they carried a small gourd, in which were a few grains of dried corn, while in the other was a string, from which depended a number of guayaves tied together like a bunch of cigars; around cach leg, just below the knee, was fastened a band from which depended shells, cagles' claws, antelopes' hoofs, etc., while from their shoulders dangled the skins of such wild animals that the wearer had himself slain.
One of the men had with him a "tombe," or drum, on which he occasionally beat in the most frantic manner, although the only attempt at instrumental music, was made by drawing a notched stick swiftly across the convex half of a dried gourd, the sound of which was supposed to resemble that made in grinding corn upon a metatte.
This party were accompanied by three members of the council, whose business it was to make a short harangue in front of cach house, the occupants awaiting their coming upon the terraces, and bestowing upon them maize, which was added to the common fund provided for the occasion.
After all the houses had been visited, the party sang and danced themselves back to the plaza, where four large
ADIL
THE GREEN CORN DANCE.
469
DESCRIPTION OF THE DANCE.
camp-kettles were hung over fires, in cach of which maize was boiling. These kettles were suspended by ropes from four poles, about five feet high, which came together at the top; the poles were ornamented by twelve cars of corn, sup- posed to represent the twelve months of the year. Each one of the kettles were tended by four men, dressed similarly to those already described, their bodies, however, being solidly painted in white, red, green, and blue.
These men were supposed to represent the four seasons, and were selected for their sweet voices and ability to endure fatigue, being expected to sing their hymns of grati- tude to Montezuma,- for whom this boiling maize, the first of their crop, was intended,-all the while beating time with a corn-stalk on the edge of the kettle around which they were dancing.
This singing and dancing continued until the maize was perfectly boiled, after which it was taken from the ket- tle, placed upon the fire and reduced to ashes, which were carefully collected by members of the council, and carried to the fields and sprinkled upon the carth, that they might purify and enrich the soil for the crops of the coming year.
This ceremony completed, another fire was lighted, and the kettles refilled with maize; this was boiled and distrib- uted among the populace, and then ensued a scene of glut- tony and excess that would equal that displayed at a coun- try parson's donation visit.
470
ITS ORIGIN AND HISTORY.
No one is permitted to join in this dance who has not fasted for a given length of time, and, in addition, they are required to thoroughly cleanse the inside of the body, which is done by the free use of fermented liquors, that act as a cathartic. This practice renders them better fitted to sing their hymns of praise to Montezuma, as well as to enjoy the feast of good things that come after.
The origin of this dance is without doubt of a religious character, and seems, with the "Buffalo Dance," to have been handed down from generation to generation for cen- turies.
We very much regretted that we could not witness the celebration of this latter dance, as its mysteries, and the peculiar manner in which it is performed, are said to be very amusing.
We retired from the scene about sunset, and upon reach- ing our camp we learned from Don Rafael that Jimmy had not made his appearance there during our absence, nor had we seen him at the pueblo. We felt that his remissness was becoming so flagrant, that we must at once adopt some means to correct it, and determined to administer the first "correc- tive dose" that night.
Of all the dishes that our camping life afforded, none so tickled Jimmy's palate as an "Irish stew," and this night Don Rafael had prepared a savory stew of antelope for our supper. A dish of it was carefully tartarized and put one
471
TARTARIZED.
side for Jimmy when he should return to the camp, while the doctor and myself speculated on the probable results.
Some hours later Jimmy returned in a remarkably happy frame of mind, having, as he informed us, "injied thi sight ov thim naked divils widout clothes cn, caperin' round wid their corn, bitther nor he wud a rale ould Irish jig, fur his mither-in-lor tould him they'd hev foine corn thi ensuin' year," telling us at the same time that he was "hungry as a bear, an' could ate a Navajoe alive," whereupon the doctor arose, and produced the stew that had been so carefully saved for him, much to Jimmy's delight.
A few moments sufficed to finish his meal, which he pro- nounced "viry foine," and shortly afterwards we all "turned in," and awaited further developments, which the reader will find "counted in the succeeding chapter.
CHAPTER XXIX.
-
OWLY MUTHER! it's dyin' I am, " were the words that saluted my ears about mid- night.
There was no response, although I could distinctly hear Jimmy's groans, accompanied by the most violent retching and vomiting.
Between these paroxysms he called loudly upon cach one (472)
473
SICKNESS.
of us, begging us to "wake up an' hilp him, fur the luv o' God, before he got so did he couldn't call us."
At last, in answer to his frequent calls, the doctor leisurely arose, and going to Jimmy, inquired what was the matter.
"Matther anuf, God knows," said Jimmy. "I'm dyin', docther; an' thare's no praste to absolve mi. Will yez be afther givin' mi somethin' to aze mi, docther?"
Here another violent retching spell occurred, after which Jimmy exclaimed, "D'ye say that now, docther ? I'm a did mon; in liss thin tin minpits I'll be a corps; and may the blissid Vargin recave mi sowl, for there's no praste to absolve me at all, at all."
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