164 Customs of the Coyotero Apaches. [ ZOE 
she takes her children. They usually, however, after a short time 
reconcile their parents. Children are treated kindly and very sel- 
dom punished, and orphans are often even better treated than 
their own children. Malformed children are rare and are not kill- 
ed, but twins usually are, one or both. It is considered disgraceful 
and beastlike to have twins, and some of the Indians even believe 
that they necessarily have different fathers. Deaths in childbirth 
are very rare, maternity among them being apparently a much sim- 
pler matter than among civilized nations. On the march or away 
from their dwellings a woman steps aside, others form a circle about 
her, and in a short time she reappears with her pappoose. In their 
village a secluded hut is used for the purpose, and if the woman 
have a female assistant she is paid for her services. 
The tribe seems to be increasing in numbers, females apparently 
predominating. They treat the sick kindly. Medicine men attend 
the sick in masks and attempt their cure by incantations. There is 
no penalty if the patient dies. Sweat-houses are in use, and a few 
plants are chewed and the juice blown from the mouth or rubbed 
upon the seat of pain. The soap plant ( Yucca angustifolia) is used 
as an emulsion in cases of insect and snake bites. An attempt by 
medicine men to cure cross eyes in a child was witnessed, They 
covered the child’s head with a net made of the leaves of a species 
of yucca and the arms were encircled with bands of thesame. Their 
frantic evolutions, with voice and drum accompaniment, then began 
and the eyes of the child rolled wildly with fright. After hours of 
their noisy, exciting gyrations, during which band after band was 
removed from the child’s arms, the eyes were found to be un- 
changed. They apparently have a strong prejudice against civil- 
ized remedies for the cure of ailments and for surgical appliances to 
wounds. Contact with civilization, however, is slowly altering this. 
An Indian who was thrown from his horse and had his shoulder 
dislo¢ated was induced to go to the hospital for treatment. He 
took a companion with him to witness operations, but ether being 
administered in preparation for replacement, the friend could not 
endure the sight of the senseless body and hastily left, saying he 
would return. He did so when the shoulder was replaced, and the 
patient was recovering from’ the effect of the ether. On being ques- 
tioned the sufferer described his feelings as being drunk, going to 
_ Sleep, waking up and finding his arm all right. He was cheerful 
