VOL. I. ] Customs of the Coyotero Apaches. 165 
and made his statement in a pleasant manner, saying, ‘‘I am for 
white man’s medicine now.”’ 
Their rainy season is in July, August and September. When it 
is delayed, or there is unusual need, they try to produce rain by 
making many fires in dead trees about in the woods. Possibly the 
resemblance of the smoke to clouds has led to the practice. 
This band of Apaches bury their dead, burn the dwelling and ev- 
erything belonging to them, and kill their animals, making no use 
of the carcasses. Mr. Cooley, who has long been their neighbor 
and has much influence over them, informed me that a Mexican 
prisoner who had lived among them and married one of their wom- 
en, died after accumulating a large number of cattle, leaving his son 
to Mr. Cooley’s guardianship, but before he could interfere and 
take possession of his ward’s property, forty head of fine fat animals 
had been already killed and left to decay. The name of the dead 
must not even be mentioned. There are some, however, among 
them who will listen to advice and refrain from destroying their 
property, especially their live stock, as they see and feel the advan- 
tage of its increase to their children. Women act as undertakers, 
wrap the dead body in blankets, and, if traveling, pile rocks over 
the remains; but, if stationary, they take it to some ravine or out of 
the way place, and hide it with rocks or other material, or conceal 
~ it in a cave, if one be within reach. The men will not touch the 
dead, nor even anything defiled with human blood. Mourning is 
considered as befitting the women only. They are expected to show 
grief at burials and on sorrowful occasions. The men cannot, how- 
ever, face the suffering of their friends unmoved. One Sunday at 
Fort Apache two women fought furiously, cutting each other con- 
siderably. When the battle was ended the surgeon sewed up their 
wounds, and their cries of agony caused their male friends to weep 
freely—no ceremonial weeping for effect, but real sorrow for the 
pain endured. 
The Coyotero musical instruments consist of a fife made from 
elder wood, a corn-stalk fiddle, and a drum made by stretching wet 
buckskin over an earthen pot or camp kettle. Their music, though 
rude and monotonous, is not unpleasing. Their bows are made of 
ash. They have few spears, and their war clubs are made by re- 
moving the bone from the large end of a cow’s tail, filling its place — 
with a round stone, over which the skin is firmly sewed. The an- 
