616 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE MOHAVES. 



the circninstftiice of some oue haviri": poisoned beaver for their hides, 

 and tiie Indians who ate of the llesh were poisoned and died; hence, 

 they think all beavers are bad. 



After one dies the friends do not eat salt nor wash themselves for 

 four days. But these superstitions are fast disappearing, and in a few 

 years most of them will have died out altogether. The Uiediciue men are 

 most instrumental in keeping them alive. 



They formerly practiced polygamy, but this is now discontinued. 

 Their marriage ceremony is a very simple one ; they merely agree to 

 live together as man and wife, seldom separating after such an agree- 

 ment is formed. 



They regard the hieroglyphics found on rocks as being the relics of 

 some distinct race, of which they have no tradition whatever. Their 

 animal nature, like that of all aborigines, predominates, and they are 

 most happy and contented when they have plenty to eat. The children 

 are rather bright and inclined to learn when tlieir minds are not diverted 

 by play. When allowed to recreate they play some kind of game from 

 early morn until bed-time. 



Some of the women do very artistic work in beads and pottery; they 

 also w^eave matting from cottonwood bark. The mesquitebean is their 

 principal food in winter; this they gather and put up in large willow 

 baskets, which they place ui)on platforms for storage. The screw beans 

 they put into a kind of kiln, and thus it goes through a sweating 

 process before they are used. They have the metate for grinding wheat, 

 corn, beans, etc. 



Chief Ilook-o row is the head of the Mohave tribe, and he is a good, 

 peaceable Indian, but not very progressive, being inclined to take life 

 rather easy. 



Like all Indians they have plenty of dogs, and will divide their last 

 meal with them. The children are all called -'Peet," until they arrive 

 at about four or five years of age, when they are provided with a name. 



They live in sweat-houses in winter and under open sheds in summer. 

 Those who go to the railroad towns and mining camps soon become 

 demoralized with whisky and contaminated by tramps. 



With proper means of irrigation and instruction as to farming they 

 would soon become a thriving community. 



