NOTES ON THE TONTO APACHES 41^ 



wood bearing the arrow-head is inserted firmly into the cane and withed in that 

 position, while _a the others the attachment between the two is so sHght as to 

 admit of being severed by very gentle traction. None wore any covering for 

 the head with the exception of the chief, whose crown consisted of a closely 

 fitting skull-cap of skin, unadorned behind, but covered in front with feathers 

 and many spangles of brass and tin. He also possessed a doublet of prepared 

 buckskin, brownish red iu color, with some blue linen markings on it. They 

 were very eager to obtain cast-ofi" clothing from the troops ; and their requests 

 for tobacco were constant. The latter they manufactured into cigaritas, although 

 they had no objection to a pipe when offered. 



The only methods of communication between distant parts of the country 

 (excluding the messenger of course) which I knew them to employ are fire by 

 night and smokes during the daytime. 



I saw no earthenware vessels among them; the utensils employed in the 

 preparation of food being shallow basins of closely netted straw. They carried 

 water in pitchers of the same material, but they were matted all over with a pitch, 

 which communicated its flavor to the contents. 



They are not bold in their manner of carrying on a war, attacking only when 

 their numbers, and a well-laid ambush, promise a certainty of success. They 

 seldom scalp, but very frequently mutilate otherwise the bodies of their slain 

 enemies. 



In disposition they seem to be light-hearted, but subject to sudden fits of 

 suspicion and timidity, which is perhaps sufficiently accounted for by the active 

 campaign of late kept up against them by our Indian allies, and the circumstance 

 of living for the first time in the neighborhood, and in a great measui'e in the 

 power, of the whites. Very frequently after having spent the evening in dance 

 and song, during the night they would become suspicious of something and take 

 to the mountains, returning only after some days, and in small parties at a time. 

 The dance is similar to that of the California Indians ; a stamp around, with 

 clapping of hands and slapping of thighs in time to a drawl of monotones. 



The only act of a religious character which I observed, took place during our 

 first interview with them. The old squaw, who was the first to venture into the 

 fort, intimated, through a Maricopa who possessed a smattering of Apache, that 

 her people wanted peace, but being afraid to come among the whites, prayed 

 them to come to the mountains to hold a council. Some four or five officers 

 accompanied her. Shortly after crossing the river they were met by a small 

 party of the Indians, one of whom chalked a cross on the breast of each, with a 

 yellow earth, which he carried in a satchel at his belt. Previous to doing so he 

 muttered some words very solemnly with his hand uplifted and eyes thrown 

 upwards. Again, on arriving at the camp of the people, the chief and others in 

 greeting them took a similar vow, touching thereafter the yellow chalked cross. 

 Sonora may have furnished them with some of their notions of a Deity. 



The peace negotiations fell to the ground, inasmuch as the other villages 

 of the tribe, not having been so great sufferers from the war as this one, refused 

 to join it in its propositions. 



CHARLES SMART, 

 Brevet Captain and Assistant Surgeon U. S. Armij. 



Fort McDowell, Arizona, 



September 13, 1866. 



