NO. 6 SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, I92O IO3 



weeks at a government station called San Xavier Mission. The 

 Papago tribe was selected partly because of its desert habitat (fig. 

 120), the intention being to compare the phonographic records of 

 Papago songs with those of Arabian songs obtained from Arabs who 

 were temporarily in Washington, D. C. (Subsequent results proved 

 the value of this comparison.) According to the last census there are 

 7,465 Papago Indians on the reservation, but not one " mixed-blood " 

 family. It is said further that there has never been any intermarriage 

 between this tribe and Mexicans or Spanish. Their manner of life is 

 becoming modified, but many primitive customs remain and were 

 observed. A primitive burial place was found by Miss Densmore. 



Fig. 120. — Habitat of Papago Indians. (Photograph by Miss Densmore.) 



These burial places were constructive on the side of a mountain and 

 consisted of low walls of rocks, roofed with timber and tightly closed 

 with stones. Bodies were removed after a time to make room for 

 other burials. A skull and a few bones remained in the tomb exam- 

 ined. 



The subjects studied were: (i) Songs used in treating diseases 

 caused by spirits of dead Apaches and Papago; (2) songs connected 

 with the " purification " of returned warriors who had killed Apaches, 

 and (3) songs connected with dreams, games, and dances. Musical 

 instruments formed a subject of special investigation. A native 

 flageolet was obtained (fig. 12) together with the tradition concerning 

 its origin. The music of this instrument was phonographically 

 recorded and has been transcribed. The Papago beat upon an over- 



