74 



lie left, mnttering something to himself which sounded like "Him no 

 eat um ! Washton no like urn ! " In the fine arts this tribe has not ad- 

 vanced beyond the first rude attempts at drawing and painting. Yet in 

 almost every lodge, the talent of the artist is displayed upon the canvas 

 in the painting of animals and the represeutation of historical battles. 



On one tent the figures were supposed to chronicle a memorable 

 fight with the A-rap'-a-hoes, and represent the horses and trophies 

 captured from them on that occasion. Not being able to write, this is 

 the only method of recording historical events. The colors used in the 

 production of these paintings are applied indiscriminately, with the 

 same disregard to nature as the i^arts of the figures are disproportionate. 

 Usually the horses are green, blue, or yellow, and the most gaudy hues 

 are daubed over everything. 



An Indian in his aboriginal state invariably rides bare-backed, but 

 gradually, of late years, saddles have been finding their way among the 

 different tribes, and the Utes are adopting them, whenever they can 

 obtain any. In the absence of regular saddles they make very rude 

 ones, particularly for the squaws and for pack-saddles, A squaw rides 

 as a man, and it is a matter of wonder that she can keep her seat for so 

 long a time on such an angular, hard, uncomfortable contrivance. 

 These saddles are made of wood, covered with parchment or stitf skin, 

 and over them blankets are laid to make them endurable. The stirrups 

 have a very antique appearance, and are constructed of thin pieces of 

 wood, covered with raw-hide. 



In their domestic arrangements the American Indians have little 

 need for many culinary utensils. An iron pot or kettle hung over the 

 fire on poles, a couple of water- vessels, and some wooden bowls are the 

 extent of the cooking implements. The water-vessels are made after 

 the shape of some used by the ancients, and are woven out of willow 

 twigs. The interior is coated with gum or i)itch and thus is rendered 

 water-tight. At almost any time of the day can an Indian female be 

 seen wending her way to the river, Kebecca like, with her vessel care- 

 lessly thrown over her shoulder. 



Most of the young bucks are vain and fond of show. Ornaments 

 and trinkets are profusely spread over their dress, and dandies among 

 the savages are as common as in our cities. An ornament which is 

 "worn generally among the better classes, is in the shape of a cap-box, 

 in which gun-caps are carried. This is suspended upon the breast by a 

 bead neck-lace passing around the neck. Beads, ear-rings, brass tacks, 

 wampum, rings, and other gew-gaws are stuck on their persons in every 

 available place. Eesulting from a depraved superstition, a medicine- 

 sack is absolutely indispensable to the personal safety of each and 

 every brave. This wards off sickness and calamity, in the absence of 

 which, pain, death, and the devil would rule supreme. These medi- 

 cine charms are of various forms to suit the taste of the wearer. They 

 are usually leather or skin sacks, an inch or two in diameter, beautified 

 with beads and filled with sulphur, red powder, or any other substance 

 supposed to possess an omnipotent charm. They are usually worn by 

 a string, on the breast. 



The pappooses resemble their white brothers and sisters in their 

 natural dispositions and amusements. The smaller Indians play, laugh, 

 cry, and act precisely as other children, and toys are as much a neces- 

 sity with them as with our little ones. Near one lodge I picked up a 

 mud-horse with wooden legs, made by a small pappoose ; and in this 

 respect, these children possess, perhaps, more ingenuity than those hav- 

 ing greater advantages; necessity being the mother of invention. 



