66 AXXUAL EEPOKT SMITHSOXIAX INSTITUTI0:N^, 1922. 



at this point came from Mexico about 18 j^ears ago and neither 

 they nor their children had a status in the United States. At this 

 time, however, they were enrolled under the Yuma Agency, Miss 

 Densmore assisting in the enrollment by writing their Cocopa names 

 in simple phonetic spelling. Forty Cocopa songs were recorded, 

 comprising songs of two representative dances and of a cremation 

 legend. For this work it was necessary to employ two interpreters. 



It is the custom of both Cocopa and Yiuna to cremate their dead, 

 and Miss Densmore witnessed a Yuma cremation soon after her arri- 

 val. The dead man had been a leading singer at cremations and the 

 ceremony was given with the elaborateness wdiich would be accorded 

 a chief. The songs were very old and are seldom used at the pres- 

 • ent time. Miss Densmore obtained phonographic records of these 

 songs, as well as of the Kurok or Memorial ceremony which is held 

 each summer for the more important persons who have died during 

 the year. Images of the deceased persons are carried in the dances 

 of the Kurok and publicly burned. The history of these ceremonies, 

 with the songs, was obtained from the oldest man who is an au- 

 thority on the subject. It is the belief of these people that the spirit 

 departs from the body in the flame of the cremation. 



A new musical form was found among the Yuma and Cocopa, con- 

 sisting of a " song cycle " which required an entire night for its 

 rendition and is commonly called a "story." Each of these stories 

 has its designated accompaniment. Among the Yuma the accom- 

 panjang instruments are a gourd rattle and an inverted basket struck 

 with a bundle of arrow-weed, a willow stick, or the palm of the hand. 

 Sometimes two bundles of arrow- weed or two willow sticks are used, 

 being held in the same hand. Specimens of these instruments were 

 obtained, also a bamboo flute and two bamboo flageolets. The music 

 of the latter was phonographically recorded. The Yuma songs in- 

 cluded those of the treatment of the sick, those of games, and three 

 interesting lullabies. 



The work among the Yaqui was conducted at Guadalupe village, 

 near Tempe, Ariz. The older Yaqui in this village were born in 

 Mexico. These Indians have received no favors from the United 

 States Govermnent and support themselves by manual labor. They 

 seem happy and contented in their little desert village. Miss Dens- 

 more witnessed their deer dance and later recorded the songs from 

 one of the leading singers, a native of Mexico. The occasion of the 

 dance was the celebration of Easter eve. The songs were accom- 

 panied by playing upon four half gourds. The Yaqui have two dis- 

 tinct forms of music, one which appears to be entirely native and the 

 other showing a Mexican or Spanish influence. 



A large proportion of the songs transcribed and heard during the 

 past year were accompanied by a gourd rattle, and are of unusual 



