310 - Notes on Indian Manners and Customs. [ May, 
with turkey and hawk feathers, buttons, shells, and turquois. It 
is never off his head, night or day, excepting for a short time 
when he is washing his hair or combing it. The fingers of an 
Apache answer for a comb, being drawn through the hair, while 
the head is bent a little to one side. 
Apache rat-catchers—The Apaches, old and young, hunt rats, 
with long crooked sticks, no hole being too deep or winding, no 
brush too thick or thorny for them. The entire animal, just as 
caught, is roasted, and before half cooked is devoured, entrails 
and all. It is amusing to see a party of young Apaches return- 
ing from a hunt, with rats dangling at their belts as thickly as 
they can hang. No dyspepsia disturbs these juvenile rat-catchers, 
no cat or terrier can equal them in dexterity. 
Apache marriage—After the female consents to be a bride, the 
bridegroom must get the permission of her father, who at the 
same time names the articles to be given in exchange for her. The 
groom delivers the goods and takes his bride, not to his house, 
however, for she must build and equip that, and procure a great 
portion of the food for the family. The life of an Indian wife is 
one of incessant and severe drudgery. Adultery is considered a 
great crime on the part of the wife, but public sentiment does not 
condemn the husband. As soon as the crime is proved, the un- 
fortunate female is captured and her nose cut off close to her 
face, leaving a horrible wound which is not healed for a long time. 
For months some wear rags around their faces to hide the scar, 
and they conceal themselves from strangers. 
Visit to the Moqua Indians—In May, 1869, in company with 
the Rev. Vincent Colyer, I visited the Moqua Indians. One‘night, 
when camping near one of their towns, we wished some corn for 
our horses. The Governor being informed of the fact mounted 
the top of his house and called aloud for corn. A movement 
was soon discernible, house-tops, windows, and doors were occu- 
pied by listeners. The Governor repeated his call several times. 
Soon from every quarter corn was brought in flat baskets, until © 
more than enough was procured, for which we were to pay 
nothing, but Mr. Colyer gave them some flannel. They were 
surprised to see us giving corn to our horses, because it is raised 
with so much difficulty that they use it only for their own con- 
sumption. | 
_ The governors of the Moqua towns are accustomed to mount 
