[Illustration: (1) Mound on farm of W. J. Eichorn near Spring Bay,
Woodford County, Illinois.]
[Illustration: (2) Members of the Kickapoo Club at Spring Bay, Illinois, July 6,
1913.]
It is a notable fact that practically all arrow points found in this
locality are small, ranging from three-quarters of an inch to an inch
and one-half in length. The cut shows several other relics, all of
which were found near "Cahokia." The surface of the adjoining fields
are literally covered with fragments of ancient pottery. Judging from
the fancy rims and handles and the engravings on these fragments it is
evident that the mound builders were very adept in the manufacture of
this kind of pottery. The cut shows two specimens of broken pottery
and the particular surface markings on the same. There is also an
imitation of a birds head made of the same material. This was probably
an ornament or handle for some vessel. This pottery was evidently
colored in some manner as some of the fragments are bright red in
color and others are jet black or brown. Many pieces were highly
polished. There is also shown in the cut a conch core or sea shell
with reversed whorls. This one is six inches long and of these there
seem to be a great number found in this locality and found in such a
position and under such circumstances as to leave hardly a doubt in
the mind that they were held sacred by the mound builders and used in
their religious ceremonies.
A brass signet ring was also found which is evidently traders material
and may possibly have been brought there by the "monks." This ring
has a pecular emblem on the flat circular surface which looks like a
right angle with a character in the center shaped like a heart. The
circular surface of the seal or signet is five-sixteenths of an inch
in diameter and the size of the ring is three-quarter inch.
There is also shown a blue glass bead. Several beads of different
material have been found here but the most rare is one shown in
the cut, made of shell, circular in form, one inch in diameter and
three-sixteenths of an inch in thickness, with a three-sixteenths inch
hole through the center. This specimen is of the kind commonly known
as wampum and was used by the Indians as money. There is also shown in
the cut a bear's claw of which several were found by members of our
party.
The largest specimen shown in the center of the cut is a chert hoe or
cultivating implement found by the writer. This specimen is seven and
one half inches long and tapers from two to four and three quarters
inches in width. It was discovered about eighteen inches below the
surface in the field north-east of the great "Cahokia mound." The
accompanying cut shows the location of this find and a good view of
the surroundings.
_A Visit to Hopiland._
_By Miss Edith M. Cox and Herbert Cox._
At sunset on the first of August, 1913, we were at last ready to leave
Holbrook, Arizona for Hopiland--almost a hundred miles northward from
this point on the Santa Fe. The Indians--never in a hurry--had taken
the greater part of the day in loading the three white covered wagons.
Our party included four Hopis, one Navajo, a white man employed by the
government and three white women. My friend Miss Nelson a missionary
among these Hopis, was returning to her work and I was going to visit
her. The third woman was a new worker. Steve, a splendid Christian
Hopi and his twelve year old David, had come for Miss Nelson and her
friends.
Across the desert we traveled until we were at an elevation of some
seven thousand feet. The vastness of the desert, the scant and varying
vegetation, the Painted Desert, the great buttes which deceived us
by their apparent nearness, the scattered dwellings of the Navajo
Indians, the exhilaration which came from sleeping in the open, the
call of the distant coyote or the prairie dogs, the camp fire built
of anything available--all these made wonderful impressions on one
accustomed to limited horizons.
No more primitive nor interesting Indians are to be found in North
America today than these Hopis removed from the traveled highways of
men. They were discovered by Coronado in 1540. Priests came, but were
driven out by the Hopis. A few years later these Indians moved on top
of three mesas. These appear as huge prows of ships projecting into
the great desert. To protect themselves the Indians built their houses
in terrace fashion of such material that one on the desert can with
difficulty see them.
The Hopi is industrious. Walled in gardens, fields of corn on the
plain and flocks of sheep show his agricultural interests. Weaving is
done by the men in winter. They make all the clothing. The women build
and own the houses. All water is carried in jars on the backs of women
up the narrow mesa trail. Beautiful red and light colored pottery is
made on First Mesa while baskets are made by the women of Second Mesa.
The foundation of these baskets is grass covered with yucca fibers
bleached in the sun or colored with juices from plants. If the public
realized the value of these baskets so that it would demand them these
Indians would not be so poor.
The Hopi has no written language. Some two thousand words constitute
his vocabulary. The older people use the sign language very much.
The Hopi marriage is little more than a washing of the heads of each
party in seperate bowls, then in one bowl. One may marry another if
he is absent. Divorce is easily obtained by putting a man's saddle
outside the door. If he puts wood outside her door and it is taken in
he may enter again.
Children not old enough to belong to the Tribe are buried in crevices
of the rocks. The place of burial indicated by a stick. It is not
uncommon to see eight or nine sticks in one place. The older ones are
buried in a sitting posture in the ground. The third or fourth morning
after burial they believe the spirit partakes of meal and water; then
by means of a feather pointing west it goes to its spirit home in the
Grand Canyon.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: (Cut furnished by Gus Bluemke.)]
They have many ceremonies and rites. Some two hundred spirits are
worshipped. These are represented by masked men, dolls and placs.
The desire for rain has an important part in many ceremonies. This is
true of the famous Hopi Snake Dance. This attracted much attention
last year because attended by Mr. Roosevelt. Some fifty machines,
mostly Fords, made the desert trip. The Hopis believe a great smoke
in the earth controls the rain. A great many rattle and bull snakes
are gathered and cared for in the underground "kivas" or caves. At
sunset on the ninth day of the ceremony the snake men come from the
kivas. They dance with the snake in the mouth until all have been thus
treated. A priest frees them in the rocks and prays that the parent
snake may give the Hopis rain.
Our government maintains a school for children of each mesa and
one more advanced at government headquarters. Those desiring to go
further are sent to Indian schools. Some of these Hopis are known as
unfriendlies--hostile to the government. Until last year soldiers had
to be sent to get their children whom the parents refused to send.
Besides the missionaries who are doing much the government has its
agent, farmer, windmill man, doctors, teachers and matrons.
On my return to the railroad we were delayed because of heavy
rains. What was a small stream in August was in September a river
three-fourths of a mile wide when we first saw it. In the bed of this
stream our wagon was stuck. The chief of the Navajo Tribe helped us
take it to pieces and so get it out of the mud in the wash.
Imagine if you can what it would mean to hear a train whistle after
six weeks' absence from civilization. As we topped the rise on the
afternoon of the fourth day the sight of that brought me to my
feet. How I gazed at it! My Indian driver said "Miss----pashalayi"
("Miss----you are very happy.")
Early the next morning three of us said good bye. My Indian companion
with his hat in hand and my father and I said more in those parting
handshakes than words could ever tell. A few minutes later we were
borne westward by train and he to the north in his wagon.
[Illustration: Section of a Hopi Village, Second Mesa, Shipaulovi.]
(Handwritten notation: Cut Furnished by Herbert Cox)