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Show AMONG THE AZTECS. 277 The origin of the venereal poison is a subject much discussed by the Indians. Most of them assert that they had none of it till the Meli-canoes came, but the old men admitted that cases were introduced, many years ago, from Mexico. The Coyotero, White Mountain and Mogollon Apaches have never had a case of it. If one of their women offend with a white man, her nose and ears are cut off, and she is made a slave. The Moquis appeared quite ignorant of the exist-ence of such a disease. The Tabequache Utes have a woman publicly whipped for infidelity with whites. If she be found diseased, she is forthwith lanced and her body burned. This savage quarantine has effectually preserved the tribe, and I supposed at first it was for that purpose ; but the Navajo old men asserted that it was rather as an act of mercy to the woman. The Mohaves are perishing rapidly from this scourge. The Navajoes claim that there is now very little of it among them, and that they treat it successfully. To sum up on my Xavajo friends: they are the only Indians in whom I could ever take much interest, and I am confident they can be civilized, and that the " hu-manitarian policy" will be a success as applied to them. I stop four days with the Moquis ; I should need six months to learn all that is interesting in their mode of life, theology and social organization. They are aboriginal Quakers; live at peace with all men, and have a horror of shedding blood. As a natural consequence they have retreated from the open country, and now occupy this rocky mole, safe from the hostility of mounted Indians. Who are they? Well, this is one of those things no fellow can find out. The conundrum must be referred to that large class relative to the Mound- Builders and other prehistoric races of America; for it is self evident that the semi- civilized Indians of the South- west are but the feeble remnants of a long series of races. The three towns on this mesa contain about a thousand inhabitants ; and are known as Moqui, Tegua, and Moquina. ( Mokee, Taioah, and Mokeena.) A little way westward are four other towns of the same race: Hualpec, Shepalawa, Oraybe, and Beowawa. ( Wattpake, She-palawa, Orybay, and Baowahwa.') The total population is about three thousand. Their houses are of good architectural design, built of flat stones laid in white cement, plastered neatly inside, and whitewashed with a material which gives a hard, smooth polish. The lower story is not as high as a man ; but that they occupy only in winter. On this the second story rises ten or twelve feet, seldom more than half as wide as the lower, leaving a broad margin on which they usually sleep. The first story has no doors and very small windows; they |