OCR Text |
Show XVI BUBEAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY with the Plains tribes. It was found that they knew of peyote only through temporary association with the Mescalero a few years ago, when the two tribes were for a time on one reservation. The Mescalero Apache, numbering 450, on a reservation in southeastern New Mexico, were next visited. These Indians, whose popular name is derived from their use of the " mescal" or peyote, are regarded by the Plains tribes as masters in all that concerns the plant; but from information received through their best informants, as well as from actually witnessing the ceremony, Mr Mooney found the rite to be declining among them, largely through the difficulty of procuring the plant in their isolated condition, as it requires five days' journey on horseback to obtain a supply. Mr Mooney discovered a number of Lipan and a few Kiowa- Apache Indians living with the Mescalero. The Lipan were a predatory tribe of eastern Texas, and were almost exterminated some thirty years ago on account of their raiding propensities against both Texas and Mexico. Of the remnant a few are incorporated with the Tonkawa, a few joined the Mescalero and Kiowa- Apache, while others, probably the larger number, fled to Santa Rosa mountains, in northern Mexico, where they still live. Mr Mooney obtained through the Lipan further information in regard to several Texan tribes, including the Karan-kawa and Tonkawa, of whom little has been known; and from them also definite information was obtained in regard to the use of peyote among the Tarahumari of Mexico. Having completed his investigations among the tribes of New Mexico in the early part of December, Mr Mooney devoted attention to the remnants of the Piro, Tiwa, Suma, and Manso tribes on the Rio Grande below El Paso, in both Texas and Chihuahua. These Indians, now practically Mexi-canized, are the descendants of a large number of natives who were taken by Governor Otermin on his retreat from Santa Fe to El Paso, and settled at their present location during the Pueblo rebellion in 1680. He obtained valuable information in regard to the former status of these people and conducted also some linguistic researches, to which reference will later be made. |