Indians of the Southwest

Table of Contents

I. Introduction to the Southwest 7

II. Southwest Peoples, Tribes and Linguistic Stocks 21

III. Three Southwestern Industries 29

Preface

Tired, but satisfied with our journey, on December 19, 1899, Mr. Higgins, the late lamented Assistant General Passenger Agent of the Santa Fe, and I boarded the east-bound train at Winslow, Arizona. We had returned from a memorable ten days' excursion into Hopiland. As we traversed for two days the broad stretch between Winslow and Chicago, our conversation, naturally, was of the Southwest, of its wonders, of the colors of its desert, of its atmosphere so pure that one can almost see into the beyond, of its ruins of ancient cities, of its Pueblos of to-day, conservative, proud, independent, mysterious.

This was not my first journey, either to Hopiland or through the Southwest. And so, too often I found myself attempting to reply to the questions poured out in endless succession by my companion. By the time we had reached Chicago I had promised Mr. Higgins that I would attempt for him the preparation of an account of this land of which we were both so fond, explaining in popular manner the character of its peoples, and pointing out how they and their ruins might most easily be visited. The sketch, we mutually agreed, should be accompanied by many photographs, which would present characteristic views, and by one or more maps whereupon might be seen the linguistic relationship of living peoples and the routes by which these peoples might be reached.

Since that visit, in 1899, I have paid other visits to the Southwest, but the fulfilment of the promise made at that time has been delayed from season to season. In August, 1901, on the occasion of the weird snake ceremonies, it was my good fortune again to visit the Hopi, this time in company with Mr. Higgins' successor, and with him the subject was renewed and the promise reiterated, with this paper on The Indians of the Southwest as the result.

If we may better understand civilized man of to-day by a knowledge of man in more primitive conditions, then surely the Southwest forms a field, not only to scientific students but to all who have a broad interest in mankind, second to that presented by no other region in the world.

Part of Line of Ponca Sun Dancers, July, 1902.