Wild life in the far west : personal adventures of a border mountain man . twdsted into thread, though they often used thesinews of wild animals. They were dexterous in themanufacture of clothing for themselves, their hus-bands, and children, making them up from skins theyhad dressed or tanned themselves, often ornamentingthem with beads procured from the Mexicans or shellsfound in the river bottoms. They were generally agood-looking, hardy set of squaws, and made good,faithful wives. Their good health and toughness of constitution maybe inferred from their system of midwifery, which wasvery s
Wild life in the far west : personal adventures of a border mountain man . twdsted into thread, though they often used thesinews of wild animals. They were dexterous in themanufacture of clothing for themselves, their hus-bands, and children, making them up from skins theyhad dressed or tanned themselves, often ornamentingthem with beads procured from the Mexicans or shellsfound in the river bottoms. They were generally agood-looking, hardy set of squaws, and made good,faithful wives. Their good health and toughness of constitution maybe inferred from their system of midwifery, which wasvery simple, and not at all like that of our delicateAmerican ladies. When the eventful period arrives,the Comanche squaw proceeds alone to a clump ofwillows or bushes by the banks of a stream, and,entirely unattended, performs all the necessary officesor duties, goes into the water and bathes herself andinfant, wraps the babe in a wolf or other skin, andcarries the little stranger back to camp, suspended onher back by a strap which passes over her forehead oraround her MOVING INCIDENTS. 39 Tliere is a use made of looking-glasses sometimes inbattle that was rather ludicrous. A Comanche willgive a horse for a piece of a mirror. This he fastens ina shield, and is often able to dazzle the eyes of anenemy taking aim at him, and thus cause his shotto go harmlessly wide of its mark. In pillaging thehouses of people living out on the frontier, such relicswere often obtained and brought home as very valuabletrophies. If an unlucky trapper or emigrant, whohappened to fall into their hands, had a hand-mirrorfor shaving and a silver watch, the mirror was prizedas much the most valuable, for its wonderful reflectingproperties ; while the watch would, perhaps, be brokenup, and the pieces made into nose or ear ornaments forthe squaws and papooses. In June, our chief told us we were all to meet theArapahoes and Cheyennes, at the annual feast usuallyheld in common by these three tribes. Then
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectsouthwe, bookyear1874
