File:The American Museum journal (c1900-(1918)) (17540620893).jpg

Title: The American Museum journal
Identifier: americanmuseumjo18amer (find matches)
Year: c1900-(1918) (c190s)
Authors: American Museum of Natural History
Subjects: Natural history
Publisher: New York : American Museum of Natural History
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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The ruined "Casa Vieja." — In this communal house were once kept as well-guarded sacred relics the scalps of enemies conquered centuries ago. These were brought out only on the occasion of the annual Scalp Dance. All that now can be learned from the Picuris is that these trophies have mys- teriously disappeared each side respectively, and the point at which they passed each other determined the progress of the race. As a racer ran the course and returned to his side, his place was taken by another racer, and so the game continued with its interest centered around the point at which the dancers passed, this point moving first toward one goal, then toward the other—reminding one of the yard gains of a football team. Each racer ap- peared with different bodily decorations. Some had streaked their bodies with red, others had made themselves grotesque with white clay in fanciful designs. The governor of the pueblo kept score by marking the progress of the race with large leafy branches. The governor of the Picuris carries two silver-headed canes. One was presented to seme former governor by President Lincoln, whose name is inscribed on the head. This has become the only mark of the governor's office. The other

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