Day in the Life

Oct 23, 1879

Journal Entry

October 23, 1879 ~ Thursday

23 Keys crossed We drove our waggon and camped at the well of
the Oribas. We were soon surrounded By about 20 Oriba
children from 3 to 18 years of age all the unmarried girls
from 10 years upwards had their hair done up on the side
of the head like a pair of horns or large pair of Ears
which gives them a strange appearance this is a sign
to the young men that they are ready to marry All the
Oribas water their Animals at this well also they
carry water in large Earthern Judgs [jugs] to water the village
which stands 500 feet on the top of the Mountain above
the well. The Oribas & Moquis and all the inhabitants

of these seven villages raise large fields of corn, beans
mellons & squashes & Peach orchards down on the Earth
below them without Irrigation or water ownly what
falls from heaven which is but vary little and they raise
vary good crops. We find that sand holds mosture [moisture]
much better in a dry season than clay and soil. We went
on stone stepts & foot paths, some 500 feet to the Oribe village
containing 1000 people with quite a quantity of children
This village was compackly built of rock laid up in
mortar some four stories high all thes villages are built
On the top of the highest rocks for defence in time of war
This village was about a quarter of a mile around. The
day before our arival they had their great Dance which
kept up untill late at night and the people were rather
stupid. We went on to the top of a four story house
whare we could get a good survey of the surround[in]g
country. I found the men done the spining and a good
deal of knitting. There was about to be a marriage in
the village and all the men were gathered into the work
shops to spin cotton warp for a pair of Blankets
for the marriage couple, they spun on spindles they held
in their hands and rolled the spindle on their legs
they raised the cotton themselves and when the Blanket
is used the pair sleep under it the first night then laid
away as a sacred garm[en]t & never used again untill
the man dies then he is buried in it. The men were
in their underground work shops I could not get
them to come out to hear Preaching so I went down

into two of their work shops and spoke to them when
they were at work but found them more interested in
their work than hearing the gospel Preached I spoke to one
company of 20 to another of 30, and Ira Hatch interpeted
it I saw one white Indian called Albinos man vary
white There are some of this clan in nearly all of the
villages. They are milk white much whiter than Amer-
icans whether they are Blood of the Anicient Nephites
or a freak of Nature I cannot say they are not vary
popular among the Indians. After going through the
village and on top of the Houses most of which are
flat on top and covered with Ears of corn to dry from
pure white to jet black, the Black was generally the best
there was read yellow & blue. We then left the village
we then travelled 12 miles over vary rough ground and
camped for the night 5 M[iles]

People

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Hatch, Ira
1835-1909
26 mentions

Places

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Oraibi, Apache County, Arizona Territory

Quotes

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we watered our animals then drove over a rough sand ridge and camped in about a mile of the Oribe village and took our team to the Oribe well to water the well stands under the Mountain South west of the village the well was 670 feet Deep and 100 feet across the top it was walled up with 4 square tarries of stones and the water 10 feet across the Bottom a steep trail leading down from top to Bottom from the last terrace there is 15 stone stepts to the Bottom when I arived at the well I found an [FIGURE] Ass or Donkey had walked down to the stone steps looking down into the water and Braying for some one to come & watering him his call was louder than any animal but an ass could make. I took my bucket and carryed him several Buckets of water which he drank greedily and when He was satisfied, He bowed his head as much as to say thank you sir and went off happy we watered our team returned to the waggon & camped 25 M[iles]
~ Wilford Woodruff

Related Documents

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Daybook (28 February - 23 October 1879)

23 We drove our waggon and camped at the well of the Oribes we was soon surrounded By about 200 Oribe children from 3 to 18 years of age. The village is built on the top of the Mountain about 500 feet above

Daybook (28 February - 23 October 1879)

[FIGURE] The well & surrounding country they carry all their water from this & other wells in large Judges to the top of the rocks for their use. This well is about 70 feet deep and 100 feet across the top which is terraced with 4 stone walls one above another and a trail or foot path leading Down to the water the well at the Bottom is about 10 feet square and the first 10 feet laid up with cedar timber the water 8 or 10 feet Deep, the last Descent to the water was over 35 stone steps when I went down to the water I found a Deerling half way down the well h[a]v[in]g gone Down on the Trail & stood looking down to the water waiting for some one to bring him up water to drink. the Oribas have to water all their Animals at these wells in a dry time. These Oribas have large corn fields, Mellons bean & squash [patches] and peach orchards all planted & raised in the sand without water the country surrounding this village are deep gorges & ridges and the peach orchards are both on the ridges side Hills & the bottom and No one could suppose that peach

Daybook (28 February - 23 October 1879)

23 Oct Trees could grow in such places or corn & Mellons grow in such sand without water but we find that sand holds moisture in a dry season much better than clay their Mellon paches covered several Acres all surrounded with stakes with rugs to keep off the crows & wolves. We asscended on stone stepts & a foot path some 500 feet into the Oribe village conta[inin]g a population of about 1000 people I was asstonished to see so many children boys & girls among them all the Marriageable girls from 10 years up had their hair done up in the shape of a pair of Horns or Huge ears on the side of the Head which would arise 4 inches above the Head this was a sign that they were ready for Marriage for Marriage but it gave them a very wild appearance any one not knowing their customs had seen them raise their head am[on]g the rocks would have taken them for a grizerly bear. This village was compet[ent]ly built Houses laid up with stone in Mortar & some of them 4 stories high all standing on the bear bare rocks all there

Daybook (28 February - 23 October 1879)

23 Oct villages are built on the top of the Highest rocks for Defence in time of war the village was about a quarter of a mile ar[oun]d it. The day before our Arival they had their great Dance which had kept up untill late and the people were rather stupid we went on to the top of a 4 story Hous whare we could take a survey of the surr[oun]ding country. I found the Men due the spin[nin]g & a good Deal of the Nitting. There was about to be a Marriage in the village and all the Men had gathered into the work shops to spin cotton works for a pair of Blankets for the coupple they spun on spindle that they hold in their hands they raised the cotton themselves and when the blanket is wove the pair sleeps under it at night after Marriage it is then put away & kept sacred untill they die then each is buried in their Blanket. the Men were underground work shops & I could not get them to come out to hear preaching so I went down into 2 of their work shops & spoke to them when they were at work I found this [them]

Daybook (28 February - 23 October 1879)

23 more interested in their work than to heer preaching But I spoke to one company of 20 anoth[er] of 30, & Brother Hatch interpeted it I saw one white Indan an Albino Man vary white there are some in Neerly all there villages they appear to be the Blood of the Ancient Nephites or a freak of Nature. After going through the village & going on the tops of the Houses most of which were flat & covered with corn to dry from pure white to Jet Black more corn black then white but all colours white Black red yellow & blue we then left the village we then travelled 12 M[iles] over v[er]y rough ground & camped for the night 15 M see Blank Book Journal No 2 [rest of page blank]

Oct 23, 1879