an easy one, for although lightened at times by the
readiness of the Indians to impart their knowledge, it more often required
days and weeks of patient endeavor before my assistants and I succeeded in
overcoming the deep-rooted superstition, conservatism, and secretiveness
so characteristic of primitive people, who are ever loath to afford a
glimpse of their inner life to those who are not of their own. Once the
confidence of the Indians gained, the way led gradually through the
difficulties, but long and serious study was necessary before knowledge of
the esoteric rites and ceremonies could be gleaned.

At times the undertaking was made congenial by our surroundings in
beautiful mountain wild, in the depths of primeval forest, in the
refreshing shade of canon wall, or in the homes and sacred places of the
Indians themselves; while at others the broiling desert sun, the
sand-storm, the flood, the biting blast of winter, lent anything but
pleasure to the task.

The word-story of this primitive life, like the pictures, must be drawn
direct from Nature. Nature tells the story, and in Nature's simple words I
can but place it before the reader. In great measure it must be written as
these lines are--while I am in close touch with the Indian life.

At the moment I am seated by a beautiful brook that bounds through the
forests of Apacheland. Numberless birds are singing their songs of life
and love. Within my reach lies a tree, felled only last night by a beaver,
which even now darts out into the light, scans his surroundings, and
scampers back. A covey of mourning doves fly to the water's edge, slake
their thirst in their dainty way, and flutter off. By the brookside path
now and then wander prattling children; a youth and a maiden hand in hand
wend their way along the cool stream's brink. The words of the children
and the lovers are unknown to me, but the story of childhood and love
needs no interpreter.

[Illustration: By The Sycamore - Apache]

By The Sycamore - Apache

_From Copyright Photograph 1906 by E.S. Curtis_

It is thus near to Nature that much of the life of the Indian still is;
hence its story, rather than being replete with statistics of commercial
conquests, is a record of the Indian's relations with and his dependence
on the phenomena of the universe--the trees and shrubs, the sun and stars,
the lightning and rain,--for these to him are animate