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Show Clothes Kill Indiana. Coats and trousers aro responsible for the approaching extermination of Uie Co-copa Co-copa Indians ln the lower Colorado River valley. The chief, Pablo Colorado, will bo Invited lo tho World's fair ln St. Louis by Edwin C Cushman, Jr., now on his way to visit the tribe as a representative of the exposition. In 1SC0 the trlbo numbered 10,000; ln 1S50 It numbered 3000; ln 18S5, 1500, and ln 1900, 50). Wearing white man's clothes without understanding their proper use caused pneumonia and pulmonary diseases In tho uibe, from which they died by the score. The tribe now lives south of Yuma, Ariz., on tho Mexican border. Thcro It cultivates corn and turnips in the same manner as when Columbus discovered Aniorica. Its style of warfare has not changed nor lu customs. Interesting among which aro Its mortuary customs. The Cocopns are a peaceful tribe. Their warforo is described as symbolic. Their shields are oyster shells fastened ln their noses and hanging over their mouths, thus protecting their breath, which to them Is tho sign of life. Protection of tho breath Is to thorn protection of the warrior's life. Their spears aro tho reverse of those used by other people, the sharpened point being on the end which rests on the ground. Tho upper end Is decorated with a flag. The war club Is their weapon for knocking an enemy down. Then they Jab with the spear. Tho only change In the Irlbo since tho days of Columbus Is in adopting white man's clothes. On account of the cllmato ln which they live that has proved fatal. The dally extremes of tcmperaturo In the arid country they Inhabit range from 50 to 100 degrees. It is us greut often as the extremes of summer ana winter In St. Louis, tho nights being ( ry cold and the days hot. When the Indians wore little clothing their skins were toughened to protect thorn from the changes In temperature. They did not contract colds. Living along the Colorado river they were fond of the water and great swimmers. swim-mers. Wearing only breech clouts, they did not suffer even if the weather was cold when they left the water. When they adopted coats and trousers their skins lost their toughness. They could not endure tho severo changes and caught cold. Ignorant of the uao of clothing cloth-ing thoy wore it In the water and also when they slept, often lying down ln tho cold ln wet clothes which thoy had worn ln tho river. St. Louis Post -Dispatch. |