... written by an author I have enjoyed over the years: Tony Hillerman. This is one of his older books, published originally in 1993. Some stories have been re-released in larger books that are 'collections', and he has written some non-fiction. He received many awards for his writings, based on his life and research as he lived among the southwest Native Americans. I've read so many of his books, as he describes the personalities and quirks of his two primary characters, I feel like I know them personally: Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, members of the Navajo Tribal Police.
The clowns in the title are natives dressed in costume, during a performance of rituals in a pueblo (village). Men who perform are readily recognizable to those who know them, so the idea of wearing costumes and masks is part of the farce. This group puts on a show to help their community see the folly of their ways, through amusing activities the clowns devise as they do silly stunts and remind the on-lookers of their origins. Showing the people the value of their heritage, predating written history. Guiding their friends and families to see the necessity to remain true to their sacred stories and oral history, as opposed to being influenced by popular culture and ways of the white man.
The story line introduces the Lincoln Cane belonging to the Pueblo. A copy of the highly valued cane has been made by a shop class teacher, and is displayed at the performance to remind the community of their history, how people can be persuaded to sell valuable artifacts to collectors for money. Lincoln Cane? President Lincoln had a number of walking canes made and presented to many of the tribes in the southwest, made of ebony wood, topped with silver knob heads, engraved with words to honor the different pueblos as well as date and Lincoln's signature.
History of those honorary walking sticks goes back to Spanish times, when the southwest US, Mexico and central America were invaded and controlled by Spain. Canes were made and given to tribes to acknowledge a friendship, and demonstrate a degree of independence and respect the Spanish showed the natives. Many have been lost or stolen or sold. Possibly in the hands of well-heeled collectors, white men with the resources to afford purchasing illegally sold artifacts. One is in the Smithsonian Museum. Though Hillerman's characters are fictitious, the back-story of the canes is well documented.
A very interesting and educational tale. Disparate story lines are followed by Leaphorn and Chee, and eventually come together to reveal the truth. Evildoers are unveiled, wrongs made right. Sadly Hillerman died several years ago so there won't be any more mysteries featuring these two. I still occasionally find one of his books at the library that I have not read, or re-read one to enjoy the amusing, interesting characters' activities for the second time.
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