Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-06-07
Tho Pine indians and Cotten.

The Galveston Nescs has seen sam.
pie Of cotton from the river Gils, cult.
vated by the Pine Indians, which was
brought from there by LieutenantA w.
WnIPPLE, OF the Typographical Engin.
ecrs, who has just returned from survey.
ing the Mexican Boundery line. The
cotton shown US by Whipplc, says the
Nevs, is Of very superior quality. and
is used by the Indians for making blan.
kets and other clothing. The seed is
piced out by hand, and il is manufacture.
ed after the most primitive mode, such as
might have been in use before spindles
were ever heard Of. Lieut.. Whipple
gives US tho following short sketch Of
this peculiar race OF people;
"1'he tribe Of Pine Indians is estima.
ted at 600 in number, living in villages
upon the left bank Of the Rio Gla, about
200 miles above its junction with the
Rio Colordo. The valley they occupy
extends uninterruptedly for nearly 100
miles along the river bank, averaging
probably a width Of two miles. 1t is
easily irrigated by accquias from the riv
er, and requiring from man little labor
but the so wing Of seed, when abundant
crops are produced.
The Pinos use no plow, but when a
field is covered by water, they soften the
soil by t.eading it with a bare feet.
The principal productions are cotton,
tobacco, maize, wheat, squashes, and
melons, all Of which arc found among
them in great perfection and in abun.
Ounce.
This tribe Of Indians have occupied
the land Of their fathers since the time OF
their earliest traditions, and yet there is
in their midst the ruins Of an ancient
mansion, the origin Of which they do not
pretend TO know. Similar ruins exist
upon Rio Salinas, and in their constfuc.
tion indicate race Of men far advanced
in civilization and arts. They are prin.
cipally Of abode, and we would suppose
them the remains ancient Spanish mis-.
sions, did not the historian Of those ear.
ly adventures describe them nearly as
they now exist, and refer their origin to @
race even then lost to tradition.
Another tribe Of Indians, called Coo
Maricopas, driven by Cuchanes from
Rio Colorado, have found an asylum
with the powerful Pinos. The villages
arc contiguous, and the modes Of life
are the same with both both tribes. Fo
the last fifty years the alliance, offensive
and defensive, has continued. They
have been constantly a. war with al
other tribes, save the Cocopas, who late
ly have joined their deadliest Toes, ,h'
Yumas.
The government Of these united tribes
while monarchial in its form, is republ.
can in its tendency. Captains are cho
sen by the people. and from these is SO
lected one for the Chief His power i
absolute so long as the people allow hin
TO exercise it. But ifhis acts ore dislik
cd he is deposed and another substitutes
in his place. This Capt. Gen. is some
times q Pine, sometimes Maricopa
but governs equally the whole federation
Each village has a subordinate Chief
9 The son of the chief is highly respected
!. and is heir apparent if found deserving
1t is remark able that each ofthese ye
. . retain uumixcd its original language
). The Pine language is elegant aud cop
Gus in structure and tone, and is not di'
similar to the English, The Maricop
y is softer and sweeter. but less complete
u Like the Spanish it partakes of the ha
= mony of music. What is also singula
g the m anners ofthese tribes are as dissin
= liar as their tongucs-thc Pinos are sti
and taci,urn with strangers, like The Al
e glo. Saxon; the Maricopas are graceful
Ingenious open. hearted and full OF iu'
!, Our Pacific Railroad must pass throus
u their villages. Perhaps as time rolls
'e this race may be restored TO the c;viliz
j. ton of their ancestors.