The Placer herald., 1857-10-17
War among the Southern Indians.

War among the Southern Indians.
War has broken out between the Indian
tribes of the Gila and Colorado region, and
and short time since the Pimos and Mar
icopas met the Yumas in battle and killed
l60 of their number This is said to be
the most disastrous battle that has occurred
among the Indians of that section in MANY
years.
The agent of the overland mail passed
over the scene of action shortly after the
fight and says he counted fifty-fve dead Yu-
mas along the road, pierced full of arrows.
1he Plmos and Maricopas leave their dead
enemies to the crows aud coyotes, religious
ly refusing to touch the bodies, but ALLOWING
them to be exactly in the place and posi-
ton they fell. They have the same scru-
piles. respecting all the property belonging
to them, so that bows and arrows and 9th.
er implements Of warfare, together with
their clothing such as they had, were un-
touched on the dead bodies of the Yu
mas.
AT the time of making this inroad, the
Iumas and their allies-the Mobayes-ap-
proprated the corn and melons stored by
the Maricopas indeed, whatever property
they could find, attempting to secure it on
their retreat, but when the pursuit became
hot they scattered everything along the
road, intending to destroy it, but much was
afterwards secured and gathered bv the
Maricopas squaws.
1t is said there were two hundred Mo-
haves in the fight who deserted the Yu,nas
before the fighting had really commenced.
great popularity in the mode of war
fare practised by the Pimos and Maricopas,
is the fact of their not calping their enc
mics, as is the custom with nearly all the
wild Indian tribes of this country. It
seem, from the best information we can OBJ
tain, that they cut off small lock of hair
from sucll enemies as are killed in bat
tie.
One custom prevails among the Marco-
pas and Pimos, the same as we stated last
week respecting the Iunas, namely, that
they destroy all the property of the war
riors killed in battle, as indeed they do Of
those dying naturally. The custom in a
religious one; they consider the warrior
will need his horse his bow and arrows.
and some food, until he can hunt or raise
corn ty planting, also his clothing and
ornaments, AS much in the next world as
he did in tI.is
Last montl, the Gila Apachcs made an
inroad on lie north side of the VILLAGES.
where the pimos live, carrying off some
stock, but how much could not he ascer
tanned. The Pmos ard Maricopas were
planning an expedition in retaliation.
The Pimos are noted for their industry
and peaceable habits; being tiers of the
soil, and their women are expert in the
weaving of blankets, cloths, &c. They
have frequently been The victims of their
more warlike and dishonest neiehbors but
it seems they have both the courage and
prowess to chastise their enemies when fair
ly reused.
The war having commenced, we may ex-
pect to hear of fierce encounters from time
to time. The Pimos and Maricopas have
allied, and lately the Marcopa chiefs sent
word to the commander of the troops at
Fort Yuma, that if he did not keep the
1umas quiet, they would come down and
clean them all out. The Commandant re-
piled: chat as long as they did not inter-
fere with the whites they could drive
ahead"
The mail carrier, who passed through
the Yuma villages lately, found them ma
king bows and arrows and otherwise pre-
pairing for another attack upon the Pimos
and Marioopas, Notwithstanding the severe
loss which they suffered in the fight of
Sept. lst.