The weekly Arizona miner., 1868-10-03

 the manner they talked. the Fathers applied themselves Co keep the settlers and soldiers | prepared for death 50 that they seemed more like monasterics than pueblos." One ! Sunday just after the last mass, an immense number of Indians fell upon both settlements at the same moment, and but one man escaped death or captivity. Not a great while aiicr- wards the captiyes were delivered mp to an expedition sent against the Indians should not omit the beautiful vision of angels clad in white robes, with burning torches and chanting an unknown tongue and strain, that, according to the history, for many nights after moved in procession round and round
 the scene of martyrdom. giving joy to the captiyes. but striking such terror into the
 minds cf the lndians that they abandoned
 their lands and fled some eight leagues down
 the river
 This tragedy put stop to the design which
 had been formed of establishing the new mis- sons of California upon the plan of those on the Colorado. Two of the existing missions of Santa Barbara county were immediately afterwards founded, with the happy result
 we have seen upon the Indians
 The recent military operations against the Yumas have doubtless made the Government ! fully acquainted with their character, customs ! and resources; though 1t must be confessed, a state of war does not afford the best oppor ! tunity 10 judge national character, whether ! Indians or civilized. In respect to the lndi- an, too, we are very apt Co overlook the causes | which drive him 10 war. Had the 1umas i received no provOcation in the spring and summer of 1850 from reckless white men-l alude 10 the circumstances attending the ! death of John Glanton-there is little proba- | bility that the heavy expenses of those mili- 1 tary operations would have been incurred. 1 The State expedition that followed the mas
 sacrc of Glanton's party. however well meant,
 made none but the most uniavorablc impres.
 sion upon them, in respect C the American character for bravery or our national power Let it bo considered, also. that they have nd
 doubt been greatly yitiatcd, and misled in re-
 lation to Americans, by the corrupt and worth
 less set of SOnoranians who have been passing
 through their country, within the last four years to and from the gold mines of California
 Under proper management, l believe the
 Yumas will be found nearly, if not quite a'
 tractable as the nations already spoken of
 To think of a Yuma in the light of Sioux
 or Comanche where war is concerned, would
 be one of the strongest contrasts that could
 be presented. Now, when at last they have
 come 10 know the power of our Government
 they are better prepared to receive the nex'
 and best manifestation of its virtues, in som'
 efficient plan for their improvement.
 The Yumas are large, well-formed, spTightly and intelligent in their appearance; are inyet crate gamblers. like most 0f these Indians still tolerate polygamy, but their women hay' ! a reputation for chastity. \ climate of per petual summer does not call for much cloth , ing; and as there is very little rain, hous' of brush thrown over few poles answers ey
 cry want. What was true of their agricul tuTe in 1756 is still true, except that they - have added wheat to their products. "The, depend in great measure upon the cultiva tion of the soil, for their support says Rus :, sell Sackett, Esq, who had spent considera : ble time among chem land although their cul Q tiyation is of the rudest kind, receiving lttl 2 or no attention after the planting, yet thei | crops mature with an astonishing growth . Their planting season is in the month of July l after the waters of the Colorado begin tO ial They then seek those portions of the bottoI | lands that have been ogertlowed during th ! high water, and put in the crop. These land r retain the moisture af,er having been ono | flooded, sufficient length of time to produc r a crop without any further irrigation. Tn crops cultivated principallly are corn beam l peas, squashes, and melons, all of which the
 raise with very little labor Wheat also dot E well there. IT WAS put in about tke first { q January, and ripencd about the first of June.