Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-01-05
THE PIMO VILLAGES.

In the old Spanish records Of the
expeditions made to the ella River,
during the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries, special reference Is made TO
the Pimo, or, "a the Spaniartls called
them, Piinas Indians. As far back as
1889 Friar Marco de Mica encountered,
during his famous expedition to the
north of the ella, q tribe whom he
designated the Plntados, from the fact
that they painted their faces. These
were probably the Papagoes, who are
of the same nation rs the Pimos anu
speak the same language. The most
Interesting fact In the history Of these
people Is that a. far back rs the records
extend they lived, rs they do to this
day, by cultivating the earth; showing
q direct affinity with the Pueblo In
dams of New Mexico.
In consideration of their industry
and their amicable conduct toward
Americans, the Government Of the
United States, in 1859, caused a reser-
Walton to be set apart for them, em-
bracing all the lands which they had
In cultivation ut the period Of the
acquisition OF Arizona. The length Of
the reservation Is about 20 miles
breadth, 4 miles; and the river ella
runs through 1t from M end to the
other. We have authentic history In
proof of the fact tlnt for 800 years the
same land has been under cultivation,
producing two crops q year without
manure or renewal of any kind; yet
it continues as productive as over. 1t
Is probable the deposits left by the
water are Of n fertilizing nature. The
return In wheat Is % fold.
The number of Pimo villages Is 10;
Maricopas, 2; separate Enclosures,
1000; total population, COCO. In 1861
they sold to Mr.. White 300, 900 pounds
of wheat, so, 900 pounds Of corn, 10000
pounds of beans and n large amount OF
dried and fresh pumpkins, which was
all intended for the supply OF the Cal
ifornia column. The greater part of
this crop was destroyed or given back
to the Indians by the Texans, under
the guerilla, Hunter, who arrived at
the Pimo villages that year, robbed
Mr.. White of his property and took
him prisoner In their flight to the Rio
Grande. The Pimos sold, during the
same year, 600 chickens and a large
amount of other stuff, showing Il
gradual increase Of production under
the encouragement of an increased
demand.
1t will thus be seen that the Pimos
are not n race to be despised. They
have always proved themselves good
warriors, and have been uniformly sue
ccssful in resisting the incursions Of
the Apaches. Their villages have af-
forded the only protection ever given
to American citizens In Arizona. If it
were not for the PimOs and Maricopas
1t would now be impossible to travel
from Fort Yuma to Tucson.
Many of the customs which prevail
among this interesting people, might
profitably be introduced into our judi
ciary system. As administrators upon
the estates Of deceased members. of
their tribe, they are especially worthy
of imitation. No wrangling about
wills, no jealousy among relations, no
grabbing OF effects by avaricious law
yers disturb the exit Of the dying man.
| Peacefully and without worldly concern
he shutfies off the mortal coil, satisfied
that all will be well when he Is buried.
| His property Is fairly and equltably
| distributed among his people. If he
be q chief, and possessed Of fields, and
corn, and cattle, his death Is windfall
to the community. The villagers are
summoned to the burial. Over his
grave they hold n grand festival. The
women weep and the men howl, and
they 90 into q profound mourning of
tar. Soon the cattle are driven up and
slaughtered, and everybody, heavily
laden with sorrow, loads his squaw
with beef aud feasts for many days.
All the effects of the deceased become
common property his grain Is distrlb-
uted; his fields are shared out to those
who need land; his chickens and dogs
divided up among the tribe; and his
widow Is Offered BY public proclama-
ton to any man who desires q wife.
If she be an able:bodied woman, capa-
BILE of doing much work, abe is gener-
ally consofed within n few days by
another husband, though custom allows
her to howl for the last until the con-
ventlonal demands Of grief are Salts
fled. Marrying a wife with a tar-cov-
cred face having its Inconvenience,
the new husband Is also permitted to
wear tar, which doubtless has q ten
dency to cement the union. The bow
and arrows, blankets, beads paints,
Jews'harps, and other personal effects
of the deceased, are buried with him.
The body is placed In a sitting posture,
with the face toward the sun ; over the
grave sticks and stones are placed, and
thus lie sleeps the sleep that knows no
waking till the day Of resurrection
Bropnt AdUenturei in ths apache Country.