Los Angeles daily herald., 1873-11-30

is a philosopher and accepts her situa-
ton without nurmur. She is
brought up to regard her sex as I'M
measurably inferior to the majesty OF
the masculine, in the order of creation.
Hence she has no opinion as against
his in the routine of life. She performs
all the labors that her maternal ances-
tors have performed from time inn
memorial; and though she fall crush
ed beneath the weight that her hus-
band assists in placing upon her head
or shoulders while she performs the
drugery of the fields, yet she feels no
resentment against any One-she only
cares that her strength has failed on
the present occasion and that her
bruises are consequent to the failure.
have not been able to learn that the
Pima maiden Is at all imbued with
that maudlin sentiment termed
Glove" by the novelists. She has
strong connubial attachments, but
they seem more animal than human,
and the same is true of the man. The
filial relation is not marked by any Of
the manifestations peculiar to civilza-
ton. The infant is tenderly cared for
but never fondled, and in turn the
parent is looked to for sustenance, but
for nothing more. The young Pima
is no sooner able to walk around than
he has commenced an independent
struggle with the world. He settles
his own disputes, keeps his own coun-
Gil, and puts on an appearance Of
stOlid indifference which remains
with him up to the last hour of his
life. ........,
But the brightest page in the his
tory of the Pima is that which pro-
claims his ancestry. This tribe claims
to be the last remaining vestige of the
ancient Aztec, and its traditions go to
corroborate this statement. 1t is plain
that the Jesuits believed this to be
true, but unfortunately they have left
no records to throw. any light upon
the early history of the tribe. The
inference that those priests (whO GER
tainly had the best opportunity in
knowing), believed SO Is obtain
ed from the universally of
this opinion among the Mexican in
habitants of Arizona and Sonora. 1t
has long since ceased to be a question
among these people as to the original
condition Of the Pimas. The tradition
as it now stands, says:
"The prince who reigned in Mexico
was acknowledged the sovereign
through all the country, from the
Gila river to the ocean, and also in
the great valleys beyond the Gila.
The name of the prince was Monte
yuma. When the invaders came from
the sea to attack MonteZuma, he sent
couriers to all parts of his dominion,
summoning the people to arms, and to
join him at his capitol. On receiving
the summons the whole inhabitants
of Arizona Immediately marched to
the south, taking with them their
families and property. They arrived
there, but too late. The prince had
been already slain and the people SUBJ
dued. The conquerors commanded
them to return to their homes, which
they did, but all save few hundred
perished of hunger ahd fatigue. These
settled in the valley of the Gila,
whittier the conquerers soon followed
them, but they received them hospit-
ably. and were accordingly established
friends, and have been on terms of
friendship ever since. 85..tl
Such is the tradition of the Pimas
which may be true or may not, but
which is certainly strengthened by
observation of incidents and circum-
stances connected with this tribe.
There will be no question in the mind
of any intelligent observer of the an
cient ruins on the Gila, San Pedro,
Salt and other rivers Of Arizona, but
that there was once an hegira from
those scenes by an Industrious people.
The history of the conquest of Mexico,
too, goes to establish the fact that the
dominion of the Aztec prince was very
extensive and that orders had gone
forth for re-enforcements to the various
parts of the empire, Even at this day
the name of Montezuma is revered by
the Pimas who have as tenet of their
superstition that that prince will
come again riding on an eagle, and at
such time will issue from the rising
sun. When that day shall dawn the
Pimas will at once gain the supremacy
that was lost at the fall of Montezuma,
the white man will fade away and dis
appear and the old order of things be
restored. In other words the ancient
Aztec, now represented by the Pima
nation, will have awakened from a
dream of few centuries.
| 1t is, however, q matter of but little
practical Importance whether the
Pima was originally branch of the
Aztec empire, or whether he sprang
spontaneously from the soil upon
which we find him. 1t is ep02gh that
at present he il a grand Ct |inty as
an Industrious, progressive, savage
heather. When we take into con-
sideration that the tribe has been
afflicted for the past eight years by
the actual presence of Government
Indian Agent, We are puzzled which
most to admire; his submission to
outrage for the sake Of peace, or his
| industry and perseverance under
such adverse circumstances. Those
proszelitizing representatives of Oul
Christian institutions have never
failed to constitute themselves para
sites OH the Pima body corporate and
have grown rich by acts that, by COM
parisOn, would be libel on the stand
and-deliver style Of robbery. If il
were appropriate under this head
should like to go beyond the surface In
this direction; but having undertaken
to write O sketch of Pima life, and
having done so partly to my satisfac.
ton I will leave the agency plundel
for future and distinct consideration
.&tiN@t5@ P.W. DooNER.