The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1878-10-12
YUMA, ARIZONA, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1873

average more than from ten to twenty
acres to the family; nevertheless they are
dissatisfied with the size of their reserva-
ton. asserting that their forefathers had
been IN possession Of a much larger por-
ton of the Gila valley, and since the val
ley, above the reservation, has been settled
up by Americans and MexicaDs, the In
dians have frequently encroached upon
the fields Of the latter whom they t0nsi-
der in the light of intruders, and it is ap-
pretended that sooner or later serious diff
the land with oxen and crooked stick,
as is done by tire Mexicans; they SOW the
seed and cut the grain; (the latter is done
with short slckles) Horses thrash the
grain by stamping. Women winnow the
grain, when thrashed, by pitching it into
the air by basketfuls. when the wind car
! ries of the chatf; they convert the wheat
into -four. grinding it by hand on their
metates, Ia larged HAT stone upon which
the wheat is placed, after having been
slightly parched over the fire previously,
and wher .upon II Is ground into coarse
-four by rubbing and crushing with ano-
ther smaller stone) The principal crop
Is wheat; of which they sell when the sea-
son is favorable, 100000 pounds per an
mum. They also raise corn, barley, beans,
pumpkins squashes, melons, onions and
a small supply of very inferior short cot
ton.
The diet of the Pimas is very simple;
animal food Is used only ON occasions Of
Ceremony, although they possess large
numbers of beef-cattle and chickens. They
do not use the cows milk, manufacture
neither butter nor cheese, and DO not eat
the eggs of their hens. Very few will eat
pork. But whenever they kill a cow,
steer or calf, they eat every part of it, that
can possibly be maSticated, including in
testines. Should an animal die, no matter
| Of what disease, they eat its meat without
apparent evil effects upon their health.
At times they hunt the rabbit, which is
about the only game (quadruped) in their
country. Fish during the month Of April
and May, are also extensively eaten.
Wheat, corn, beans, and above all, pump
kins and mesquite beans are their princi-
pal food. The latter grow wild In abun-
dance, and millions OF pounds are gather
ed annually by the women Of the tribe.
These beans are gathered when nearly
ripe, then dried hard, and when required
for food first pounded in wooden mortar
and then boiled until they become soft.
The water is then squeezed out, and the
pul39 substance remaining modelled into
loaves, which are baked in the hot ashes.
The bread thus obtained has q sweetish
taste, is very nOurishing, bat, being very
heavy, can hardly be easily digested.
The women also collect, in proper sea-
son, the fruit Of the Sahuaro, (Cereus Gil
ganteus) out of which they manufacture
preserves and kind of native whiskey cal
led Teswin. This, after one fermentation
must be used at once, for otherwise it be-
comes sour. All Pimas are inOrdinately
fond of this beverage, and old and young
partake OF it until the nation are wildly
dancing about in a drunken frenzy, until
at last they drop to the ground overcome
by the stupefyIng effect Of the liquor.
The women also spin and weave coarse.
kind of blanket, gather large quantities Of
hay annually, which are sold to the white
men, gather and carry all the fuel needed
by their family, make the ki-ho, peculi-
arly constructed basket carried on the
back of the head and shoulders by means
of broad straw strap fitting across The
forehead; manufacture of willows and
reeds superior baskets, which are made so
perfect that they will hold water, and
finally excel In the manufacture of coarse
kind of pottery ware, making jugs, dishes,
plates, and all their other household uten-
SilS