Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-03-07
AT THE DOOR OF ARIZONA.
mo. 81


mo. 81
Yun.-Ths Old Port-Ths Yuma Indians
Psculiar Customs--A Short Chapter Of Their
. History-A Terminal Railway Station
The Aborigino Absi-Th, Indian Method Of
Farming Personal No.eS.
Whose makes the trip from Los
Angeles to Stanwix may not con-
slider his fare luxurious or his per-
sonal comfort greatly advanced,
but he certainly sees much to in
terest him if he has never made the
trim before. Yuma itself con-
sists of a principal street running
at right angles with the river and
q few lanes and side streets. The
visitor will be surprised to learn
that there are about eighteen hum
dred souls In its narrow limits. The
dwellings are much Of such q de-
scrIptien as those of Sonora in Los
Angeles, 'dobie being the main
building material, with here and
there one of the modern American
style. Saloons are numerous in
Yuma, the fervor Of the climate
not seeming to abate the demand
for blood heating drinks.
THE FORT.
OF course visit to Yuma would
be incomplete without a glance at
the historic old Fort. 1t lies on the
California side, a short distance
from the railway bridge, on small
sillock. The indians are mainly
tied on this side, passing their
there. The Fort comprises
nge of buildings, with
orricos, and is built
Irangle. We were po'
through it by Lieu.
or and found every
able order. A single
-, uuGa-, epaed by Capt.
Porte omprises the whole garri-
son present. To remark that
it was we'll located to catch what.
ever breezs might be- going in the
hot summer months, Lieutenant
O'Connor replied that the summer
breeze was very undesirable
thing to have in Yuma, and that
Its breath was like that Of n fur
mace. In Yuma, unlike places
more advantageousIy located as t.
climate, every effort Is made to ex
clude the air. With the mercury
standing at l20e in the shade;
very frequent sum mer temperature
there-only Salamander coult
revel in the blasting zephyr.
THE YUMA INDIANS.
The most noteworthy thing
about Yuma are the Indians, who
give the place its name. A gentle
man who was with us, and whose
business has taken him all over tn,
American continent, assured u
that they are the most shapel,
aboriginal race he had ever seen
At all seasons of the year most ol
the males 60 naked, with the ex-
ception of breech-c!out. The lat.
ter they delight to have of the m osi
fanciful colors, and long stream
er behind OF red or blue gives the
noble warrior huge pleasure and es'
tablishes his character as a beau
with the most fastidious females oi
the tribe. Many OF the "bucks"
their common local title-are
formed with eXtrems elegance
They have broad, animal faces, but
their bodies are 1.-THE and sinewy.
Many of them are quite tall, and il
little more piunlpness had been
given TO their calves several speci-
mems of the tribe could bs picked
out who could pose for the Apollo
Belvidsre. The younger squaw'
are often quite symmetrical. They
share the sex's love of finery ant
their general costume consists of a
sort of kirtle Of calico Of very far.
ing pattern, leaving the lower legs
and feet exposed, and a loose man
tie, often made of gaudily colored
bandanna handkerchiefs sewed to.
gether. Their bodies TO the waist
are generally in plain view. AS tc
the morals OF the squlws, 1t is
enough to say that the episode oi
Susannah and the wicked Eide
could never have been enacted
about Yuma for the simple reason
that it would be impossible to fine
u Susannah there.
MEMORABLE DISASTERS.
Owing to n peculiar custom o
--'br - the Yumas have very lit
"henever q warrio
n dies from an,
longing to hin
My his arms
'er vanities
I'll d his grow
. ", rs well
g Cocopal
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