Louisiana capitolian., 1881-08-09
OUT IN ARIZONA.
Life Among the Indians-Their Oc'
o,,.tions and Ideas Of Happiness
-Curius Customs-Homage to Mon'
texuma--An Improvement Boom
ON the ella.
Cor. of The Washington Star.

AcouA DULcE, ARIZONA, July 49, lool'
Wishing to renew my subscription
for The Star, / will at the same time
write something about this far-away
country, hoping. little news from a
quarter so remote may a passing dl-
version to the readers of The Star
who must by this time haye surfelt
of Sitting Bull and Roscoe Conkllng.
The former by his mastery inactivl-
ty has succeeded, through interviews
special correspondents, and the asso-
ciated press, in having himself ad-
vertised daily in almost every paper
in the United States to the exclusion
Of all other Indians in the country,
and the latter by cutting off his nose
to spite his face is at present dividing
the honors of this deadh head advertls-
inc with his more fortunate rival,
who at least has been able to hold
his position. But | did not start out
to write about either of these celebrl-
ties. but of the Pimas, Maricopas apd
Papagoes, who certainly deserve a
little notice for knowing how to be-
have themselves. These Indians
have been for many years friendly
DISPOSED towards Americans, and
rendered Gen. Crook valuable aid
in helping him subdue the willy and
ferocious Apache, who had been fol
wears terror to settlers and prospec-
tors in this territory. The Pimas
and Maricopa's reservation extends
from the mouth of Salt river, where 1t
empties into the ella, about 60 miles
almost due east nearly to the town Of
Florence the Gila being the southern
boundary line.
THESE TWO TRIAES
number about six thousand souls, ant
are principally occupied in agricultu
raj pursuits, raising fine crops o
wheat and barley, their wheat alone
this season amounting to several mil
lion pounds, which commendsa highe
price than any other wheat raised OF
this coast. chiefly owing to the super
manner in which it is cleaned.
HOW THE sQUAws wINNow WHEAT.
The work is generally done by tn
souaws, who, with simply a baske
of their own manufacture, and
strong breeze, are able to remove ev
erv particle of dust, straw and chat
9 leaving the grain beautiful an
, bright in colors of amber aud gol(
t No machinery has yet been mad
} that can successfully compete wit
: this primitive process of the India
9 woman. sit not sad cOmmentaT
on the boasted Yankee ingenuity
, the age? They also raise corn, me
1 ons, pumpkins, beans, sweet pot'
: toes and some other vegetables, al
: own quite a number of swine an
y some fine cattle and thousands
l. dogs. The ponies are only used Fl
l. riding, the oxen for farming purpose
y and the dogs, with their howling al
barking, to make the day hideo
and the night more so. Their hn
n are made of sticks and dirt, and a
l. about five feet high and thirty in ci
e cumference, and resemble in appea
l. ance a large inverted bowl. T
- door is only two feet high and 0
= foot wide, and is always cut in t
~ east side of the hut in order to gi
is Montezuma buena rista or good VII
Of the sleeping braves at his conf
with the rising sun. have seen
" representatives of nearly every "a
Il, on earth, but for genuine enjoyme
a of the present, and total indifferer
m of the future, the Pima Indian carr
g. off the prize. A pony and enough
er eat make him supremely happy.
81 COSTUME OF THE NATIVE ARIZONA
ng His ideas of dress are slightly
as variance with the prescribed mode
his pale faced brother; in fact he
ir- most dressed when least dressed;
iel approved style, for grand occasio
he being sunshine and paint. Tt
to work very little, spin not at all,