Arizona weekly enterprise., 1890-09-20
n HF-h-NN7I7E' A-1' " H1717 17F Evanston, Aug. IS, 1890.
The Pimas, Maricopas and Papagos.

A Washington dispatch to the Globe Democrat says: Cornelius w. Grouse, the new agent of the Pima, Maricopa, and Papago Indians in Arizona. has sub mitted his report, which was received at the department to-day. Under the in structions of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Mir. Grouse has taken a census of the tribes within the Pima Agency It shows that there are All Pimas, 315 Maricopas and 3363 Papagoes. The Pi- mas and Maricopas live on reservations in the Gila and Salt River Valleys, and, excepting small reservation at the San Xavier, where 363 Papagoes have receiv- ed their land in severalty by allotment this latter tribe has no lands or home A few of the Pima and Papagoes speak English, and some of the children who are attending school write readily Many of the boys, especially from the Pima tribe, are learning industrial pur- suits, such as carpentering, blacksmithing, etc, and few of the girls are becoming expert in the use of the needle and sew ing machine.
 "Ihe principal occupation of the Pimas and Maricopas is farming" says Agent Grouse, ''and their productions chiefly are wheat, barley and a few vegetables, together with the raising of cattle and ponies. Last year the Pimas produced about 6,000,000 pounds of wheat, but this season, on account of the scarcity of water, they will produce only about one half that quantity. The Papagoes, ex- cept those on the reservation at San Xavier, make very poor living. Form erly they were called cattle-raisers, but the ever-invading whites have appropri- ated the most favorable locations, and it is becoming difficult for the Indians merely to exist. In June they gather the fruit of the sahuaro or giant cactus this and the mesquite beans are the chief food for months. However. many ot them come to the Pima Reservation on the the Gila river in May or June and harvesting. They usually receive the pay for their labor in wheat, which they transport southward, often q hun dred miles. The Papago women are very ingenious potters, and the Pima women are skillful basket-makers. but these occupations are followed only when the work in the field is done, for they labor quite as much as their husbands.
 Irrigation is everywhere necessary foI agriculture, on these reservations. and more waterfs needed, the agent says, to irrigate the increased acreage of farming land. The Maricopas do not take kindly to the teachings of the of the mis- sionaries, having little regard for re ligion. but the Papagoes are inclined tc follow the teachings of the Catholic Church. The Pimas take an interest in religious instruction of the mission teach CTS, and they listen attentively to Bible | stories. The agent says, however, that | there is still great room for improvements | in the morals of these people Crate | fitness scarcely manifestS itself" he says | Marriages usually are mere farces, and 1t IS quite common to see girl yet in hel l teens who has been married two or three i times"
 The Pimas in particular are supersti tious. Many of these people," says l Agent Grouse, "believe in ghosts, an0 they have implicit faith in the abilities ot their ceremony. The Indian doctors art ! the source of great deal of annoyance, | he concludes, and l am not sure that this nuisance is abating" The proxim ity of the Mexican is accounted by the agent as against rather than for the In dian. He says the example of the aver age Mexican just across the border i; demoralizing in it's tendencies. To tht influence of his white associates is traced the Indians tendency to indulge in strong drink. 50 long as the Indian has access to the Spanish fiesta Ia feast)," says the agent lin which drinking, gambling O all kinds, bull-fghting and kindred pas times are the so-called social pleasure little improvement can be hoped for il morality or temperance"
 In conclusion, the agent laments th, fact that the whites of Arizona do no
 sympathize with the efforts of the Gov ernment to improve the Indian. The in ference is plain that somebody has called Mir. Grouse a 'tendefoot," for his pains il
 behalf of the aboIigine. Tt is lamentabl fact" he says, that the whites of thi Territory, with some exceptions, do no sympathize with this unfortunate people and an agent from the East MT. Crous is from Indiana) with good will for them
 and backbone and integrity enough t advocate for them, is styled a tender foot" by those of cowboy tendencies ant | fducatiOn "