The Bessemer indicator., 1893-01-07
THE sTRANGEsT TRIBE
LEGENDS AND CUSTOMS OF
THE PIMA INDIANS.
4 Sacred sAOs In the Giis yaiir, of
New Msxlco-rhe Lives ana Hail.
Its OF II People Descended
From the Aztecs,

are the most peculiar Of any in the
United States. and it can be said of
them as OF no other tribe that they
are the only ones that have not at
some time or other borne arms
against the whites They number
about 5. 600. and have increased very
little since Coronado first discovered
them in his search for the pueblos OF
what is now New Mexico This is
due in great measure to their in
cessant warfare with the Apachcs. in
which they have lost many people.
says Il correspondent OF the St Louis
Republic.
They occupy the same country they
had when first discovered ard confine
themselves 10 the rich belt OF ugri-
cultural land lying bstween the Salt
and Giles rivera and extending from
about SO miles above down to the
point OF confluence
They manufacture alias "a kind OF
earthen jar) and a peculiar basket
which arc the chief articles of trade
with tho whites. These baskets will
hold water and an Indian will devote
two week time to the construction
OF one basket, and sell it for so cents.
In physique the fimas are the finest
specimens OF manhood to be found in
tho world. Tall 1.-THE. we'll formed
and feet OF foot they are rather
handsome, unlike the Apaches Dur
ing the many wars which the whites
have had with the Apaches the Pimhs
have proven Invaluable as scouts.
and one is living to. day who often
made tho mountain trip l0S miles.
from Phi mix to Prescott in - hours.
Though since Father Kino ex-
plored this country in 1901 they
have been staunch friends OF the
whites they refuse TO adopt any in
novation, either in religious or social
customs and are the Same they were
900 years ago. They keep their
sacred fires burning with the same
zeal and foster the same legends.
though for hundreds of years tao
most seductive promises OF the church
have been held out to them. Their
greatest popularity lies in their re-
liglon and their legends. which are
altogether different from those of any
surrounding tribe. Like all the other
coast Indians except tho Apaches
who arc intidels they arc sun wor-
shippers; and while the story OF their
origin. as given by themselves. is al
together different from that OF either
tho Zunis or the AIoquis one will at
once notice its similarity to that of
the ancient Aztecs Of Moxico.
Long. long ago-so long. indeed.
that the wise men have almost for
gottenth incilents-Montezum was
as he is now. tho great father of
everything and Chiowhatmahta was
one OF his assistants or the earth
prophet. This assistant upon the in.
struction OF Montezuma made the
earth. which appeared in the begin
ming like a spiders web stretching
thin and fragile across the blunkness
OF space. Then the earth prophet
| few over all the lands in the shape of
butterfly until he came to the place
that he judged fit for his purpose and
there he made man. He took a lump
OF clay and kneaded it with sweat
| from his own body. and after blowing
on 1t 1t took life and became man.
This creator had son named
Szenkha who when the Gila Valley
was becoming pretty we'll peopled.
lived here. There was also a great
prophet whose name was banished
from the annals Of the tribe. Ono
night great eagle came and beat
against his door and said: arise.
thou that healest tho sick and shouldst
know the future. for there is great
food upon us But the prophet
turned over and slept The eagle
came the second time even but with
no better results and the flood came
and drowned all the people except
Szenkha who escaped in ball OF
resin from tho mesquite tree. When
the waters fell. Szenkha landed near
the mouth OF the Salt river. where
one may still see the cave In which he
lived and the tools he used at his
work. He was very angry with the
eagle. whom he blamed for the flood
SO he made ladder from kind OF
vine and climbed up to the eagles
cave and slew him."
For the killing OF the eagle the
warrior had to suffer penanca which
| was that he must never again scratch
himself with his nails but must use
a small stick, which the Pimas OBJ.
serve yet renewing the stick every
four days After he had slain the
eagle he looked around and found the