The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-07
THE REAL YAQUI INDIAN.
ONLY RENEGADE AREON THE WAR
PhTH IN NORTHERN MEXICO.
Described ss the " Ar,s ofths state" IN Fo-
nora-Thsir Musieai Ear Faithful ss La
borera-A FnncraI anA Ita Ceremonles.


Described =. the Ar-,s ofthe state" n 30
| nora-Their Musiesi Ear Faithful ~ La
bOrers-A Funersi aud Its Ceremonies.
DENINo, n. NJ. Oct. at has now been
more than year since the Yaqui Indians at
tackled a Mexican Custom House at Espia,
across the border from DemIng. captured arms
and horses from the settlers. and then made
their escape up the valley Of the Casa Grande,
past Janos into the Sierra Madrc Mountains,
and across the range into the state of Sonora.
Mexican soldiery had attacked their village the
preceding spring upon some pretext, and had
destroyed much valuable property belonging TO
the Indians. In revenge they attacked the Gus
tom House and started out upon the war trail.
Gen. Torres commander OF the Mexican troops
in chihuahua and Sonora, or what IL called the
Northern Zone, sent troops after these Indians,
tracking them through mountain passes, where
several engagements were fought, tho Indians
leading the troops into ambuscades and killing
them in large numbers
At intervals reports have reached here during
the year Of other battles, but the Mexican Gov
eminent so closely guards the news that little Is
known of the results Of this campaign against
the Yaquis. II IL believed that the Yaquis who
are out on the warpath have entered upon q
final struggle which only their humiliation will
terminate. 1t has been a ost expensive cam
paign for the Mexican Government
But all the Yaquis are not engaged In this
war The fighting Yaquls are mostly rcnegades,
and include remnants OF the particular tribe
which occupied the upper valley of the Casa
grandc where the trouhlc first occurred. They
were driven 10 sceK refuge I'm the Sierra Madre
where they were Joined by renegades and out
laws hiding from arrest for other crimes.
Den Torres describes tho Want Indians n.
"the arms Of the state" What the State Of
Sonora would do without the yaonis ia difficult
TO conjecture They form the chief dependence
OF the farmers and the mining operators. They
arc industrious and steady. Wh.revpr one NAV
90 in Sonora there will he see the Yaouis hard
Mt work. uncomplaininp and Ionu.sufrerinv toll.
ing from sunrise to sunset for a miserable pit
lance which would amount in United States
money to something like 81 n month The
yanui Indian rendily takes tn tho In rdest kind
OF manual labor and when once he entere upon
the occupation of a common laborer he never
goes back to his wild state He becomes n slave
NJ toll and he never poes ont ON strite for nm in
- =, -. - 4, -. !, -, .1N.'-I.
crease OF pay OF because OF III treatment.
The faquis arc above the average height,
wei oullt' anu ,nuscuiar. iney seem 10 oe
pet'er sraue vi inu'an IMAM thoSe uioes Oh the
southwestern part of the United States. They
resemble in facial exnrrssion the Cbevepnc
Insia 49,, hs,." -, ,,,an., .,ra, ~
indian out nave more pleasing expression.
full in disposition. They readily nsslmilote with
,hs Msriran ,a,,s - ity,r,, aa,n, al, hot, o.
the heAic"h ways D, iNhg, auopt an 'h'ir Gus
religious observances the Yaouis retain some Of
the barbarous manners of the race. It was the
efforts Of the Catholic priests on the Casa
Grande TO force the Yaouis to change and mod.
ny lner rehsious pract'ces that caused the OUT
break Of last fall.
The Yaous are tho most moral people OF
mexico. ~ Is seldoth 10 nhd husband OF n wire
untrue Child marriages exist among them.
marry when stu very young and when they ar
formed and the contract fuIaIlcd The YaouI
.o,nu "nn ,'s .o .,. ,",'i - ne aqu,
the Mexican peon. Her husband treats her as a
companion consults with her upon all ventures
takes her with him when he goes of on visit
or out for a hunt in the hills, and in all affairs
OF life treats her with some consideration. or
course the squaw must know her place ana OBEY
her husband without question.
yeloped. lie will go anywhere to hear music
Music has been encouraged by the chiefs and
going about teaching the tribe to sing G and To-
play. Their favOrite instrument is a harp,
which closely resembles in its lines the instru;
from. Spanish harp when Mexico was under
own harps out OF native wood, using only a
knife in their construction. They also have the
violin, the flute, and an instrument closely re-
sembling the clarinet
Their music is wild but full of weird harmon
les, changing from grave TO gay with easy tran
sition. The Mcxicans delightin the music and
encourage the Yagui musicians to play for
them. After work for the day is over the Yaquis
congregate and listen u the music or dance to
the strains until exhausted. The wild dance
music OF Hungary Is not unlike the music of the
faquis; They can readily pick up new ideas In
IA
whiStled 10 Yaqui musician is Immediately de-
velOped into very excellent counterpart.
Their musicians take a leading part in the re-
ligious ohscrvances OF the tribe, and In the few
remaining barbarous customs To which the
faquis cling. One of their ceremOniuls. quite
impressive, Is a laqui funeral When the wife
OF well-knOwn Yaqui dies all the friends and
neighbors are formally invited TO attend the
funeral. Preparations for a great feast are
made, generally IA large OK being roasted. and an
unlimited amount OF mescal secured TO wash
down the food. Before the feast is served the
great event OF tho ceremony occurs. The time
selected is after dusk, and the place is lighted up
by q peculiar red fire OF native invention. To
this grewsome light the dance OF 1.-THE Pascola"