The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-19

YUMA oCAw.
ancient domestic customs in late years, as all
other Arizona Indians have done more or less.
They still maintain their so wage court Of JUS
tico, and elect tribal o"cers to perform the
will OF the tribal Government. as did the Yu-
mas before vasQuez de Coronado or Cabeza
de Vaca crossed the Rio Grande and marched
20 conquer the Southwest, In 1910 and 1871.
Tho Yumas live In the most torrid part Of
the Union, down on the very rich bottom lands
of the lower Colorado River, that divides the
State of California and the Territory Of Ari.
xona. Their reservation is several miles south
from the town of Yuma, and there. It is be-
lieved, the tribal ancestors were living at least
four centuries ago. The first white men to
c,me and live among the Yumas wero the
Fran ciscan monks, in 1878. They were forty
three brave young friars. from the University
of Barcelona. Spain. and they came up the Col
orado River and fixed a mission Mt what is now
the town Of Yuma, intending to Christianize
the 20. 1000 or &c. 900 red people living there.
In 1902 The tribe revoltcd at the II ew doctrines
and massacred all the priests, soldiers, and
civilians in the adobe mission buildings and
tore the structures to the ground. In tho
'4Os and sos the Yumas frequently murdered
parties Of whites on their way in WAGONS
across Arizona to the gold fields In California.
In 1854 tho Government established a mill
tary garrison at Yuma. and at about that time
Pasqual. an unusually intelligent and just In
dian for those days. became chief of the
Yumas. From that day to this the redskins.
have been friends with the palefaces. so much
% that the Yuma fort was abandoned twenty
two years ago as unnecessary. At an early
day the Yumas were famous warriors. and the
records at the Franciscan missions In Califor-
MIA show that they were the deadly enemies
and often the conquerors of the fierce Apaches.
About 1929 they engaged for two years in
warfare With the allied forces of the Pimas and
Maricopas, and their history says that at the
end Of the war they killed 1900 Of their enc
mics who had been taken in battle.
In physical development the Yumas prob
ably have no superior in this country. The
lack of clothing worn by the tribe leaves the
graceful contour of tho bodies unconcealed.
Tho Yumas are tall. Every motion shows
strength. agility, and endurance. Their dark
brown compilations, high cheekbones. protrud-
ing lips, and broad countenances arc relieved
only. by the keen. bright eyes that light up the
otherwise stolid features. The women arc
generally plump. especially when young.
They have a knack of balancing water ollas
and other heavy weights upon the head when
walking. which probably endows them with
their upright figures and easy carriage.
USING MODERN
Until a few years ago the sole apparel of tho
male Yuza Indians consisted Of strips Of red
or blue tied about the abdomen. with tho free
ends dangling down to the knees. The popu-
lation in Yuma City. q few miles away, has
been growing fast. and the new residents there
and the Southern Pacinc Railroad Company
have united In a demand for more clothing of
o sort that COMFORTS with civilization. The
general dress OF the umas now is a cheap over
alls, cast-of undershirts, and occasionally q
coat over both of these. Strange and startling
combinations In dress are frequently encoun-
tered among the older Yumas. who cling tena-
ciously TO their tribal rights and customs. For
instance. one may see among the tribe a pomp-
Gus buck wearing q breechcloth, q discarded
stovepipe hat, and q pair. of trousers, without
further accessories. Sometimes he wears o
solitary undershlrt. Shoes and hats are sell
dom worn, although rude sandals OF hide and
cotton handkerchief are at rare intervals made
TO do service in their stead. Bead necklaces
and wristlets are popular.
The cartilage of the nose Is pierced and nose
beads inserted. The children of both sexes
wear earrings suspended from several holes in
tho ear. The coarse black hair Is arranged In
long rolls, and treated with the sap or gum Of
tho mesquite tree, which Is supposed to be Q
sure preventive OF badness and infAllible In
maintaining the shining condition so highly
priced by them. At times the Yuma head 10
thiokly plastered with a greasy. reddish mud,
called e-mat- tho.A-thou. whish facilitates the
cleaning OF the scalp. All female children arc
tattooed across the forehead with zigzag
marks. For this charcoal dust or dark clay lie
used. Both sexes paint the face with yellow.
crimson. white, black, and green pigments.
Tho squaws among the Yumas are much
more modest than their fathers. brothers, or
huabands, and remain closer TO the reserva-
tion. They do not come In contact with civil
Eed ways so much as the males in the tribe.
The squaws, therefore. nave not yet donned TO
any great extont tho garb OF the whites, and
their attire at home IL scanty; inc Iayor,te
pieces, each sufficient In length to e%ncircle half
the body. These are made, q the inner osrk
OF the swamp willow, and fall from the waist
gIrdle resembling soft cordinR. The bark Is
prepared by cutting into strips OF the requisite
length. an inch or so wide, and softened oy
pounding with rocks and working IN the hands,
making 1. durable and comfortable sArmahk
Immense bark eGstiss are wHrH; hpoa astrlide'
Otherwise the body Is completely nnde: y neh
absent from home, calico OF startllhk col9rV ~
the ankles, and another piece OF cloth tied
about the shoulders falls TO the ground
The Yumas are different from any other IN
dan tribe In the South west in that they occu-
py-like the pale faces-R wide range OF cISh,as'
aggregated into districts; hse 4; Ap s6 : Territory,
live in close communities, ana ACT rs ~ uh't.N
peace and war. The Yumas have clearly nto
villages, which In turn are made un OF I'LL
ings, fhe VILLAGES are con.p9sSt ob In theIP
ddomestio Arrangements Owing TO the mild
ness OF the climate, the dwellings are cruaeiS
Like nearly every Indian tribe the Yumas
have not the least affection or cohslueIat,on
for the old and decrepit, men or women nysn
driven away by theiF offspring. Nh9 aohi