The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-09-13
The Indians Who are Now at Wal
With the Mexicans.
HISTORY AN INTERESTING ONE.
Although Primarily Peaceful They
Are Essentially Warlike Because
orthc Independence OF Their
Natures-Still Unconquered.

war levied by Mexico will In all probabili-
~ be one of extinction. Following so
closely. as il does. the peace treaty ending
the ten years war. the present war be-
comes one OF peculiar interest. The Va
ouis. or Haquls. when first known to
history. occupied nearly or quite all that
territory now marked on the map as New
Mexico, Arizona. the western half OF
Texas and as far south as Durango in
Mexico. They numbered nearly or quite
100000. To-day their habitat Is the coun-
try along the Rio YaQui. IN the State Of
sonora. and they number only ID 90, 5000
OF whom are capable Of bearing arms.
Thcy are mild. tractable, industrious and
make the best ranchmen IN all the west.
Like the Navajos 90 the North, they own
vast herds of horses and sheep. They
weave wool blankets OF exquisite pattern
and manufacture clay pottery of def
workmanship Allied 20 the P.mas they
speak the Cahita dialect. which they do
In a loud. rough tone. thus drawing TO
themselves their tribal name. 'Yaqui,
meaning literally che who shouts Al
though speaking an ancient dialect as
national language. spanish is also spoken
act business dealings in that language,
their trade with Guaymas alone amounting
TO more than 5000 q month.
WARLIKE PEOPLE.
Although primarily pcaceable. they are
essentially Warlikc, because OF their ma
tonal independence. War has never been
of their own seeking but always 10 resist
encrOachment upon their national SOW
ereleuty. one instance may, however, be
excepted. and that was when the war
chief. Tetabiate. rendered our government
a regiment of picked warriors 90 do battle
against their hereditary enemies. the
suaniards.
In JOSS the Jesuit father, francisco
KIn0. founded q mission among the Va
quis. The children were gathered into
schools and taught the Christian religion.
% mixture OF Catech.sm. prayers and mid
correction Of the lash. II was Ike all
Others OF the missions of the early fathers
both in action and result. a generation
served f0 raise up one of Spanish-speak-
ing Youngsters who could jabber their
"avcs" and "credOs." and who, when the
watchful eye of their precept0r was turn
ed from them went back 90 the war god
Huitzilopochtn, but tempered with the
mild teachings OF Quetzalc0au. just as I'm
our time many cOpper-cOi0red graduate
of Carlisle goes back TO the gee string
and blanket.
Nearly sixty years went by, and the
Naquls bowed 90 the God of their teachers.
They suffered as well because the coun-
try OF their teachers also had god or
gold. They were poWcrless Tor long
time TO catch the light 0f understandings
but in 1910 Mum. with "a lieutenant. Juan
Calxto headed a rebellion against the
government OF the officers OF Spain. Iheir
war was brief. and peace was pro-
claimed. The terms of peace were disre-
gardcd by Spain. and 100 the Naquis
again rc5clled under tho leadership OK
chief Luis. whose authority lasted until
l,53. when be was captured ana, as span
ish history rec.tes. che soon died OF mel
anch0iy.'
STILL ITNCONQUERED
Although az war with Spain. or az least
Spanish blood. since 1870. the Naquis are
am encountered people. Even their 500
called defeat by General Urea I'm 49,
when they were Ted boy the eloquent Ban
dera cannot Doe construed as actual when
10 is remembered that they have since
varied AGAINST Mexico and been treated
with as "a nation. that they hold the iands
OF their present residence under grant
from Spain. and that they are governed
by their own laws, having never yleideu
10 Mexico. Their villages are hleiAlly
cities of refuge under their laws ana lAe
fugitive is in sanctuary wnen me passes
the gates of Cocarin. Bacum I"fin' %.
any OF the pueblas In the Businesses OF
tho Bacatcte Mountains
The Naquis to-day are lighters. A""e,
however. was demonstrated IN the Yen
wears, war I'm which they witnessed the
|.. ga
when in conference with Mexican ollctiA
during q cessation Of h0stilites ana uhder
"a DAG of truce. That. with other incidents
of ike character. has not served 10 make
them love Mexico or the methods or us
governments in war Ihs' not"l'hslai.u-
ino the National Council ratified the
treaty of ortiz I'm 1897
General Torres. who was I'm command
Of the expeditions against the laqWs ~
feqc-q7 is in command of the troops IN the
field against them in the present war.
Press dispatches so Ear show Mexican
success I'm every encounter. IL IS Out JUST
TO the Yaqui 20 remember mat the teie-
graph is in the hands of ms enemy. Inc
losses. SO far. seem to be hgnt WIN lh7
Mexican and heavy upon the IaquL Since
fSfs Afoxfco has lost 5000 soldiers and
spent millions Of money in It's wars against
this uelple In $50 they defeated the
Mcxicgns under General Garcia, Klling
that officer aud 800 soldiers. They are
better armed now than then. The Next
cam must follow 10 the inaccessible na-
tural fortifcati0ns Of the Bacatete noun
iains. A family of fourteen held pass
in these mountains in 1894 against 400
Mexican soldiers for three days. on the
fourth the attacking party were able 20
get sidrmishers upon "A narrow ledge
above. where they fired upon the defend
ers who retreaied That evening the
Nexicans were halted by shots from an
adobe chanel near the edge OF narrow
mesa al the mouth Of a gorge, which was
the. pathway TO "a valley beyond They
were kept here four days longer and il
was only after they had battered the
building down 10y shots from howitzer
that they were able 20 pass. II was then
they discovered that they had been again
held by the same family who had held
the first pass. All were dead but boy
who was wounded 50 seriously that he
died within the hour.
The present outbreak is because OF an
attempt upon the part OF the Mexican
government TO grant mining concessions
i'm that part Of Sonora under dominion OF
the Yaquis by grant from Spain. The
Yaqui is. II may be- making his last
fight. and the world may expect an heroic