The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1899-09-14
tom lands are covered by water or

tom lands are covered by water or
made moist by sub-irrigation. while In
dry seasons the contrary Is the cause.
AS the territory is large. each individ-
ual Yaqui can always find place suit
able for cultivation for that particular
season. Next season he may have to
find moisture and other conditions nee
essary. Now 1t is evident that II the
land were not held in common and IL
every Yaqui had his own allotted piece
some would possess suitable land for
cultivation, while others would have
dry lands, which would be worthless
unless properly irrigated. Much of the
present trouble with the YaIuis arises
from this fact. The Mexican govern
ment wants the Yaquis to divide their
land so that every individual may pos
sess his own plot.
They Take to the Mountains.
Colonel Martinez of the Mexican
army, In an interview on the Yaqui in
surrectlon, says: THE Indians have
been restless for some months past.
They object to American prospectors
invading the mountains of their coun-
try In quest of gold. We We're expect
ing an outbreak and We're not unpre-
pared. If we can cut off the Indians
before they reach their strongholds,
our work will be easy enough, but once
In the mountains, conquest of the in
surgents will be a difficult problem.
That was the trouble dU'ing the ten
years war which ended two years ago.
and cost Mexico much blood and trea-
sure. The Indians retreated to the
mountains, where they could not be
pursued, and at every favorable oppor-
tunity swooped down upon the troops
or assailed neighboring villages, MUIR
dering and plundering. If the Indians
do not surrender a war of extermina-
ton will ensue. 1t is pity, too, for
General Diaz had hopes the Indians
would remain friendly, and become civ
ilized. Not long ago he sent thirty
school teachers into their country to
instruct them and to establish schools
and colleges. These may have been
murdered for all that Is known, for
some of them went into the outlying
districts. So far as | can learn the In
dams are well armed. They have, in
fact, been buying weapons ever since
their leaders signed the treaty of peace.
and l do not believe they ever had any
idea of keeping the truce. The murder
of their own chiefs who had accepted
office under the Mexican government
indicates that they have grown desper-
ate and that the contest will be fierce"
The tactics of the Yaquis are to attack
suddenly and to ambush and imme-
diately after the assault to run back
into the mountains, where no one can
follow them. After Yaqui has
fought for some time he suddenly be-
comes peaceful Indian and leaves the
territory in which the war RACES. This
happens when his ammunition Is all
spent; he must then provide himself
with more. This he does by working
in Arizona and New Mexico, as In
these places he can procure arms with
his savings and return when he has
enough. When he has accumulated
enough lie returns by passing from
Arizona through the Sierra Madre will
derness, whore he is free from SOL
diers' bullets and from observing eyes,
and when least expected he turns up
fully equipped with munitions to
carry on the war. The Yaqui Is not
the blood-thirsty beast that some re-
ports have made him out to be. He i3