The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-13
1VCOyOUERABLE YAQUIS.
,,,,r tyDItNS VINO ARE wow MIX
'"' ,y1 THoTBLE IN MEITC0.



Fran, N, ST. Louis Giob, Democrat
,.r.s,,, hostile attitude OF the Yaqui
,... f., the mountain districts Of North
,,,.,rrn McNtco, rcvives interest in what Is
,,. tho most remarkable tribe OF abo-
,,,,n.I, known to history. The iaquis differ
,,.,,,rt,lly from the numerous other tribes
.,,,aniinr this section Of the globe. While
J,,rourbly partaking Of the ferocious nature
s,,,, ,r,rhrs OF the American frontier, and
containing quite as pronounced hatred
,,r all people Of more civilized tastes they
o-. characterized by very distinct predi-
,s..i,p for intelligent forms OF government.
ma, ,,,, any restrictions or obligations should
g.. .l,,,I lipon them by an alien people. such
49,. ,n,y have ever been disposed to regard
,Il mankind not Of their tribe. they are dis
,,.,l T., consider as unwurranted Interior
,.,. with .npir hereditary customs. and
r,,,, r,rulrrablc The laquis have been
constant source OF dread to the Mexicans
,,,.. si,,.r the first attempt at civilizing the
Northwestern section OF the republic, to
,l,,n ,nu,,mcnt the former have been most
enormously opposed. Like other North Anne
,.,., tribes, they hold that the territory
,n., Inhahu Is theirs by right OF inheritance
nom l,r iurcfahers, and every foot OF
land that las from time to time been wrench
Oh from them has ultimately been paid for
hy the I.o's blood OF the invaders
when inc Spluiards first came to Mexico.
IN iiin IN, YaQui nation numbered popu-
l,,I.,, ~ 3g1ooo. The territory controlled by
,n.r. Mas bounded on the south by Durango,
aul stretched away to what is now known
~. ,N.. rp.lurru boundary OF Colorado. They
N.,,, d! suuruly independent, owing ale
rr,r.o in no government other than their
uNr AND were looked upon as the most
.,.un..lI, Of all the tribes of Mexico. Like
all ua.i,lllcd natives at that period, the
Yaqms were given TO strange customs and
r,r- ,aauy ui which were appalling in the
,,rr,n, one OF these was their practice
~ I.,,'royi x, at birth, all puny or deformed
miau'S which cruel custom is claimed to
account for the superior physical develop
meat characteristic of them even to this
Iay Tho first war with the YaQuis was
ricruilatoL by Coronado, who, during the
period ~ spanish occupation led an armed
expedition INTO their territory. The progress
ul 'hr invaders was strcuuUusly opposed by
the Indians but, owing 10 their superior
arms and equipments, the Spaniards even
tunlIv succeeded in penetrating through their
country. This war lasted year. during
winch period the laquis lost % 900 of their
warriors AMI We're forced to abandon u large
amount Of their territory to the invaders.
Their intense hatred for the Spanards. che
r!sh,i even 10 the present time. was en-
GcHtrr"d in the YaQuis at that remote date.
7hrourhout the succeeding centuries they
have been almost necessarily at war with
the Sianitrds and their Mexican descendants
AMI by degrees their once powerful tribe
has been reduced, until at the present day
II numbers less than II 600 members OF
their former broad domain all the posses
sons that now remain to the YaQuis are a
10 ~ cd in ha loua
valleys OF the Rio Yaqui. in the southern
PORTION OF the state OF Sonora. Here during
the brief intervals of peace which they have
occasionally experienced. they have made
their homes following their natural pursuits
OF farming, Stock-raising, and mining. Thi!
Is the land that has been officially assigned
to- them by the Mexican government. Bach
of it, however. in the fastness of the grea
Sierra Maires, lies territory that Is their.
by right ~ their exclusive ability to pene
frat" AMI, when necessary, to inhabt II
This is the war home OF the Yaqus. Here
In the conflicts OF later years, they have
proved invincible. unconquerable. 1t is
country OF rugged mountain sleeps, Of deep
furnaCe-like dehes, and desOlate. swelterint
mesa lands-a country inaccessible, intolera
bic to anything human. save only the Yaquis
Such Is the stronghold in which this race O
fighters is intrenChed to-day.
The history OF the Yaqus during the pre-
sent century is especially conspicuous from
the tribe settled down to an APPARENT,
permanent peace. The manifestation OF
trait so utterly at variance with the pre-
Nious disposition of the tribe was the oCca
SION OF quite as much wonderment as re
lief on the part of the Mexican people. II
justice to the iaquis however, be it said
that, had the tribal rights been respected b
more advanced civilization in the begin
ning not only would nearly three centurie
OF perpetual warfare have been averted bu
e. hlyE pt,I iii,
element without peer among her presen
population. Purtirio Daz himself an In
u'ah, has always entertained the profound
eSt admiration for the Iaqui character. an
recently characterized them as the arms c
N" state OF Sonora" In 1920 the Yaqu!
numbered upwards Ct 10000, and during tn
ensuing year rallied to the standard
zen l'urbide taking prominent part |
we war for independence against their ma
tnral enemies, the Spaniards When. in Ser
t"lher. ISL the war ended. and the free
nom # the MeXicans had been won. tn
laHns returned to their remote haunts
~" Northwest and entered upon their Ion
unprecedented interval OF peace. Therein wa
experienced the first prosperity they ha
known since COrtezs time. Then came III
war between Mexico and the United State
III M Even quarter century OF peace ha
nov ntnHh"l the Iaquis' inherent proper
sly to' "at ana Immediately 5000 OF the
u'a''S jn.cA the Mexican forces. But whe
""~ hEilN restored, N FEBRUARY or IN
Io'""iHg year, the Yaluis who ha
served throughout the war did not retur
10 NOR peaceful pursuits. They claimed II
N'A'can government had broken fat
YIN them relative to certain lands thi
n"i been promised them as reward Il
lH''r participation in the war. The resu
was m" precipitation Of series OF hostil
US lasting throughout a period Of mo
man my E"n"S, and the end Of whiC
mas not yet been reached. Within tn
saNrN,u,ry :H'"rNal the Mexican govern
me- ht- sacrificed 5000 soldiers and maj
MI',"nF Of dollars in It's frutlcss endcavo
" c"".'Ua.ly subdue the YaQuls aud rcsto
- '"'"nr; peace. "he tribe apparent
TOW - H"cnmc rccurCiieh 10 the loss
- rA''"s.,r territory. ana arc :csoly
10" "".' II out their grievances to &
M""@ IG'r lro.ractcd warfare has 90
mon oN'r peo mcmh"rG 90 their tribe. y
.'s many towls and nacicndas they h
D''9'H the war. OF the 1890 IaGu!s
." 'oLnl in Sonora at tho pr
S"ht t!Il". /: is impossible 20 co
'iy estimate tho propofticH Of actu
"EN"rs RI" boys arc instructed IN wa
N' rom tn"ir very infancy. and at /
W" NJ fourteen ouc Is seldom found who
AZ "Ap"ct Ia Tho urs % every weap
A"""' 70 their craft; To nrat ambition
- faG y ynIiH Is - POSSESS WinChCst