The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-08-28
The PIMA INDIANS.
Three Days Among the Ameri-
can Aboriginies.
Special Correspondence.

HrSJ DAY OF August, IN company Win
our host, Rev. Wyncoop, w. II. Black
and myself, start for the Pima Indian
Reservation. The journey was about
,wenty miles in distance southwest
from Phoenix, across the salt river via
a pass through the Maricopa noun
tains.
We made the trip by night, as 1t is
much more pleasant driving across the
burning sands. The object of our visit
was two-fold. First, to study some
thing OF the religious manner and Gus
,oms of the Pima Indians, and second,
to enjoy the recreation of hunting and
fishing. We reach the end of our jour-
ney about 1880 p. m. and are soon
made welcome at the parsonage. A
word in regard to our host and his sur
roundings will be in order. Rev. Wyn-
coop has spent the last seven ears as
missionary to the Pima Indians, under
the control of the Presbyterian board.
He with his devoted wife have done
faithful service in looking after the
temporal and spiritual interests Of this
tribe.
The parsonage, church and home of
the interpreter, with the inevitable
school house near by, are centrally To-
Gated and command a view of the larg-
er portion of the Indian village. The
entire reservation is a strip Of land
along the ella river about rs miles
long and Is miles wide.
There are about 1000 Indians scat
tered up and down the reservation,
living in houses called wickups, made
of reeds and rushes covered with
adobe, The principal industry is
farming, from which some are making
a comfortable living, raising corn,
wheat, alfalfa, etc. The women are
quite industrious in pasketry and pot
terry work, from which they realize a
substantial income.
But we have not forgotten the minor
object of our visit. Having been told
that there were thousands of coyotes
and that there was a bounty of 800
per scalp, there was some excite ment
in the parsonage when our host grant
ed us the privilege of hunting on the
reservation. Indeed, if you could have
seen my partner with his Kentucky
"blue-geens" and heard the war whoop
of the Phoenix parson, you would have
thought that the days of Daniel Boone
had returned.
We were off among the jungles of
the ella in search of big game, but not
q ci0ht did Nuo. croft IF tho GROW yunIf
nor sound OF his yelping bark. No
wonder! We were informed by an In
dian that they do their prowling at
night and hide away in the mountains
during the day.
And then an experienced hunter
tells us that the only animal on the
plains which he could not overtake,
when mounted on a good horse, was
the prong-horned antelope, and that
the Meetstchchaggonees, or coyote
was the next in speed. There were
many interesting legends and religious
superstitions told us about the coyote
that still exist among the Indians. AL
though at this season of the year the
Indians are sleeping in their cornfields
and melon patches to guard them
from the coyote, yet they will not kill
one of them because of an old super
might befall them. Not being success.
full in hunting coyote, we turn our at.
tention to fishing and my partner de.
clared that he got three nibbles. AT
ter shooting fine mess of wild pig
cons for dinner we retire to the par
sonage where a bountiful meal was
provided by our faithful cook, Mrs
Herbert Martin.
Some of the pleasant features of ouI
outing were around Lake Mas-akumoe
| (birth of the river.) This lake is in
the midst of the desert and about five
miles from the parsonage. Having
been invited to take the evening mea
| WIN some friends who were camping
| by the lake, we INDUCED in hunting
| fishing and boat riding until supper
was announced. Be it said to the
credit OF my companion, Mr.. Black
| that the largest game of the season
was brought down. With all the
stealth of old Daniel Boone hunting
the Indians he crept within range o
his game and with steady aim he sho
the unknown monster vird through thu
| head. 1t proved to be a pelican anC
measured seven feet from tip to tip.
me evening hours passed too quick
| ly by while we listened to some of thu
Indian legends told by Rev. Wyncoop
Our belated trip home came near re
sulting in a dreadful night on the des
ert. Within a mile of the parsonag
we were overtaken by a sand storm
that was almost binding. Had it no
been for our faithful team we woul,
have lost our way. AS the universe
custom at this season of the year |
sleeping out in the open air, it bein
impossible to sleep in the house, W
were driven to our cots outside and 70
two hours we were in the midst of
dreadful simeon that caused us to COY
er our heads until they were like tn
ostrich of the desert, covered wit
sand. But usually these storms are G
such short duration, and so delightfu
is the atmosphere when they are ovel
that one soon forgets the discomfol
ture.
But the principal object of our Wis
must now be considered. The Sabbat
dawned upon us bright and beautiful
and with it came an intense anxiet
to know about the religious services I
the day. The pastor had kindly i
vited me to preach for him while
was absent at another part of the re
ervation preaching to the Maricol
tribe.