The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-08-31

they used to own before they were
elected they raised corn, cotton, to-
bacco, fruit and maguey, from which is
distilled mescal.
They were gentle, kindly and indus
trious, the name Yaqul implying in
their language geniality. Strangers
need not have feared to visit their viii
lagos of Bacam, Cedros, or Cocori and
buy their wares. The wholesale exc
cutions the scattering of their chill /
dren among Mexican families to serve
as poems, and the deporting of their !
women and little ones for slaves on
the southern plantations have sOurced |
disposition originally frank and sim
pie The Yaqui no longer trusts even
the Americans, whom they formerly !
esteemed their friends. They have
been goaded to a point where they are
at war with the whole world.
To the Yaqui the present war is
| righteous one. The manner of their
warfare, atrocious though it may be,
/ is the only one which offers them any
chance of reprisal. Lurking in the
chaparral or arroyos, or lying behind
rocks and mesquite, they shoot down
the unwary traveller, freighter and
! prospector. Or as the Apaches used to
/ do, they pounce down upon distant
ranch houses and wipe out the inhabi-
tants, firing the buildings before they
leave. In justice to them, however, it
is said that until lately the Yaquis
have not attacked noncombatants.
The country, gulled with arroyos and
washes and covered with a dense un-
dergrowth of chaparral, is well adapt
ed to the tactics of the Indians. Sc
curely hidden, they lie in wait until
some luckless freighter passes within
range. Sometimes they hold up gold
escorts or parties of travellers, having
been informed by Mexican renegades
that the party would pass given spot
during the day.
THE YAQUIS DESIRED PEACE.
About the first of last May Luis
Bule, head chief of the Yaqui nation,
asked the Mexican government for a
peace conference. With 100 followers,
he met several Mexican officers who
commanded the forces then campaign
ing against the Yaquis in the Bacatete
Mountains. After a three-hour pow
WOW terms were agreed on, and it
seemed as If peace would ensue.
The Yaquis agreed to submit I'M
conditionally to the Mexican govern
ment. Their lives and property were
to have been respected, and they were
to have received all the rights and
privileges of Mexican citizens. They
also agreed to surrender their arms
and ammunition. The Mexican gov
eminent, on its part, agreed to furnish
the survivors of the warfare food and
necessaries until work could be pro-
vided for them throughout the State
? of Sonora. These terms were agree
J able to both parties ana a treaty of
, peace was drawn up and signed. Col.
Jones Gonzalez Salas, who was in
} charge of the negotiations for the Me-
I xican government assured for Indian
, chiefs that the Mexican government
would treat them kindly. Chief Bule
agreed to send messengers to the diff
ferent Yaqui bands then on the war
} path, advising them TO cease hostili-
ties, and to come in and deliver III
7 their arms
= Chief Bule fixed June Is as the date
: on which all the Yaqui bands would
\ present themselves for the purpose O
s ratifying the terms of the treaty.
I That the Indians were acting II
v good faith is shown by the surrender
s of several Of the marauding bands.
= Whether or not the majority of thu
e warriors became dissatisfied with tn
g terms Of the treaty agreed to by Chic
n Bule or not is unknown. But on Jun
Il 10, instead Of assembling to surrende
e their arms and ratify the treaty, tn
S Indians continued their depreciation
y and the conflict broke out flercer thai
ever.
:. Gen. Luis Torres, the Mexican OF
a ficer who has commanded the force
o campaigning against the Yaquis 70
r several years past, is now in camp wit
- brigade Of about 1000 troops In tn
d center OF the Yaqul country, and