The Arizona sentinel., 1909-07-01
The Yuma indians Fifty Years Ago.
(COntinuedl
NEW YORK

The dress Of the Yuma Indian throughout the years consisted of breech cloths. This was formerly of bark, but now it is made of piece of calico. about yard and a half in l length and foot broad. This cloth is rassed between the legs and the ends held up by belt or strings. The end in front is short, forming little arron, while the other end often trails on the ground.
 The Yumas do not weave any cloth or make any article of dress. The women wear g small breech- cloth, which is wholly concealed by the heavily fringed kits, which are worn, one in front like an apron, ey- tending nearly to the knee, the other a trifle heavier and longer behind.
 These kiltS are generally made Df the inner bark of the swamp willow cut in strips, and they are held in place by . heavy cord, or bundle of cords.
 The hair of these Indians is cut in front on line with the brows. The back hair is allowed to grow on the males and is made into rolls with clay. These are often sold and bought and added to their own locks.
 Their hair is used to secure their scanty clothing 10 the top of their heads when wading or swimming the rivers and lagoops. It is very alum dant and coarse. Animal life in the hair is destroyed by frequent rubbing in moist clay, so that cake Of mud is worn like turban for several days.
 Widows cut off their hair as q badge Of grief. The young men adorn tacir heads with tuft oi feathers, and even with 2 bunch of rattlesnake tails.
 The Ynmas are an agricultural peo- pie, and raise wheat, corn, beans and watermelons, musk melons, pumpkins and squashes-the latter being dried for winter use.
 In the months Of June or July, or just previous to the annual overflow, they begin their preparations for their annual planting. They burn the brush and trees on the land likely to be oycrflowed and surround them with a brush fence. After the subsi- dence of the water they SOW the seed. The women do the planting. The In- dians gather the seed of a species t- grass called the "Sacaton" whica grows in large quantities along the river.
 The pods of the "Aigaro5a glandu- losa,' or longpod mesquite, which is very abundant in this region affords 2 staple article of food. the floN"r of this tree, as Of the screw-pod va riety, contain much honey. The In- dians gather them, infusc them, and the result is a very sweet liquor. The ripe pods contain much saccharrine matter and a nutritious pulp. Many 1 tons are sold to the whites for horses 1 and cattle. The seeds or beaps are pounded into a coarse meal and made into mush with boiling water. They keep no stock other than horses, and are very fond of the flesh of the horse oT mule, which they prefer to that or j cattle A religious custom requires them to eat the horses Of deceased i friends. They are also fond Of fish and during the winter catch many to cat and some to sell to the whites. l These are mostly Colorado SalmCn." :" Specimens weighing 25 pounds are caught with hooks and lines or drag nets in the river and lagoons Iisn hooks are made with a twig of me- quite and tipped with cactus thorn.
 Tc cook this fish they plaster 1t over with fine, soft clay. It is then lad on a bed of coa!s and more coals heaped upon it. When thoroughly baked the molds are cut open length wise, and they serve 1s plates. The Indians also boil fish with vegetables but they never eat shell fish
 The climate is so mild 'luI'ing tie l cold season, that niucn protection | from the cold nights iH not thought Of, unil about Novemb # when each fam. 1 fly constructs q shelter of 8one sort aAainst the weather This protection varies from low hut made Uf twles covered ana sided with sticks and earth, to the simple 1ean-to of brush. hich is usHally just emp :a,i 10 break t;,t rigor Of the wind
 Pasquars (their ci1fef's) winter quarters, may be described as type Of the best of their houses.
 The place chosen iS : sandy ol,en fIat The de peF the sand the better. for warm sand is all excellent substi- tdte for clothing Fear pnstS of strip l ped cottonwood arc set up fGf sup ports st cach of tf1t cut;.rr; Tf q square, say ten feet each way, and their tops ara notcliC1 to receive the c;0ss bean&s. Poles arc then laid across, and on them earth against the Cfrss beams. :)n three sides; poles are leaned at 1n angla of fortJ five de. gees; and th 9EG are intcr-Nnvcn or wattled with inc lJ1IS ushy stems of the arrow-wa2d, and earth thrown OH them and b .'lked to rlt2 rouf
 Ia men 3,G.I tbe houses. cnt doNr