The Coconino sun., 1909-03-05
PIMA HOME LIFE
Has Been Completely Revolutionized
 in One Generation


 American
 Southeast of Phoenix, O m e forty-hve miles or more, lies the little village o Sacaton in the fertile valley of Gila; some parts of it are under cultivation and the rest of it is covered with desert. Here a tribe of Indians live, and have lived for many years. These are industrious and agricultural people. How they came to this valley they do not know them selves, All the lands are held as tribal property, each member being accorded enough to provide for himself nd his family. The water from the Gila river supplies all the land within the valley. Their houses are of the oldest fashion; and also their dress and customs. The women and the maidens wear low neck dresses, leaving their straight black hair hanging down on their backs. The men also wear their hair long so that from behind one cannot tell the men from the women.
 The women and the girls do all the cooking and all the house work. And they sometimes help in the field as well. As soon as a girl is of age, she is taught several differ ent things; she is also taught sew ing, washing and how to make pottery and baskets. The boy is taught in the same way how he should be useful in. the home. In some homes the smaller children are taught to work; the little girls work is to take care of the babies. You will often see one carrying the baby on her back. This is not an easy task, for when you want to play you are often made to take the baby along wherever you go with the other children. The boys principal work is to water and feed the horses, but most of the time they are out hunting with bows and arrows, playing or swimming in the river. The children are also taught the games, songs and legends of the past which have been handed down from one generation to an- other.
 The Pima have many beliefs, and one of them is that if they tell these legends to their children in the summer time they are sure to be bitten by rattlesnake, hence they tell them only in the winter. The men toll in the hot sun, tilling the soil for the wheat, oats, alfalfa, corn, beans, sugar cane, squash, peas and melons. They raise large herds of cattle and horses, and poultry. Beans and tortillas constitute the Pima's main food. Tortillas are made of wheat ground fine to which little water is add ed. This dough is then spread over flat iron which sits on a hot bed of coals and fire, and is cooked. tortiIas are the most inn portant food used in every home. There are several ways of making them. Some of the Pima use the dutch ovens, but some use clay ovens; clay ovens are about five feet in diameter at the base and arched to a point at h top. When used, a fire is built inside the oven and then removed when it.is hot enough; the bread is then put into the oven and baked. The Indians of today have learned the white mans way of making bread, but some prefer the old way
 In the olden time the Pima had no marriage laws. Whenever a boy wanted wife, he selected her without the consent of his people or the people of his wife. In this way they brought trouble upon themselves. He usually took his wife home in the evening. In the morning she had to get breakfast for the family; she must not let her mother-in-law do anything; il she did, she was thought to be very lazy and good for nothing. The boy had to do the same at the home of his wife; he must help in the fields, and do everything that he thinks should be done, without being told. Today marriage li' censes are issued by the agent al Sacaton.
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