RUSSELL]
CONTACT WITH SPANIARDS.
29
of opportunities for ethnological observation while among the Pimas.[1] From this time forward until the American occupancy of the Gadsden Purchase in 1853 the Spanish and Mexican population of Tucson varied from 500 to 2,000, and there was more or less trade with the Pimas either at the post or through small trading parties that went from Tucson to the Gila villages.
- ↑ Plefferkorn, who published his Baschreibung der Landschaft Sonora in 1794–95, gives a very full account of the southern Pima-speaking tribes, but dismisses the "unconverted Pimas" in the following words:
"Hierauf folgen den Gila hinunter die noch unbekehrten Pimas, welche sich auf beyden Seiten des Flusses ausbreiten. Dieses Volk ist in drey zahlreiche Gemeinden getheilet: wovon die stärkeste ein anmüthiges mit Bäumen wohl besetzes Land von 14 Meilen bewohnet; welches durch Wasserleitungen, die sich wegen dem ebenen Boden mit geringer Mühe aus dem Flusse auf das umliegende Land führen lassen, befeuchtet, und fruchtbar gemacht werden kann." (Vol. I, p. 6.)
Padre Pedro Font, who accompanied Garcés in 1775, wrote an extended diary of the journey, in which hs devotes a few pages to the Pimas. Following is a translation from a copy of the original manuscript, pages 48–52:
"First of November: Wednesday.—I said mass, which was attended by some Gileños Indians who happened to be there and who gave evidence of considerable attention, good behaviour, and silence. They sought to imitate the Christians in crossing themselves, which they did awkardly enough, and in other things. We left the Laguna (Lagoon) at half-past nine in the morning, and at one o'clock in the afternoon we reached the town of San Juan Capistrano de Uturituc, after having travelled four leagues towards the west-northwest. This town consists of small lodges of the kind that the Gileños use. We were received by the Indians, whom I estimated to be about a thousand in number. They were drawn up in two rows, the men on one side and the women on the other. After we had dismounted they all came in turn to salute us and offered their hand to the Commander and the three Fathers, men and women, children and adults. Indeed they all gave token of much satisfaction at seeing us, touching their breast with their hand, naming God, and using many other expression of benevolence. In short, their salutation was most lengthy, for almost every one of them bowed to us, saying: "Dios ato m' busi-boy," as do the Pimas Christians of Pimería alta, which signifies "May God aid us." We, on our part, must needs return their salutations. They lodged us in a large hut, which they constructed to that end, and in front of it they placed a large cross, Pagans though they were. The river being somewhat distant, the Governor ordered his wives to bring water, which they straightway carried to his lodge for the people. These Pimas Gileños are gentle and kind-hearted Indians. In order to fête our arrival they sought permission of the Commander to dance, and soon the women were moving from mess to mess, dancing after their fashion with hands clasped. In short, the whole people gave token of great pleasure at seeing us in their country, and some of them even offered us their little ones to be baptized. This we did not do, being desirous of proceeding with circumspection, although we sought to comfort them with good hopes. In the afternoon I went to the town with Father Garcés and the Governor, Papago de Cojat, to see the fields. These milpas are enclosed by stakes, cultivated in sections, with five canals or draws, and are excessively clean. They are close by the town on the banks of the river, which is large only in the season of the freshets. At that time its water was so low that an Indian who entered and crossed it had the water but halfway up his leg. From what they have told me, this is the reason they had not yet made their sowing, for inasmuch as the river was so low the water could not enter the canals. They also told me that to remedy this need they were all anxious to come together for a council, and had already thought of sinking many stakes and branches into the river to raise the water so that it might enter the drains; this industry on their part is a proof of their devotion to toil and shows that they are not restless and nomad like other races, for to maintain themselves in their towns with their fields they themselves have contrived to hold and control the river. I also saw how they wove cloaks of cotton, a product which they sew and spin; and the greater number of them know how to weave. They own some large-sized sheep whose wool is good, and also Castilian fowl, These Indians are somewhat heavy in build, very ugly and dark, the women much more so than the men. Moreover, perchance on account of their excessive eating of pechita, which is the husk of the crushed mesquite made into a gruel, of screw bean, grass seed, and other coarse foods, a very foul odor may be noticed when they are gathered in groups. This evening the Commander presented them all with tobacco, beads, and glass trinkets, wherewith they were highly pleased. The distribution of these things lasted until night.
2nd Day: Thursday.—We began to say mass very early in the morning, and with the sacred vestments I carried with me and with those which Father Garcés brought from Tubac to use in Colorado river, we erected two altars. It being All-Souls day, we three Religious said nine masses. It was, moreover, a most notable and unheard of thing that in the river Gila so many masses should he said. They were attended by a goodly number of Indians, who preserved the utmost decorum and silence. We left the town of Uturituc at eleven o'clock in the morning, and about three in the afternoon we halted on the
