1883–84
Gila Crossing. The Salt River Pimas went to a fiesta at Gila Crossing.
Blackwater. A drunken Pima while riding on a box car on the Southern Pacific was run over and killed.[1]
1884–85
Gila Crossing. An epidemic during this year among the Kwahadk’s caused the execution of two medicine-men who were suspected of bringing the visitation upon the tribe.[2]
Blackwater. The first wagons issued by the Government to the Blackwater people were received this year.
1885–86
Gila Crossing. Hwela, named for the agent Wheeler, was baptized this year as the first Christian convert among the Pimas.[3]
Two youths were thrown from their horses during a rabbit hunt and killed.[4]
Blackwater. Two prominent men of Blackwater died.
1886–87
Gila Crossing. Tizwin was made at Gila Crossing in such quantities that it was passed around in bowl-shaped baskets. One man was killed.
The first adobe houses were built at Gila Crossing, and their owners were thereby entitled to one wagon each.[5]
A man at Salt River was shot by a white man; the particulars were not known to Kâemâ-â.
- ↑ The practice of allowing the Indians to ride free upon freight trains was established when the road was first built and is yet continued. The object of this generosity is said to be the procurement of the good will of the natives, who in return would give warning of washouts, or obstructions intentionally placed on the track and, perhaps, give concessions of rights of way across the reservations in the event of future extensions. Agent Jackson in his report for 1883 stated that six Pimas had been killed that year by falling from trains when drunk.
- ↑ It will be noticed that such common events as this among the Kwahadk‘s are recorded by the calendrists, thus showing how closely related the tribe is to the Pimas.
- ↑ Mr C.H. Cook, a Civil War veteran, had come as a teacher and missionary among the Pimas at the close of the year 1870. A sincere and devout Christian, he labored for nearly fifteen years before the people to whom he has devoted his life began to understand the message that he brought to them. He informs the writer that three or four other men had accepted his teaching before Hwela, but it is probable that this year marks the beginning of the conversion, which thereafter advanced very rapidly. Mr Cook has described his experiences among the Pimas and Apaches in a small volume of 136 pages, entitled, Among the Pimas, 1893. The chapter on "The Pima Indians, their manners and customs," by Rev. Isaac T. Whittemore, is inaccurate and inadequate.
- ↑ These hunts were frequently made and resulted in the destruction of large numbers of hares and rabbits, two species of the former and one of the latter. They were simply drives by a company of mounted men who surrounded the area to be beaten over and then advanced toward the center, where the animals were shot with arrows or killed with clubs. Such hunts are yet continued.
- ↑ These wagons were issued to such men as were willing to cut their long hair, build adobe houses of reasonable size, and provide suitable sheds to shelter the wagons from the scorching heat of summer, which is exceedingly severe on vehicles.
