The Native Races [of the Pacific states], Volume 1, Wild Tribes

The Pah Utes occupy the greater part of Nevada, and extend southward into Arizona and south-eastern California. There is reason to believe that the Pi Utes are a distinct tribe from the Pah Utes, but as the same localities are frequently assigned to both tribes by different writers, and as many have evidently thought them one and the same, thereby causing great confusion, I have thought it best to merely give the names as spelled by the authorities without attempting to decide which tribe is being spoken of in either case. The Pah-Utes 'range principally in the southwestern portion of Utah and the southeastern portion of Nevada.' Head, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1866, p. 124. The Pah Utes 'are spread over the vast tract of territory, between the Sierra Nevada and the Colorado River, going as far south as the thirty-fifth parallel, and extending to the northward through California and Nevada into Southern Oregon and Idaho.' Colyer, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1869, p. 92. The Pah-Utes inhabit the western part of Nevada. Walker, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1872, p. 59. The Pah Utes and Pah Edes range over all that part of Utah south of the city of Filmore in Millard County. Head, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1868, p. 150. 'The term Pah Utes is applied to a very large number of Indians who roam through that vast section of country lying between the Sierra Nevada and the Colorado, going as far south as the thirty-fifth parallel, and extending to the northward through California, Nevada, into Southern Oregon and Idaho. The Indians of this tribe in Arizona are located in the Big Bend of the Colorado, on both sides of the river, and range as far east as Diamond River, west to the Sierra Nevada, and northward into the State of Nevada.' Jones, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1869, p. 216. The Pah Utes 'properly belong in Nevada and Arizona, but range over in southwestern Utah.' Irish, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1865, p. 146. The Pah-Utes 'range principally from the borders of Oregon, on the north, to the southeast boundary of Nevada, and from the Sierra Nevada eastward to the Humboldt River and Sink of Carson; there are one or two small bands of them still further east, near Austin, Nevada. They are much scattered within these limits.' Douglas, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1870, pp. 94-5. 'The Pah-utes roam along the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, from the mouth of the Virgin with the Colorado (in about lat. 36° long. 115°) to the territories of the Washoes north, and as far east as the Sevier Lake country of Fremont's explorations.' Cal. Farmer, June 22, 1860. 'The Pa-utahs, and Lake Utahs occupy the territory lying south of the Snakes, and upon the waters of the Colorado of the west and south of the Great Salt Lake.' Scenes in the Rocky Mts., p. 179. The Pá Yuta (Pey Utes) 'extend from forty miles west of Stony Point to the Californian line, and N.W. to the Oregon line, and inhabit the valley of the Fenelon River, which rising from Lake Bigler empties itself into Pyramid Lake.' Burton's City of the Saints, p. 576. 'The Womenunche (also known as the Pa Uches) occupy the country on the San Juan river.' Collins, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1862, p. 238. 'The custom of designating the different bands of Pah Utes is derived from the name of some article of food not common in other localities; "Ocki," signifies "trout," "toy," "tule," &c. The Ocki Pah Utes … are located on Walker River and Lake, and the mountains adjacent thereto. The Cozaby Pah Utes … range from Mono Lake east to Smoky Valley.' Campbell, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1870, pp. 112-13. The Pah Utes extend, 'over portions of Utah and Arizona Territories, also the States of Nevada and California. Fenton, in Id., p. 113.

The Chemehuevis are a band of Pah-Utahs. Whipple, Ewbank, and Turner's Rept., in Pac. R. R. Rept., vol. iii., p. 76. The Chimehuevais live about forty miles below the Colorado River agency, on the California side of the river, and are scattered over an area of fifty square miles. Tonner, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1872, p. 323. The Chemehuewas are 'located mainly on the west bank of the Colorado, above La Paz, and ranges along the river from about thirty miles south of Fort Mohave, to a point fifty miles north of Fort Yuma, to the eastward, but a short distance.' Sherman, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1869, p. 216. The Chemehuevis live on the Colorado river, above the Bill Williams fork, a small tribe and quite unknown. Poston, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1863, p. 387. The Chemehuevis are 'a band of Pahutahs, … belonging to the great Shoshonee family.' Ludewig's Ab. Lang., p. 35. 'The Chimchinves are undoubtedly a branch of the Pah Ute tribe.' Stanley, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1866, p. 102.

PI UTES AND GOSH UTES.

The Pi Utes, or Pyutes, 'inhabit Western Utah, from Oregon to New Mexico; their locations being generally in the vicinity of the principal rivers and lakes of the Great Basin, viz., Humboldt, Carson, Walker, Truckee, Owens's, Pyramid, and Mono.' Simpson's Route to Cal., p. 48. 'The tribe of Indians who inhabit this section (near Fort Churchill) of which the post forms the centre comes under the one generic name of Piute, and acknowledge as their great chief Winnemucca. They are split up into small Captaincies and scattered throughout a vast extent of territory.' Farley, in San Francisco Medical Press, vol. iii., p. 154. The Piutes or Paiuches inhabit 'the northern banks of the Colorado, the region of Severe river, and those portions of the Timpanigos desert where man can find a snail to eat.' Farnham's Life in Cal., p. 371. The Piutes live 'along the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, from the mouth of the Virgen with the Colorado (in about Lat. 36° Long. 115°) to the territories of the Washoes north, and as far east as the Sevier Lake.' Taylor, in Cal. Farmer, June 22, 1860. 'Von 34° nordwärts die Pai Utes.' Möllhausen, Reisen in die Felsengeb., vol. i., p. 430. The territory occupied by the Piutes 'is about one hundred miles broad, and is bounded on the north by the country of the Bannocks, on the east by that of the Shoshones, on the south by the State line between Nevada and California and on the west by the territory of the Washoes.' Parker, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1866, p. 115. The Piutes inhabit 'a country two hundred miles long by one hundred and twenty broad, lying parallel and east of that of the Washoes… South of Walker lake are the Mono Pi Utes… They are closely allied to the Walker River or Ocki Pi Utes … located in the vicinity of Walker river and lake and Carson river and Upper lake… At the lower Carson lake are the Toy Pi Utes.' Campbell, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1866, p. 119. 'Upon the Colorado river, in the northern part of the Territory lives a band, or some bands, of Pi Utes, occupying both sides of the river, roaming to the limit of Arizona on the west, but on the east, for some miles, how far cannot be determined.' Whittier, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1868, p. 140. The Pi Ute 'range extends north to the Beaver, south to Fort Mojave, east to the Little Colorado and San Francisco Mountains, and on the west through the southern part of Nevada as far as the California line … the larger portion living in Nevada.' Fenton, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1869, p. 203. The Pi Utes inhabit the south-west portion of Utah. Tourtellotte, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1870, p. 142. 'The Pi Ute Indians are scattered over a large extent of country in Southeastern Nevada and Southwestern Utah.' Powell, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1871, p. 562. The Pi Utes inhabit the south-eastern part of Nevada. Walker, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1872, p. 59.

The Gosh Utes inhabit the country west of Great Salt Lake, and extend to the Pah Utes. They are said by most writers to be of mixed breed, between the Snakes, or Shoshones proper, and the Utahs: 'The Goshautes live about forty miles west' of Salt Lake City. Forney, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1858, p. 212. The Goships, or Gosha Utes, range west of Salt Lake. Cooley, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1865, p. 17. The Goships 'range between the Great Salt Lake and the land of the western Shoshones.' Head, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1866, p. 123. The Goship Shoshones 'live in the western part of Utah, between Great Salt Lake and the western boundary of the Territory,' (Utah). Tourtellotte, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1869, p. 230. The Goshutes are located 'in the country in the vicinity of Egan Cañon… In the Shoshone range.' Douglas, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1870, p. 96. 'The Goship Shoshones inhabit that part of Utah which lies between Great Salt Lake and the western boundary of the Territory (Utah).' Tourtellotte, in Id., p. 141. The Goshoots 'Dr. Hurt classes among the Shoshones; but according to Mr. G. W. Bean, Capt. Simpson's Guide in the fall of 1858 … they are the offspring of a disaffected portion of the Ute tribe, that left their nation, about two generations ago, under their leader or Chief Goship, whence their name Goship Utes since contracted into Goshutes… Reside principally in the grassy valleys west of Great Salt Lake, along and in the vicinity of Capt. Simpson's routes, as far as the Ungoweah Range.' Simpson's Route to Cal., pp. 47-8. The Gosh Yutas, 'a body of sixty under a peaceful leader were settled permanently on the Indian Farm at Deep Creek, and the remainder wandered 40 to 200 miles west of Gt. S. L. City.' Burton's City of the Saints, p. 577.

The Toquimas live about the head of Reese River Valley, and in the country to the east of that point. Taylor, in Cal. Farmer, June 26, 1863.

The Temoksees live about thirty miles south of Jacobsville. Cal. Farmer, June 26, 1863.

The Pah Vants 'occupy the Corn Creek, Paravan, and Beaver Valleys, and the valley of Sevier.' Simpson's Route to Cal., p. 45. Half the Pavants 'are settled on the Indian farm at Corn Creek; the other wing of the tribe lives along Sevier Lake, and the surrounding country in the north-east extremity of Filmore Valley, fifty miles from the City, where they join the Gosh Yuta.' Burton's City of the Saints, p. 577. Although Mr Burton gives this as the fruit of his own observation, it is evidently taken from Forney's Rept., in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1859, p. 364, which reads as follows: 'About half of them (the Pahvants) have their home on the Corn Creek Indian farm. The other wing of the tribe lives along Sevier lake and surrounding country, in the northeast extremity of Fillmore valley, and about fifty miles from Fillmore city.' The Pah Vants range 'through Pah-Vant and Sevier valleys, and west to the White Mountains.' Cooley, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1865, p. 17. 'The Pahvents occupy the territory in the vicinity of Corn Creek reservation, and south of the Goship Shoshones.' Tourtellotte, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1869, p. 230. 'The Pah Vant Indians inhabit the country south of the Goship Shoshones.' Tourtellotte, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1870, p. 142.

The Pi Edes 'are a band ranging through Beaver and Little Salt Lake Valley, and on the Virgin and Santa Clara rivers, down to the Muddy, embracing the whole southern portion of Utah Territory.' Irish, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1865, p. 145. 'The Py Edes live adjoining the Pahvants, down to the Santa Clara.' Simpson's Route to Cal., p. 45. 'The Pi Ede Indians inhabit the country south of the Pah Vants.' Tourtellotte, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1870, p. 142. 'The Piede Indians inhabit the extreme southern portion of the territory (Utah) on the Santa Clara and Muddy rivers.' Armstrong, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1856, p. 234. The Piede Indians live on Rio Virgin and Santa Clara river. Carvalho's Incid. of Trav., p. 223.

WASHOES AND SAMPITCHES.

The Washoes 'inhabit the country along the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, from Honey lake on the north to the west fork of Walker's river the south.' Dodge, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1859, p. 374. Simpson's Route to Cal., on p. 45, and Burton's City of the Saints, p. 578, repeat this. The Washoes 'are stated to have boundaries as high up as the Oregon line, along the eastern flanks of the Sierra Nevada, as far to the east as two hundred miles and to the south to Walker's river.' Cal. Farmer, June 22, 1860. The Washoes live in the extreme western part of Nevada. Parker, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1866, p. 115. 'Commencing at the western boundary of the State, we have first the Washoe tribe, … occupying a tract of country one hundred miles long, north and south, by twenty-five in width.' Campbell, in Id., p. 119. The Washoes 'live along Lake Bigler and the headwaters of Carson, Walker, and Truckee rivers, and in Long and Sierra Valleys.' Wasson, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1861, p. 114. The Washoes 'are scattered over a large extent of country along the western border of the State' of Nevada. Parker, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1869, p. 18. The Washoes 'frequent the settled portions of the State, principally the towns of Virginia City, Carson City, Reno, Washoe City, and Genoa. In summer they betake themselves to the mountains in the vicinity of Lake Tahoe and Hope Valley.' Douglas, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1870, p. 96.

The Sampitches 'range through the Sanpitch valley and creek on the Sevier river.' Irish, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1865, p. 145. 'The Sampiches are a tribe wandering on the desert to the south of Youta Lake.' Prichard's Researches, vol. v., p. 430. Burton mentions 'Sampichyas' settled at San Pete. City of the Saints, p. 578. The San Pitches 'live in the San Pitch valley and along the Sevier river.' Cooley, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1865, p. 18. 'The San Pitches occupy a territory south and east of the Timpanagos.' Tourtellotte, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1869. p. 230. 'The San Pitch Indians inhabit the country about the San Pete reservation.' Tourtellotte, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1870, p. 142. 'Les Sampectches, les Pagouts et les Ampayouts sont les plus proches voisins des Serpents.' De Smet, Voy., p. 28.

The Uinta Utes 'claim Uinta valley and the country along Green river.' Forney, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1859, p. 364. The Uinta Yutas live 'in the mountains south of Fort Bridger, and in the country along Green River.' Burton's City of the Saints, p. 577.

The Yam Pah Utes 'inhabit the country south of the Uinta Valley reservation.' Tourtellotte, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1870, p. 142; Id., 1869, p. 231.

The Elk Mountain Utes live in the south-eastern portion of Utah. Tourtellotte, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1870, p. 142; Burton's City of the Saints, p. 578. repeats.

The Tosawees or White Knives, or as they are sometimes called Shoshoteos or Foot-men, on the Humboldt and Goose Creek. Stuart's Montana, p. 80. 'The Tosawitches, or White Knives, inhabit the region along the Humboldt River.' Simpson's Shortest Route, p. 47. The Indians about Stony Point are called Tosawwitches (white knives). Hurt, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1856.

The Weber Utes 'live in the valley of Salt Lake.' Tourtellotte, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1869, p. 230, also in Id., 1870, p. 141. The Weber Utes live in the vicinity of Salt Lake City. Walker, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1872, p. 56. The Weber River Yutas are principally seen in Great Salt Lake City. Their chief settlement is forty miles to the north. Burton's City of the Saints, p. 578.

The Cum Umbahs 'are mixed-bloods of the Utes and Shoshonees, and range in the region of Salt lake, Weber and Ogden valleys in northern Utah.' Irish, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1865, p. 144.

The Wimmenuches are 'a tribe of the Ute Indians, whose country is principally from Tierra Amarilla northward to Ellos de los Animas and thence also to the Rio Grande. They mix with the Pi Utes in Utah.' Davis, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1869, p. 255. The Wemenuche Utes 'roam and hunt west of the San Juan River, and their lodges are to be found along the banks of the Rio de las Animas, Rio de la Plata and Rio Mancos.' Hanson, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1870, p. 155. The Weminuche Utes live near the San Juan river. Armstrong, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1872, p. 307.

The Capote Utes 'roam from within five to fifty miles of the agency, but the greater part of the time live in the vicinity of Tierra Amarilla, from five to ten miles distant, north and south along the Rio Charmer.' Hanson, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1870, p. 154; Armstrong, in Id., 1870, p. 307.

'The Sheberetches inhabit the country south of the Yam Pah Utes.' Tourtellotte, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1870, p. 142.

The Fish Utes 'inhabit the country about Red Lake, south of the Sheberetches.' Tourtellotte, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1870, p. 142.

The Tash Utes live near the Navajos. Burton's City of the Saints, p. 578.

The Tabechya, or Sun-hunters, 'live about Tête de Biche, near Spanish lands.' 'Timpenaguchya, or Timpana Yuta, corrupted into Tenpenny Utes, … dwell about the kanyon of that name, and on the east of the Sweetwater Lake.' Burton's City of the Saints, pp. 577-8. 'The Timpanoge Indians formerly resided at and about Spanish Fort reservation, but they are now scattered among other bands and do not now exist as a separate tribe.' Tourtellotte, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1870, p. 142; see also Id., 1869, p. 230. The Timpanogs inhabit 'Utah valley, and the neighboring mountains.' Cooley, in Ind. Aff. Rept., 1865, p. 17.

CHAPTER V.

NEW MEXICANS

Geographical Position of this Group, and Physical Features of the Territory – Family Divisions: Apaches, Pueblos, Lower Californians, and Northern Mexicans – the Apache Family: Comanches, Apaches Proper, Hualapais, Yumas, Cosninos, Yampais, Yalchedunes, Yamajabs, Cochees, Cruzados, Nijoras, Navajos, Mojaves, and their Customs – The Pueblo Family: Pueblos, Moquis, Pimas, Maricopas, Papagos, and their Neighbours – The Cochimis, Waicuris, Pericuis, and other Lower Californians – The Seris, Sinaloas, Tarahumares, Conchos, Tepehuanes, Tobosos, Acaxes, and others in Northern Mexico

The New Mexicans, under which name I group the nations of New Mexico, Arizona, Lower California, Sonora, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Durango, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, northern Zacatecas, and western Texas, present some peculiarities not hitherto encountered in this work. As a groupal designation, this name is neither more nor less appropriate than some others; all I claim for it is that it appears as fit as any. The term Mexican might with propriety be applied to this group, as the majority of its people live within the Mexican boundary, but that word is employed in the next division, which is yet more strictly of Mexico.

The territory of the New Mexicans, which lies for the most part between the parallels 36° and 23° and the meridians 96° and 117°, presents a great diversity of climate and aspect. On reaching the northern extremity of the Gulf of California, the Sierra Nevada and coast ranges of mountains join and break up into detached upheavals, or as they are called 'lost mountains'; one part, with no great elevation, continuing through the peninsula, another, under the name of Sierra Madre, extending along the western side of Mexico. The Rocky Mountains, which separate into two ranges at about the forty-fifth parallel, continue southward, one branch, known in Utah as the Wahsatch, merging into the Sierra Madre, while the other, the great Cordillera, stretches along the eastern side of Mexico, uniting again with the Sierra Madre in the Mexican table-land. Besides these are many detached and intersecting ranges, between which lie arid deserts, lava beds, and a few fertile valleys. From the sterile sandy deserts which cover vast areas of this territory, rise many isolated groups of almost inaccessible peaks, some of which are wooded, thus affording protection and food for man and beast. Two great rivers, the Colorado and the Rio Grande del Norte flow through this region, one on either side, but, except in certain spots, they contribute little to the fertilization of the country. In the more elevated parts the climate is temperate, sometimes in winter severely cold; but on the deserts and plains, with the scorching sun above and the burning sand beneath, the heat is almost insupportable. The scanty herbage, by which the greater part of this region is covered, offers to man but a transient food-supply; hence he must move from place to place or starve. Thus nature, more than elsewhere on our coast, invites to a roving life; and, as on the Arabian deserts, bands of American Bedouins roam over immense tracts seeking what they may devour. Here it is that many a luckless miner and ill-protected traveler pays the penalty of his temerity with his life; here it is, more than elsewhere within the temperate zones of the two Americas, that the natives bid defiance to the encroachments of civilization. Sweeping down upon small settlements and isolated parties, these American Arabs rob, murder, and destroy, then fleeing to their strongholds bid defiance to pursuers. In the midst of all this we find another phenomenon in the semi-civilized towns-people of New Mexico and Arizona; a spontaneous awakening from the ruder phases of savagism.

The families of this division may be enumerated as follows: The Apaches, under which general name I include all the savage tribes roaming through New Mexico, the north-western portion of Texas, a small part of northern Mexico, and Arizona; the Pueblos, or partially cultivated towns-people of New Mexico and Arizona, with whom I unite, though not town-builders, the non-nomadic Pimas, Maricopas and Pápagos of the lower Gila River; the Lower Californians, who occupy the peninsula; and the Northern Mexicans, which term includes the various nations scattered over the States of Sonora, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Durango, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and northern Zacatecas.

THE APACHES.

To the Apaches, using the term in the signification of a family of this division, no accurate boundaries can be assigned. Owing to their roving proclivities and incessant raids they are led first in one direction and then in another. In general terms they may be said to range about as follows: The Comanches, Jetans, or Nauni, consisting of three tribes, the Comanches proper, the Yamparacks, and Tenawas, inhabiting northern Texas, eastern Chihuahua, Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, Durango, and portions of south-western New Mexico,633 by language allied to the Shoshone family;634 the Apaches, who call themselves Shis Inday, or 'men of the woods,'635 and whose tribal divisions are the Chiricaguis, Coyoteros, Faraones, Gileños, Lipanes, Llaneros, Mescaleros, Mimbreños, Natages, Pelones, Pinaleños, Tejuas, Tontos and Vaqueros, roaming over New Mexico, Arizona, north-western Texas, Chihuahua and Sonora,636 and who are allied by language to the great Tinneh family;637 the Navajos, or Tenuai, 'men,' as they designate themselves, having linguistic affinities with the Apache nation, with which indeed they are sometimes classed, living in and around the Sierra de los Mimbres;638 the Mojaves, occupying both banks of the Colorado in Mojave Valley; the Hualapais, near the headwaters of Bill Williams Fork; the Yumas, on the east bank of the Colorado, near its junction with the Rio Gila;639 the Cosninos, who like the Hualapais are sometimes included in the Apache nation, ranging through the Mogollon Mountains;640 and the Yampais, between Bill Williams Fork and the Rio Hassayampa.641 Of the multitude of names mentioned by the early Spanish authorities, I only give in addition to the above the Yalchedunes, located on the west bank of the Colorado in about latitude 33° 20´, the Yamajabs, on the east bank of the same river, in about latitude 34°-35°; the Cochees, in the Chiricagui Mountains of Arizona, the Cruzados642 in New Mexico, and finally the Nijoras,643 somewhere about the lower Colorado.644