THE PIMA INDIANS OF ARIZONA. 411 



but the supreme control of the tribe was still iu the hands of the old 

 royal family, aud descended from father to sou. These head-chiefs were 

 brave warriors, and under their leadership the Pimas achieved many 

 victories. At one time the Comanche Indians came from the east, but 

 the Pimas repulsed them after a bloody battle, which was fought near 

 the present mail-station Sacaton. At last the reign descended to Shou- 

 tarl-Kor'-li, (old soldier,) the last, in a direet line, of the old royal house. 

 He was a bold warrior, and highly esteemed by the whole tribe. Dur- 

 ing his reign the Maricopa Indians, imi)osed upon and persecuted by 

 the Yumas and Mohaves, came to the country of the Pimas in two dif- 

 ferent parties, one from the southwest and the other from the north- 

 west. The new-comers asked a home and protection, promising to aid 

 the Pimas in their scouts against the Apaches. Their request was 

 granted, and when the Yumas, who had given pursuit to the Mari- 

 copas, appeared near the country of the Pimas, the latter turned out 

 in force, and, united with the Maiicopas, defeated the Ynmasin a battle 

 fought near the j)resent Maricopa Wells. Since then the Yumas have 

 not dared to molest the Maricopas. The latter remained with the 

 Pimas, were permitted to cultivate a small i^ortion of their land, and 

 have been ever since, on friendly terms with them. The Maricopas of 

 to-day have two villages on the reservation, and number three hundred 

 and eighty-two. The Pimas have intermarried with the Maricopas ; 

 still the latter preserve tlieir own language, which is that of the Yumas, 

 Cocopas, and Mohaves. At last Shon-tarl-Kor'-li, the chief, was fatalh' 

 wounded by the Apaches, receiving a musket-ball in his forehead. 

 Upon his death-bed this old chief, who had no sons to succeed him, recom- 

 mended that Stjo'-e-teck-e-uuis. one of the sub-chiefs, who was a renowned 

 warrior, should be elected head chief. This was done, and Stjo'-e-teck-e- 

 mus, who was the father of the present head-chief, reigned for years, re- 

 spected and beloved by all his tribe. Young Antonio Azul, or A-va-at-K<i- 

 jo, (the man who lifts his leg,) as he is called by the Pimas, accompanied 

 his father, the chief, on all his scouts when he became old enough to use 

 arms, and at one time went with him to Sonora and visited some of the 

 Mexican towns. Stjo'-e-teck-e-miis led the Pimas many times against 

 the Apaches, was repeatedly wounded, but finally died in consequence 

 of sickness. Upon his death Antonio Azul assumed the position of his 

 father, but dissension arose in the tribe. Many claimed that Antonio 

 had no title to the supreme command ; that his father had been chosen 

 chief on account of his boldness and wisdom ; that these virtues did 

 not necessarily descend from father to son, and that the choice of a new 

 chief ought to be left to the warriors of the tribe. Some asserted that a 

 distant relative of the chief proper was among the tribe, who, having 

 the royal blood in his veins, ought to govern. 



Arispa, a petty chief, well known for his bravery in the field, and 

 withal a crafty and unscrupulous man, took advantage of the general 

 confusion, and, with the intention of usurping Antonio's place, accused 



