Through the Giant Cactus Forest 133 



but twelve hours' ride from the American line, 

 should have so long remained practically un- 

 known except to a few miners, but once in 

 Mexico, this is understood. The Yaquis have 

 never recognized Mexican or Spanish authority. 

 They have always claimed this rich delta as their 

 home; have fought for it with a fury that has, 

 until 1909, successfully kept back the natural 

 development of the richest state in Mexico; but 

 during 1908 the Mexican government determined 

 to end it. The worst of the Yaquis were shipped 

 to Yucatan, the rest were rounded up, and all 

 signed a peace compact. The leaders were taken 

 into the Mexican service, after the original plan 

 of forming the famous Rurales, and as a re- 

 sult, the West Coast Railroad, under the genius 

 of Harrirnan and Epes Randolph, is opening up 

 western Sonora, has reached Mazatlan, and is 

 moving on to a connection with the City of 

 Mexico. The rich delta of the Rio Yaqui and 

 its cactus forest is being taken up by American 

 farmers and orange growers, and the story of 

 California, which Fremont wrested from the 

 Mexicans, is being repeated. 



The Yaqui has been dammed and canals lead 

 from it over the delta, producing farms or ranches 

 like that of Don Pedro Chism. Vast sums in 

 American money are pouring in ; almost the en- 

 tire delta has been taken up by a New York 

 syndicate, headed by such names as John Hays 



