40 THE PIMA INDIANS [eth. ann. 26 



themselves. The others were followed and all killed. "This was 

 the only event of the year, and t)Hr j^eople were undisturbed further 

 in the practice of their customs." 



1838-39 



^^ Salt River. Late in the sj>ring a party of Pimas went to Tucson 

 ^ to buy clothing and other needed supplies. On their return they 

 were ambushed and barely escaped massacre. The Apaches had con- 

 cealed themselves on either side of the trail, and when the attack was 

 suddenly made the Pimas were at first panic-stricken, but recovered 

 sufficiently to repel their assailants, -w-ith the loss, however, of two 

 men killed and a boy captured. Tliis youth is said to have been a 

 very handsome fellow, skillful in the use of the bow and arrow. 

 Fearing a renewal of the confhct, the Pimas hastened home. 



A few months later they obtained their revenge upon a party of 

 Apaches who came to the villages to steal horses. The enemy were 

 seen and chased across the river. On the way they were met by a 

 party of Pimas, returning from a council, who called out to the 

 approaclung horsemen to ask who they were; on receiving no 

 answer they shot one of them. An Apache called "Slender Leg" 

 was pushed off his mule and two Pimas jumped off their horses and 

 tried to hold him, but he was too strong for them and tliey had to 

 tie him. He was taken to the well-swept plaza of the village, accord- 

 ing to the Salt River calendar, or to an open alkali flat near the vil- 

 lages, as stated by the Gila Crossing annalist, where the people gath- 

 ered and danced and sang around him. Two widows of men killed 

 in an ambuscade earlier m the season walked four times around the 

 outside of the circle of dancers, and then ])assed inside as an avenue 

 was opened for them. They carried long clubs of mesquite, with 

 which they beat the captive into insensibility. 



183Q— il 



There are no events recorded for these two years on either of the 

 two sticks that date back thus far. 



134=1-42 



• Gila Crossing, Salt River. The Maricopas of the village of Masa- 

 e kunCilt, accompanied by one Pima, went on a campaign against the 

 Yumas. The enemy gatliered to meet them and sent a messenger 

 to tell them that they shoidd leave aside tlieir knives and bows and 

 fight only with sticks. The ihiricopas agreed to this, but the Pima 

 said he had made his bow and arrows to use on the enemy and he 

 would keep them in his own hands. The Yuma messenger showed 

 the Maricopas where to cross the Colorado river and conducted 

 them to the assembled Yumas on the farther side. It was agreed 



