46 THE PIMA INDIANS [eth. ann. 26 



lS55-5e 



Gila Crossing. Skaakolk was approached one evening by seven 

 Apaches, who were discovered and surrounded. Six escaped in the 

 darkness, but one was tracked into the arrow bushes, where he dropped 

 his bow. He was soon found to liave secreted himself in a hole washed 

 deep in the sand. The Pinias could not see or reach him, so they 

 shook live coals down upon the fugitive, which caused him to yell 

 and suddenly leap out among them. The apparition so startled 

 everyone that no move was made to detain him. As he was passing 

 through their line some asked those around them, "Can we catch 

 him?" but he was such a giant and the peculiar manner of his 

 appearance among them so unnerved for a moment the courage of 

 the men whose deepest instinct was to crush out the life of the 

 Apache, that he made his escape. 

 n o Blackwater. The Apaches, whom the Pimas attacked during 

 a raid of this year, were grinding out mesquite beans from the 

 dry pods when the arrows began to fall into their camp. A 

 blind Apache was killed as his companions fled. 



lS5e-57 



/jjv BlacTcwater. The Pimas and Maricopas joined the white sol- 

 /^, dicrs in a campaign against the Apaches under Wiiite Hat. 

 ^ Two Pimas were killed and two wounded, l)ut no Apaches were 

 injured. While the Pimas were on their way home still another of 

 their party was killed. The Pimas burned their dead. Later they 

 killed several Apaches who were raising corn on Salt river. 



1857 58 



Salt River. About the end of the j'ear a band of Apaches came to 

 the Pima villages one morning. They were discovered and chased 

 30 miles to Tempe butte, where they were surrounded. They hid 

 themselves at the summit of the butte, but were all killed except one, 

 who escaped into the brush. 



In the summer the Yumas came again, accompanied by the Mohaves. 

 They sent scouts ahead, who found the Maricopa women gathering 

 mesquite beans. They killed all the women except one, Mhom thej' 

 kept to act as a guide. She was the sister of a well-known ^laricopa 

 warrior, and they compelled her to lead them to her brother's home. 

 When they reached it she was killed with a club and the man was 

 chased, but he was as good a runner as he was lighter and they could 

 not catch him. A Yuma told him to stop and die like a man, but 

 he answered that if they could overtake him he would show them 

 how to die like a man. The Maricopas fled from their village and 

 the Yumas burned it. Messengers went to all the villages that day 

 and under cover of the night the Pimas and Maricopas gathered. 

 They kept coming until late the next forenoon. Thej- found the 



