66 THE PIMA INDIANS [eth. ann. 26 



1Q00-1901 



Gila Crossing. It was during this year that the President came to 

 Phoenix." 



H B Gila Crossing, Salt River. During the spring the man employed 

 to carry the mail between Phoenix and Scottsdale became insane 

 and shot a white man and a Pima youth whom he met on the road 

 near the latter place. 



isoi 2 



■- Gila Crossing. In September, 1901, the day school was 



•^ started at Masa'kimfilt, the Gila Maricopa village. 



TECHNOLOGY 

 The Food Supply 



The Pimas subsist upon a mixed diet in wliich vegetable food pre- 

 dominates. In the past it would seem probable that the proportion 

 of meat was greater than at present, though they have long been tillers 

 of the soil. Certain articles of their cUet appear to be markedly flesh 

 producing, and this tendency is at least not diminished by the habits 

 of life resulting from the semitropical climate of the Gila valley. 

 They are noticeably heavier than uidividuals belonging to the tribes 

 on the Colorado plateau to the north and northeast, and many old 

 persons exhibit a degree of obesity that is in striking contrast with 

 the "tall and sinewy" Indian conventicmalized in popular thought. 

 (Fig. 2.) 



About every fifth year Ln primitive times the Gila river failed in 

 midwinter, the flow diminishing day by day until at length the last 

 dr(ip of water that could not gam shelter beneath the santls was 

 licked up by the ever-tliirsty sun. The fish gathered in the few pools 

 that were maintained by the underflow, the ducks and other water 

 birds took flight, but the deer and antelope could the more readily be 

 stalked because of their resorting to known watering places. With- 

 out water in the river and canals there could be no crops, and neces- 

 sity drove the people to seek far afield for the native plants that in 

 some degree produce fruits or seeds even in dry seasons. The fruit 

 of the saguaro and the seed or bean of the mesquite were the most 

 abundant and accessible resources. When even these failed the 

 Pimas were driven to make long journeys into the Apache country — 



a The visit of President McKinley to Phoemx, in May, 1901, made a profound impression upon the 

 Pimas. Kkemk-6, lives hut 20 miles south of the Arizona capital, and was present at the time of the 

 President's visit. lie made no mark upon the calendar stick to commemorate the event, but related 

 the circumstances as a part of the liistory. 



It is not surprising that the Pimas, who hud hcii rd for ma ny you rs of the Great Chiefs in Wasliington, 

 should be desirous of seeing one in the flesh when the opportunity presented itself. The official interpre- 

 ter at the agency frequently, during the winter of 1901-2, expressed her desire to obtain a good biography 

 of the late President, .\fter commenting upon the hideous crime of the assassin at Buffalo she made 

 the truthful and suggestive remark that ' no Pima would do such a thing: he would never kill his chief." 



