86 THE PIMA INDIANS [eth. an.x. 26 



and of that period of the Pimas' past that it is best for them to 

 forget. 



Cattle are driven and "ropeil" with the lariat, but no conventional 

 mode of calling them is in vogue. Like the horses, they are branded 

 and run at large. Their range is almost unlimited in some directions, 

 but the entire absence of water away from the river prevents them 

 from straying. With horses, cattle formed a great attraction to the 

 Apaches during the last century vmtil peace was declared in 1879, 

 and the Pimas suffered frequent losses, for some of wliich, it must be 

 adtled, the marauders paid dearly. To guard against the thieves it 

 was customary to corral all stock within the village at night. When 

 it strayed away across the mesas during the day it was sought by 

 tracking or by waiting at the water holes, and while so engaged the 

 men had many encounters with the enemy, who were ever on the look- 

 out for such an opportunity to attack. 



Mules. A few mules are raised, but, like the horses, they are small 

 and of little value. 



Donkei/s. While the burro has been used for some time, it is not 

 a popular animal among the Pimas. It is too slow for traveling 

 across the wide, waterless plains of Pimeria and is not adapted for 

 farm work. 



Poultrif. Until the recent introduction of large American breeds a 

 small breed of jioultrv had been ke])t for several years." Tliis had 

 been obtained from the ^lexicans, from whom also the manner of 

 calling "pul," "pul," "pul" was derived. With the new breeds 

 came the American custom of calling "peep," "peep." 



Eagles and red-tailed hawks were kept for their feathers. All the 

 inhabitants of a village assisted in catching lizards and in furnishing 

 other suitable food for the village bird. The feathers were regularly 

 plucked for the paraphernalia of the medicine-men. 



Sonora doves were and are yet confined in log-cabin cages built up 

 of arrowwooil rods. 



Agriculture 



METHODS 



Irrigation 



The Gila river carries an unusually large amount of suspended 

 matter when in flood. As shown by the tests made during the sur- 

 veys for the dam which is intended to supply Pimeria with water, it 

 carries on an average 10.5 per cent of mud, with a maximum of 20 

 per cent.'' The entire bottom land upon which the fields are located 

 has been built of this material. It is so light that wagons cut readily 

 into it during the dry seasons and work it into fluffy dust several 



a " A few chickens and dogs were seen." Emory, Notes, S5. 

 b Water-Supply and Irrigation I'apers, no. 33, p. 3ti. 



