158 THE PIMA INDIANS [eth. ann. i!6 



able for winter blankets was rabbit skins, which were cut in strips 

 and braided tocjether in the manner customary among so many 

 American tribes. 



During the Spanish and Mexican regime the sombrero found favor, 

 and even yet the steeple crown of this head gear may occasionally 

 be seen. The women adopted a sleeveless chemise, which they wear 

 to some extent to-day; it is shown in plate xxxviii, h, though usually 

 no longer worn by a woman so yoimg. A few women also follow the 

 Mexican fashion of covering their heads with improvised mantillas — 

 usually tow-els or aprons — as shown in figure 5, where the costumes 

 of a group of both sexes are well shown. This view was taken at 

 the agency, and as thej" were imaware of the author's presence with 

 the camera, which was kept concealed, the posing was perfectly natural. 

 When tlie summer heat begins to be felt the older men strip to the 

 breechcloth, as shown in plate xxxvii, a, b, when they are about 

 their homes. 



ESTHETIC ARTS 



Personal Decoration 



The Pimas of to-day are rapidly adopting the personal adornments 

 of tlieir civilized neighbors. With the exception of the manner of 

 treating the hair, the old methods of enhancing personal beauty have 

 been almost entirely abandoned. Judging from the statements made 

 by the old people, this art could never have reached the development 

 among the Pimas that it did among the Pueblos. Their status recalls 

 that of the Yuman tribes on the great river to the westward. 



Pride of person manifested itself among the men in the care of 

 the liair and the elaboration of the designs painted upon the skin. 

 Feathers and beads were also worn in alnmdance. When through 

 uncleanly habits a man became too filthy his associates said " skulof," 

 "He smells like an old man." But the whole tribe has a charac- 

 teristic odor that is easily detected by the nasal organs of the whites; 

 even the school children who are regularly bathed and well clothed 

 exhibit this characteristic. 



, HAIR 



Men wore their hair long (see pi. xliii, c) ; that of the old chief 

 Tialiiatam reached to his heels when he stood upright, but usually 

 the liair fell al)out to the waist. At the age of 20 the young men 

 began to braid or twist their hair into skems, which retained the 

 hairs shed — and other things besides — a marvelously convenient 

 abiduig place for microbes. It was the fashion to wear the skeins 

 cut sc(uarely across at the bottom, and they tlid not scruple to piece 

 out their shorter locks with hair from the tails of their horses. Some- 

 times, indeed, they even added the hair of their women, who trimmed 



