166 



THE PIMA INDIANS 



[ETH. ANN. 20 



can not be explained by their environment, because the same sur- 

 roundings produced the superior culture of the Ilohokam, which 

 there is no reason to believe was not indigenous. It may be 

 surmised that the Pimas would have accomplished more in recent 

 years in the art of ornamentation if they had adopted the curved 

 knife that has become so widespread among other American Indians 

 since the advent of the whites. A full discussion of the factors that 

 have influenced their culture would })etter be deferred until after an 

 examination of the evitlence furnished by social organization (which 

 through the absence of totemism has not directly influenced their 

 art), 1)V history, and by religion. 



Musical Instruments 



The Pimas have four kinds of musical 

 instruments — the flute or flageolet, the bas- 

 ket drum, the scraping stick, and the rattle, 

 the last having many forms. They say 

 that the first two instruments were adopt- 

 ed from the Maricopas within a century or 

 two. If this be true Pima attainments in 

 instrumental music must have been of a 

 very modest character indeed. There are 

 few flutes to be found and the drum is 

 never heard except in ceremonies which are 

 themselves becoming increasingly rare. 

 The gourd rattle is the commonest form of 

 the last class of instruments. 



FLUTE 



Fig. so. Fliiti' 



The Pima or Maricopa flute is of cane 

 cut of such a length that it includes two entire sections and about 

 4 cm. of each of the two adjoining. It therefore contains three 

 diaphragms, of which the two end ones are perforated, while the 

 midiUe one is so arranged that the air may pass over its edge from 

 one section into the other. This is done by burning a hole through 

 the shell of the cane on each side of the diaphragm and joining them 

 by a furrow. With such an opening in the upper section the instru- 

 ment can not be played unless a piece of bark or similar material be 

 wrapped over all but the lower portion of the furrow to direct the air 

 into the lower section. The forefinger of the left hand is usually 

 employed as a stop if no permanent wrapping directs the current of 

 air so that it may impinge upon the sharp margin of the opening into 



