14 COYOTEROS.—PINAL LENAS.—TONTOS.—Y AMPAIS. 
Between the Colorado Chiquito and Rio Gila roam two bands of Apaches, called Coyoteros 
and Pinal Lefias, consisting probably of 300 warriors, or 1,500 persons each. They live 
among the mountains, and occasionally cultivate patches of soil, producing wheat, corn, and 
squashes. In one instance a field of cotton was discovered near their rancherias. However, 
not being fond of quiet pursuits, they subsist partly upon roasted mescal and piñon nuts, which 
they find in their wanderings, and place their main dependence for support upon forays into 
Sonora, proving a great scourge to the Mexican frontier. They are not wanting in native 
shrewdness, and, though generally hostile to parties of white men whom they may meet, they 
have been known to receive Americans into their country with kindness and hospitality. There 
are some fine valleys and many fertile spots within their limits, and, if they were willing to 
work, they well know how to subsist without plunder. 
We now reach the San Francisco mountains, and enter the hunting-grounds of the Cosninos. 
They are said to roam northward to the big bend of the Colorado. The vast region toward the 
south, lying between Rio Verde and the Aztec range of mountains, isoccupied by Tontos ; while 
west and northwest of that range, to the mouth of Rio Virgen, are found a tribe calling them- 
selves Yabipais, or, as sometimes written, Yampais. Their numbers are estimated at 2,000 
each. Leroux and Savedra believe these three to be allied tribes ; but there exists some doubt 
upon the subject. "The language of the latter proves that they have an affinity with the Mojaves 
and Cuchans of Rio Colorado; while, according to Don José Cortez, the Tontos belong to the 
Apache nation. I have myself found Tonto villages intermingled with those of Pinal Leñas, 
north of Rio Gila, with whom they lived on friendly terms, with like customs and habits ; 
except that they wieter almost exclusively upon mescal átid piñones,* and possessed none of 
the fruits of agriculture. Yet the country they now occupy shows traces of ancient acequias, 
and has extensive valleys of great fertility, which might again be cultivated. 
Mr. Leroux, on his return from California to New Mexico in May 1854, followed the river 
Gila from its mouth to the Pima village; and thence crossing over to the junction of the Salinas 
with Rio Verde, ascended the latter stream for some distance, and crossed from it to our trail upon 
Flax river. He represents Rio Verde} as a fine large stream ; in some cases rapid and deep, in 
others spreading out into wide lagoons. The ascent was by gradual steppes, which, stretching 
into plains, abounded in timber—pine, oak, ash, and walnut. The river banks were covered with 
ruins of stone houses and regular fortifications ; which, he says, appeared to have been the 
work of civilized men, but had not been occupied for centuries. They were built upon the most 
fertile tracts of the valley, where were signs of acequias and of cultivation. The walls were of 
solid masonry, of rectangular form, some twenty to thirty paces in length, and yet remaining 
ten or fifteen feet in height. The buildings were of two stories, with small apertures or loop- 
holes for defence when besieged. From his description, the style of building seems to be simi- 
* Piñones are edible nuts, from a species of pine tree which grows abundantly in this region. 
T Rio Colorado Chiquito. 
+ This river is called by Mr. Antoine Leroux, Rio San Francisco. He passed along it with a small party in the summer 
of 1854. The following description of the country and the rivers referred to has been kindly furnished to accompany this 
report : 
e Extract from Leroux’ s Journal, on his last trip from Pueblo de los Angeles, California, to New Mexico. 
T ben 16, 1854. — This morning left Rio Gila, and camped on Rio Salado. 
17.—Camp on Rio San Francisco. From last camp here, road hilly and stony ; wood, grass, and water plenty. 
During Ge day we saw and examined the ruins of some abandoned Indian villages. 
“ May 18.—Camp on San Francisco. gend eremi good road, wood plenty, splendid water, and grass rich. Woods 
are the vea uie locust, sycamore and 
‘* May 19.—Camp on San Francisco. Road meng good, but we were obliged to ford the river about ten times. Wood, 
water, at grass in E dance. 
“May 20.—Camp on San Francisco. Road hilly and stony, but still easy enough to travel. Water splendid ; grass plenty ; 
cotton-wood, ash, sycamore, &c., in quantities. 
‘May 21.—Camp on San Francisco. While nooning in the morning, we were struck by the beauty of some ruins, very 
likely those of some Indian town, and being in the centre of an open valley. The walls of the principal building, forming 
