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THE PIMAS. 169 



they inhabit huts instead of houses. In all other respects 

 they are very similar. 



r 



After the Eio Gila has emerged from the succession of deep 

 gorges through which it crosses the Pina-leiio Cordilleras, it 

 waters a rich and fertile valley forty or fifty miles long 



hetween the mountains and the Gila desert. Ahout twenty 

 miles of this valley is occupied by these people. They devote 

 themselves entirely to agriculture and to the arts of peace, 

 but they are brave in war, and maintain a complete military- 

 organization for protection against the incursions of their wild 

 neighbours, the Apaches. I have often heard it said by 

 Western men, that there are only two spots in 'New Mexico 

 and Arizona where you can be certain of absolute safety ; the 

 one IS m the pueblo of Zuni, the other amongst the Pimas on 

 the Eio Gila. Both these peaceful tribes have been most 

 nseful allies of the United States troops in their expeditions 

 Against the Navajos and Apaches ; it has, indeed, been only 

 through the assistance of the Pima warriors that any success 

 nas ever been gained against the latter sons of plunder. 



Ihe valley varies in width from two to four miles, apd 

 grouped up and down the stream, usually on ground a little 

 above the level of the low-lying bottom-lands, are seen the 

 cone-shaped huts which compose the villages. The huts 

 are easily built, as they only consist of a framework of willow 

 poles stuck in the ground, and arched over to meet in the 

 centre ; these are interlaced ^^ith others at right angles, and 

 then covered with wheat-straw, neatly pinned down all roimd 

 the sides, which may or may not be daubed over with mud, 

 and nicely thatched at the top. 



Were we to judge only from their dwellings, we should 

 place these people very low down in the list of Indian tribes ; 

 W when we examine the means which they adopt for raising 



