THE MEXICAN INDIANS. 81 



centre of Mexican civilisation have acquired a knowledge of Spanish, and those 

 settled in the vicinity of the missions and the mining stations differ in no respects 

 from the Tndios mansos in other parts of the territory. But they are a mere handful, 

 scarcely mustering 3,000 altogether, and the Pericu tribe, recently mentioned as 

 still living at the southern extremity of the peninsula, has completely disappeared. 

 The other two who still survive, Cochirai in the norrh, and Guaicuri (Guayacura) 

 in the middle, of the peninsula, are related to the Arizonian Yumas, and, like them, 

 forn^erly occupied the northern plains which are now inhabited by the Cocopas, 

 and from which they were gradually driven we-t of the Colorado. 



Both Cochimi and the Guaicuri lead an extremely nomad existence, shifting their 

 camping grounds at least a hundred times during the year. At night they shelter 

 themselves against the wind under sotne brushwood or line of rocks, but their only 

 roof is the canopy of heaven, though a few dens or lairs are constructed for their 

 sick. Formerly the Cochimi regaixled with shame any kind of raiment ; but they 

 wore necklaces and bracelets, and encircled the head with an arrangement of skins, 

 reeds, or feathers. 



The Cochimi and all other tribes of Lower California are grouped by Pimentel 

 with the Nahua family, that is, with the Aztecs, on the ground of their physical 

 appearance and speech. But other authorities hold that the Lower Californian 

 languages show no resemblance to Aztec or any other known language. 



Nearly all the Indians occupying the north-western region of Mexico, from the 

 Arizonian frontier to the mountains skirting the right bank of the Rio Lerma, 

 belong to a widespread family commonly named from the Pimas and the Opatas, 

 two of their most powerful groups. The term Pimeria, or " Pima-land," is even 

 still, though incorrectly, applied to the north part of Sonora. The conventional 

 frontier laid down between the American and Mexican republics is not an ethnical 

 parting-line, and north of it the Pimas and the kindred Papagos are, in fact, repre- 

 sented in the largest numbers. 



The Opatas also, who are said still to number 35,000 souls, dwell especially in 

 the Sierra Madre in the upland valleys of the Sonora and Yaqui rivers. They are 

 an agricultural people, who have been half assimilated to the Spaniards, and who 

 have always sided with the whites in the racial wars. Hence the Mexican writers 

 have always praised their valour, sobriety and steadfastness, and have ^iven them 

 the title of "American Sj^artans." 



The Yaqui and Mayo tribes, who occupy the east side of the Gulf of California, 

 that is, the almost desert regions watered by the two rivers named from them, are 

 fully as brave as the Opatas, but they are no friends of the whites, and have e\en 

 frequenth^ risen in revolt. In 1825, after the proclamation of Mexican indepen- 

 dence, they also proclaimed their own autonomy, and declared themselves exempt 

 from all taxes. Since that time their territory has remained somewhat inacces- 

 sible to strangers. 



Yet the Yaquis and Mayos, who are sometimes collectively called Cahitas from 

 their common language, are by no means a numerous nation, probably not 

 exceeding 20,000 altogether. Despite the wars they have had to wage against 

 39 



