THE VILLAGE DWELLERS. 125 
of the same type as the dwellings but usually larger. 
It is to be presumed they correspond in use to the oval 
council houses of the Pima. 
The food of the Pima and the Papago in a general 
way is similar to that of the pueblo dwellers. They 
live in part upon the domesticated animals and plants 
and in part upon wild animals and wild vegetable 
products. For the Papago at least, the proportion of 
wild food is greater than with the pueblo people. 
Before Spanish times the cultivated crops were maize, 
squash, beans, and cotton. Wheat seems to have been 
introduced at an early date, perhaps even before direct 
contact with the Spaniards. It is well adapted 
to the soil and climate and has become the most im- 
portant of the cultivated crops. Considerable quantities 
of corn and wheat were furnished to the various expedi-- 
tions and travelers passing the Pima villages during the 
middle of the nineteenth century. A small breed of 
fowls was introduced among the Papago and reached the 
Pima. Besides they acquired horses, donkeys, cattle, 
sheep, and goats. As far as the environment would 
permit, they became Europeanized in the matter of 
domesticated animals and crops at least a century ago. 
Oxen with wooden plows are used in some cases for 
plowing, especially among the Papago. Cattle were 
never abundant, for until recently it was the custom to 
kill and eat all the cattle at the death of the owner. 
They continued, however, the primitive methods of cul- 
tivating corn. This is done by turning the water of the 
rivers, or impounded storm waters, into a ditch by 
means of which the crops are irrigated. The weeds 
which grow luxuriantly are removed with a knife- 
shaped, wooden implement. The water of the Gila has 
ordinarily a great deal of silt held in suspension which is 
spread over the valley Jand by the process of irrigation. 
