180 INDIANS OF THE SOUTHWEST. 



.southward has generally been assumed. There are 

 indications that the stock heretofore called the 8ho- 

 shonean is in reality remotely related to the Pinian and 

 Nahuan of Mexico. If this should be established, 

 related languages would be found extending from 

 Yucatan northward through the mountain regions 

 nearly to Canada. The Yuman languages seem 

 originally to have been confined to the valley of the 

 Colorado from which they spread eastward to the Rio 

 Verde and westward to the California coast. 



Interest mainly centers, however, in the habits and 

 the products of whatever people happens to be under 

 discussion. The culture of neighboring peoples should 

 be examined to determine, if possible, whether the 

 particular culture is related to that of other tribes. 

 These resemblances in culture muet extend to details 

 in order to point convincingly to a common origin. 

 It is not enough that two peoples make baskets, but 

 the same methods of making, and the same style of 

 ornamentation should be found. 



In the matter of culture we have seen that the seden- 

 tary people raised corn, beans, squashes, and cotton 

 employing irrigation w^hen necessary. The men rather 

 than the women devoted themselves to this work. 

 Corn w^as ground by means of an inclined stone slab 

 over which a rough stone was pushed up and down. 

 The art of spinning with a simple spindle and of weaving 

 on a rude loom was known and practised in prehistoric 

 times. They knew how to prepare stones and lay 

 them in suitable walls for the construction of large 



