INDIANS OF THE GILA, AND THE CASAS GRANDES. 261 
CHAPTER XXXII. 
INDIANS OF THE GILA, AND THE CASAS GRANDES. 
History of the Coco-Maricopas and Pimos—Origin of their semi-civiliza- 
tion—Difference of languages—Their number—Physical peculiarities— 
Deserving the attention of Christians and philanthropists—Early ac- 
counts of these Indians—First described by Father Kino in 1697— 
Sedelmayer’s visit to them in 1744—Father Font’s in 1775—Visit to 
the Casas Grandes of the Gila—Description of these rnins—Evidences 
of a former large population—Irrigating canals—Broken pottery— 
Father Font’s description of their buildings—Singular error in relation 
to their dimensions—Kino and Mangi’s visit to them in 1694—Notion 
of the Aztec origin of these buildings not well founded—Excessive heat. 
Havine now left these peaceable semi-civilized Indians, 
a few general remarks respecting them seem to be 
required. | 
Some writers. have endeavored to point out physi- 
cal differences between the Pimos and their allies the 
Coco-Maricopas; but I must confess, that after being 
constantly with them for thirteen days, I was unable 
to distinguish one from the other, except by some slight 
difference in the method of wearing their hair. Their 
modes of life, as before remarked, are the same, with 
the exception of their funeral rites. In the valley, or 
rather bottom-land, which they occupy, there is no 
