TARAHUMARI INDIANS. 185 
after passing thirty to thirty-five years, as 
nearly as I could judge their ages. The 
savage branch of the Tarahumaris is of 
course the more interesting as the most 
nearly representing our own Indians of 
fifty to one hundred years ago, or before 
white men came among them. The 
civilized are not unlike those we have 
cultivating the soil in a rude way around 
the western agencies ; although those of 
Mexico have no governmental aid such 
as we so often and so lavishly pour into 
the laps of our copper-colored brethren 
of the North. 
The savage Tarahumari lives generally 
off all lines of communication, shunning 
even the mountain mule trails if he can. 
H is abode is a cave in the mountain side 
or under the curving interior of some 
huge bowlder on the ground. 
