While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
Shuman. More often known as Jumano or Humano, significance unknown. Also
called:
Borrados, from Spanish sources, "striped"(?).
Chouman, French form of name.
Humanas, Jumanas, Xumanas, Spanish forms of name.
Ipataraguites, from Mota-Padilla, probably intended for this tribe.
Patarabueyes, given by Espejo in 1582.
Suma, sometimes regarded as a separate tribe but considered by Sauer
merely as a synonym.
Connections. The eastern division of the Shuman, that to which the name Jumano is oftenest applied, was once thought to have be-longed to the
Caddoan stock, but Sauer (1934) appears to have shown that in all
probability it was Uto-Aztecan. The western section, oftener called Suma,
has been classed, erroneously of course, as Tanoan.
Location. In early times most of the Shuman lived along the Rio Grande
between the mouth of the Concho and the present El Paso but extending
westward as far as the Casas Grandes in Chihuahua. Later a part of them
entered the Plains in western Texas and eastern New Mexico. (See also
New
Mexico.)
Subdivisions and Villages.
Besides the two main divisions to which the names Shuman or Jumano and
Suma have been applied respectively, the Suma later became separated into
two groups, one about El Paso and the other in the region of the Casas
Grandes. The only villages named are: Atripuy, Genobey, Quelotetrey, and
Pataotrey.
History. The Shuman were first met by Cabeza de Vaca and his companions
about the beginning of the year 1536 although De Vaca does not mention
them by name. In 1582 they were visited by Antonio de Espejo and in 1598
by Juan de Onate. At the latter date a part of them at least were near the
Salinas, east of the Rio Grande in what is now New Mexico. About 1622 they
were visited by the Franciscan missionary of the Pueblo of Isleta, and in
1629 an independent mission was established for them. By this time, the
eastern section of the tribe had gotten as far east as the Conchos, a
headstream of the Nueces. About 1670 there were Shuman not far from Pecos
River, and from that time through the eighteenth century they seem to have
resided principally in the region indicated. As late as the middle of the
nineteenth century they are mentioned in connection with the Kiowa, and
again as living near Lampazas, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Possibly they were the
tribe later known as Waco. The name of the western Shuman appears in the
form Suma as early as 1630 when it was used by Benavides, and in 1659 some
of the northern Suma were at San Lorenzo. During the Pueblo revolt of 1680
they became hostile and united with the Manso and Jano in an outbreak in
1684, but they were reduced 2 years later and formed into several
settlements about El Paso, San Lorenzo being the only one to endure. They
declined steadily in numbers until in 1897 only one was known to be
living, at Senecu. The mission of Casas Grandes was established among the
southern branch of the Suma in 1664. Then and for some years afterward
they were allied with the Apache and Jocome in raids against the Piman
tribes west of them, particularly the Opata, but are supposed to have been
destroyed ultimately by the Apache.
Population. In 1582 Espejo believed that the Shuman numbered 10,000,
probably an overestimate. Mooney (1928) does not give them separate entry
in his estimates of population. In 1744 the northern branch of that part
of the tribe called Suma had become reduced to 50 families; in 1765 there
were only 21 families; and in 1897 only one individual was supposed to be
left.
Soacatino, or Xacatin. A tribe met by the companions of De Soto in
northwestern Louisiana or northeastern Texas. It was undoubtedly Caddo but
has not been identified satisfactorily with any known Caddo tribe.
Tawakoni. The Tawakoni were a subdivision of the Wichita, or at least a
tribe closely affiliated with them. (See
Oklahoma.)
