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Nevada Indian
Tribes
Koso. This is properly a California tribe, though it
sometimes ranged into Nevada. (See California.)
Paiute, Northern. The significance of the word "Paiute" is uncertain,
though it has been interpreted to mean "water Ute" or "true Ute." Also
called: Monachi, Yokuts name.
Monozi, Maidu name.
Mono-Paviotso, name adopted in the Handbook of American Indians (Hodge, 1907, 1910), from an abbreviated form of the above
and Paviotso.
Nutaa, Chukehansi Yokuts name,
signifying that they were east or upstream.
Paviotso, a native term applied by Powell (1891) to a part of the Nevada
Indians of this group.
Snake, name commonly given to the Northern Paiute of Oregon. Connections. With the Bannock, the Northern Paiute constituted
one dialectic group of the Shoshonean Branch of the Uto-Aztecan stock.
Location. The Northern Paiute were not properly a tribe, the name being
used for a dialectic division as indicated above. They covered western Nevada, southeastern Oregon, and a strip
of California east of the Sierra Nevada as far south as Owens Lake except
for territory occupied by the Washo. According to the students of the
area, they were pushed out of Powder River Valley and the upper course of
John Day River in the nineteenth century by Shahaptian tribes and the
Cayuse. (See also Idaho.)
Subdivisions and Villages
There were no true tribes or bands except in the extreme western and
north-eastern parts of the area covered, but topography enforced
concentration into certain valleys. Aside from the detached Bannock, the
Northern Paiute were divided by the Sierra Nevada Mountains into a widely
spread eastern division and a small division confined to California, the
Eastern and Western Mono of Kroeber. Kroeber (1925) distinguishes six
divisions of the latter as follows:
Balwisha, on the Kaweah River, especially on its south side.
Holkoma, on a series of confluent streams—of which Big Burr and Sycamore
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Kings River above Mill Creek. |
| Northfork Mono, for whom no native name
has survived, on the North |
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Fork of
San Joaquin River. |
| Posgisa or Poshgisha, of the San
Joaquin, on Big Sandy Creek, and |
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toward, if not on, the heads of Little and Big Dry
Creeks. |
| Waksachi, on Limekiln and Eshom Creeks
and the North Fork of Kaweah |
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River. |
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Wobonuch, at the head of Mill Creek, a southern
affluent of Kings River, and |
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in
the pine ridges to the north. |
Away from Owens Valley and the immediate neighborhood the Paiute have been
divided into a large number of bands with names which usually signify that
they were "eaters" of some particular kind of food. Although the entire
area has been filled in with such names, they have been given largely by
Indians from areas outside those of the supposed bands; different names
are given by different inform-ants, the same name occurs in a number of
places, at times widely separated, and there is lack of agreement among
informants, including Steward (1933), Kelly (1937), Park (1938), and Blyth
(1938), as to the numbers, names, and locations of the groups under
consideration. Instead of attempting any sort of classification,
therefore, I will simply insert a miscellaneous list of villages and local
settlements though these were almost as fluctuating and impermanent as the
larger groups. In most cases, however, it may be assumed that the location
was determined by economic factors and mention of such a site has,
therefore, some permanent value however often the name may have changed or
the composition of the village
fluctuated.
Gifford (1932) gives the following hamlets belonging to Kroeber's
Northfork Mono besides 83 fishing places and campsites, the exact
locations of which are entered in his report and accompanying map:
Apasoraropa.
Apayiwe.
Asiahanyu.
Bakononohoi.
Dipichugu.
Dipichyu.
Ebehiwe.
Homenadobema.
Homohomineu.
Howaka.
Kodiva.
Konahinau.
Kotuunu.
Kunugipu.
Monolu.
Moyopaso.
Muchupiwe.
Musawati.
Nakamayuwe
Napasiat.
Noboihawe.
Nosidop.
Ohinobi.
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O'oneu.
Oyonagatii.
Pahabitima.
Pakasanina.
Papavagohira.
Pasawapil.
Pasiaputka.
Pausoleu.
Payauta.
Pekeneu.
Pimishineu.
Poniaminau.
Poniwinyu.
Ponowee.
Saganiu.
Saiipu.
Saksakadiu.
Sanita.
Sigineu.
Sihuguwe.
Sikinobi.
Sipineu.
Sitigatu. |
Soyakanim.
Sukuunu.
Supanaminau.
Takapiwe.
Takatiu.
Tasineu.
Tiwokiiwe.
Topochinatti.
Tubipakwina.
Ttlkweninewe.
Tumuyuyu.
Ttipipasaguwe.
Waapuwee.
Wadakhanau.
Wegigoyo.
Wiakwu.
Wokoiinaha.
Wokosolna.
Yatsayau.
Yauwatinyu.
Yauyau. |
Steward enumerates the following "districts" of Owens Valley and
neighboring
valleys, each with communistic hunting and seed rights, political unity,
and a number of villages:
Kwina patü, Round Valley.
Panatü, the Black Rock territory, south to Taboose Creek.
Pitana patü, extending from the
volcanic tableland and Norton Creek in the |
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Sierra
to a line running out into Owens Valley from Waucodayavi, the largest
creek south of Rawson Creek. |
| Tovowahamatü, centering at Big Pine, south to Big Pine Creek in the
mountains, |
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but with fishing and seed rights along Owens River nearly to Fish Springs.
Tunuhu witü, of uncertain limits. |
| Utü'ütü witü, from the warm springs, now Keough's, south to Shannon
Creek. |
The people of Deep Springs Valley called their valley Patosabaya and
themselves Patosabaya nunemua; the Fish Lake Valley people to the north of
these did not constitute a unified band but were distributed into the
following villages:
| Ozanwin, on the east or south slope of the Sylvania Mountains and near
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Tu'nava. Pau'uva, in the vicinity of McNett ranch. |
Sohodtihatü, at the present Oasis ranch. Suhuyoi, at the Patterson ranch.
Tuna'va, the present Geroux ranch, marked McFee on the United States |
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Geological Survey. |
| Tt'nava, at Pigeon Spring at the east end of Fish Lake Valley. Watuhad,
Moline |
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ranch on Moline Creek. |
| Yogamatü,
several miles from the mountains at the present Chiatovich ranch. |
Steward (1933) gives the following village names in and
near Owens Valley:
An unnamed site west of Deep Springs Lake.
Ahagwa, on Division Creek.
Antelope Springs, native name not recorded.
Hudu matu, on Cottonwood
Creek.
Hunadudugo, camp near Wyman Creek.
Ka'nasi, camp at Dead Horse Meadow on Wyman Creek.
Mogahu' pina, scattered along Hogback, Lone Pine; Tuttle, and Diez Creeks.
Mogohopinan watu, on Richter Creek. Muhu witu, on Tinnemaha Creek.
Nataka' matu, at Independence.
Nuvahu' matu, near Thibaut Creek.
Oza'n witu, southeast of Deep Springs Lake.
Padohahu matu, on Goodale
Creek.
Pahago watu, on Tuttle Creek.
Pakwazi' natu, at Olancha.
Pa'natu, on Owens River, near mouth of Birch Creek.
Pau'wahapu, at Hines
Spring.
Pawona witu, on Bishop Creek below Bishop.
Pa'yapo'o'ha, south of Bishop.
Pazi wapi'nwuna, at Independence.
Posi'da witu, on Baker Creek.
Suhubadopa, at Fish Springs Creek, at least in prehistoric times.
Suhu'budu mutu, on Carroll Creek.
Suhuvakwazi natu, on Wyman Creek.
Tanova witu, south of Independence.
Ti'numaha witu, on Tinnemaha Creek.
To'owiawatu, at Symmes Creek.
Totsitupi, on Thibaut Creek.
To'vowaha'matu, at Big Pine on Big Pine Creek.
Tsagapu witu, at Shepherd
Creek.
Tsaki'shaduka, near Old Fort Independence.
Tsaksha witu, at Fort
Independence.
Tsa'wawua'a, on Bishop Creek.
Tsigoki, beyond Owens ranch, east of Bishop.
Tuhunitogo, near upper course
of Birch Creek.
Tuinu'hu, on Sawmill Creek.
Tunwa'pu, at the mouth of Taboose Creek.
Tupico, on Birch Creek, west of
Hunadudugo.
Tupuzi witu, at George's Creek.
Waushova witu, on Lone Pine Creek.
Steward gives the following villages in Fish Lake Valley:
Oza'nwin, on the east or south slope of the Sylvania Mountains and near
Tu'nava. Pau'uva, in the vicinity of McNett ranch.
Sohoduhatu, at the present Oasis ranch.
Suhuyoi, at the Patterson ranch.
Tuna' va, at the present Geroux ranch.
Tu' nava, at Pigeon Springs at east end of Fish Lake Valley.
Watuhad, at Moline ranch.
Yogamatu, several miles from the mountains at the present Chiatovich
ranch. |
The following are miscellaneous local groups of Northern Paiute, the names
drawn from various sources:
Agaivanuna, at Summit Lake, western Nevada.
Duhutcyatikadu, on Silver and
Summer Lakes, Oreg.
Genega's Band, at the mouth of Truckee River
Gidutikadu, in Surprise, Calif.; Coleman; Warner, Oreg.; and probably also
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Long Valleys, in California, Nevada, and Oregon. |
Goyatikendu, at Yainax and Beatty, Oreg., brought from Silver Lake.
Hadsapoke's Band, at Gold Canyon, Carson River.
Hoonebooey, east of the Cascades and south of the Blue Mountains of
Oregon.
Itsaatiaga, about Unionville, Nev.
Kaivaningavidukw, in Surprise Valley, northeastern California.
Koeats, in north central Nevada.
Kosipatuwiwagaiyu, about Carson Sink.
Koyuhow, about McDermitt, Nev.
Kuhpattikutteh, on Quinn River, Nev.
Kuyuidika, near the site of Wadsworth on Truckee River.
Kuyuitikadu, at Pyramid Lake, Nixon, Nev.
Kwinaduvaa, at McDermitt, Nev.
Laidukatuwiwait, about the sink of the Humboldt.
Lohim, an isolated Shoshonean band, probably of this connection, on
Willow |
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Creek, a southern affluent of the Columbia, Oreg. |
Loko, on or near Carson River, Nev.
Nogaie (with 4 subbands), in the vicinity of Robinson District, Spring
Valley,
Duckwater, and White River Valley.
Odukeo's Band, around Carson and Walker Lakes.
Oualuck's Band, in Eureka Valley, Oreg. Pamitoy, in Mason Valley.
Paxai-dika, in Bridgeport Valley, Calif. Petodseka, about Carson and
Walker Lakes. Piattuiabbe (with 5 bands), near Belmont, Nev.
Pitanakwat or Petenegowat, in Owens Valley, but formerly in Esmeralda |
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County,
Nev. |
Poatsituhtikuteh, on the north fork of Walker River.
San Joaquin's Band, at the forks in Carson Valley.
Sawagativa, about Winnemucca.
Shobarboobeer, probably of this connection, in the interior of Oregon.
Shuzavi-dika, in Mono Valley, Calif.
Togwingani, about Malheur Lake, Oreg.
Tohaktivi, about the White Mountains, near the head of Owens River, Calif.
Toitikadu, at Fallon and Yerington, Nev.
Toiwait, about the lower Sink of
the Carson.
Tonawitsowa (with 6 bands), in the vicinity of Battle Mountain and
Unionville Tonoyiet's Band, below Big Meadows, Truckee River.
Torepe's Band, near the lower crossing of Truckee River.
Tosarke's Band, near Carson and Walker Lakes.
Tsapakah, in Smith Valley.
Tubianwapu, about Virginia City.
Tubuwitikadu, east of Steens Mountain,
Oreg.
Tupustikutteh, on Carson River.
Tuziyammos, about Warner Lake, Oreg.
Wahi's Band, at the big bend of
Carson River.
Wadatikadu, at Burns, Malheur District, Oregon, and
Susanvi!le, Calif.
Wahtatkin, east of the Cascade Mountains and south of
the Blue Mountains,OR
Walpapi, on the shores of Goose, Silver, Warner, and Barney Lakes, Oreg.
Warartika, about Honey Lake, northeastern California.
Watsequeorda's Band, on Pyramid Lake.
Winemucca's Band, said to have had a specific location on Smoke Creek near
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Honey Lake, northeastern California, but to have
been extended to other northern Paiute living west of the Hot
Springs Mountains in Nevada, who do not seem to have been united
into one body until brought together to defend themselves against
the Whites. |
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Wobonuch, at the head of Mill Creek, California, and in the pine ridges to
the |
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north. |
| Yahuskin, about the shores of Goose, Silver, and Harney Lakes, Oreg.
Yammostuwiwagaiya, in Paradise Valley, Nev. |
History. Although the territory of the Northern Paiute has been occupied
for a long period by human beings and has been modified from time to time
along its margins by neighboring cultures, there seem to have been few
fundamental changes in the culture of the region taken as a whole, the
economic life having been based on hunting and gathering. Contacts with
Europeans began at a comparatively late period, probably with the entrance
of trappers about 1825. Jedediah Smith made journeys across Nevada in 1825
and Old Greenwood may have visited it still earlier. Peter Skene Ogden
visited the Paiute of eastern Oregon between 1826 and 1828 and probably
reached Humboldt River in Nevada. These men were followed by Walker
(1833), Russell (1834-43), and many others. During this period relations
with the Indians seem to have been uniformly friendly, but clashes became
more numerous with the great stream of immigration which began about 1840
and swelled to tidal proportions with the discovery of gold in California.
The Paiute in the remote valleys, however, remained for a long time little
affected. Descriptions of Indian life in the numerous reports of travelers
are disappointing. A great crisis in the affairs of the Indians was
brought about by the discovery of the Comstock lode at Virginia City,
Nev., since in the next 10 years prospectors penetrated every part of the
territory, says Steward, "and boom towns sprang up in the midst of sheer
desert." A greater menace to the lives of the Indians was the introduction
of livestock and consequent destruction of native food plants. Pinyon
trees were also cut down for fuel. By this time the natives had both guns
and horses and were in con-sequence much more capable of inflicting damage
in the clashes which began about 1860 and in consequence of which several
military posts were established. With the completion of the first
trans-continental railroad in 1869, the native period came practically to
an end. On October 1, 1863, the United States Government extended
its authority without formal purchase over the territory of the "Western
Shoshoni" and included within it the northern part of the lands occupied
by the Northern Paiute under discussion. The Government assumed "the right
of satisfying their claim by assigning them such reservations as might
seem essential for their occupancy, and sup-plying them in such degree as
might seem proper with necessaries of life" (Royce, 1899). By virtue of
the authority thus granted, a mill and timber reserve was created on
Truckee River by Executive order, April 24, 1864, for the Pyramid Lake
Indians. In December 1864 Eugene Monroe surveyed a reservation for the
Paiute at Walker River, and in January 1865 he surveyed another at Pyramid
Lake. The former was set aside by Executive order March 19, 1874, and the
latter 4 days later. "The remainder of the Pai Ute country," says Royce,
"[was] taken possession of by the United States without formal
relinquishment by the Indians." On the other hand, the Indians by no means
confined themselves to these reservations.
Population.—Mooney (1928) estimated that this division, i. e., the tribes
embraced under the name of Northern Paiute, and the true or Southern
Paiute numbered 7,500 in 1845. The figures given in the Report of the
Indian Office for 1903 indicate a population of about 5,400 for the group.
The Census of 1910 reports 1,448 "Mono" and 3,038 Paviotso, a total of
4,486, but the United States Indian Office Report of 1923 seems to give a
total of more than 13,000. This is evidently erroneous since the United
States Census of 1930 reported 4,420. The figures of the United States
Indian Office in 1937 seem to yield 4,108, after subtracting 270, which
plainly belonged to the Southern Paiute.
Paiute, Southern. Also called:
Auōlasús, Pima name.
Chemegué Cuajála,
by Garcés in 1776, the first
name on account of their |
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association with the Chemehuevi (see under
California; for Cuajála, see
Kohoaldje below). |
Da-da'-ze ni'-ka-cin'-ga, Iiansa name, signifying "grasshopper people."
Diggers, a popular name sometimes used for them.
Hogăpa'goni, Shoshoni name, signifying "rush-arrow people."
Kohoaldje, originally Mohave name of Virgin River Paiute.
Nüma, own name, signifying "people," "Indians."
Pa'gonotch, Southern Ute name.
Pah-rú-sá-páh, Chemehuevi name.
Snake Diggers, or Ute Diggers, by Simpson (1859).
Yabipai Cajuala, by GarcEs in 1776. |
Connections. The Southern Paiute belonged to the Ute-Chemehuevi group
of the Shoshonean branch of the Ute-Aztecan stock.
Location. In western Utah,
northwestern Arizona, southeastern Nevada, and parts
of southeastern California.
Subdivisions
Powell and Ingalls give the following "tribes" which, as Steward (1933)
suggests, were more likely villages or restricted local groups:
Ho-kwaits, in the vicinity of Ivanspaw ("Ivanpah Mountain").
I'-chu-ar'-rum-pats,
in Moapa Valley, "probably in Overton-St. Thomas |
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vicinity" (Kelly, 1932). |
Kai'vav-wits, in the vicinity of Kanab ("Kaibab Plateau"—Kelly).
Kau-yai'-chits,
at Ash Meadows but actually in Shoshoni territory.
Kwai-an'-tikwok-ets,
east of Colorado, which is perhaps what the name means |
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(Palmer, 1928). |
Kwi-en'-go-mats, at Indian Springs.
Kwi-um'-pus, in the vicinity of Beaver.
Mo-a-pa-ri'-ats, in Moapa Valley (on Moapa Creek)
Mo-quats, in Kingston Mountains.
Mo-vwi'-ats, at Cottonwood Island.
Nau-wan'-a-tats, in Moapa Valley.
No-gwats, in the vicinity of Potosi ("in Spring Mountains"—Kelly).
Nu-a'gun-tits, in Las Vegas Valley.
Pa-ga'-its, in the vicinity of Colville.
Pa-gu'-its, at Pagu Lake.
Pa-ran-i-guts, in Pa-ran-i-gut Valley.
Pa-room'-pai-ats, in Moapa Valley "head of Moapa Creek, at Home ranch."
Pa-room'-pats, at Pa-room Spring.
Pa-ru'-guns, in the vicinity of Parawau "Paragonah Lakes" (Kelly, 1932).
Pa-spi'-kai-vats, in the vicinity of Toquerville, "a district on
lower Ash Creek" |
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(Kelly). |
Pin'-ti-ats, in Moapa Valley.
Sau-won'-ti-ats, in Moapa Valley.
Shi'-vwits, on Shi'-vwits Plateau.
Tim-pa-shau'-wa-got-sits, at Providence Mountains.
Tsou-wa'-ra-its, in Meadow Valley.
U'-ai-Nu-ints, in the vicinity of St. George.
U-in-ka'-rets, in Mountains ("Mount Trumbull"—Kelly).
Un-ka-ka'-ni-guts, in Long Valley.
Un-ka'-pa-Nu-kuints', in the vicinity of Cedar (perhaps "second creek
south of |
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Kanarra . . . slightly southeast of New Harmony"—Kelly). |
| U-tum'-pai-ats, in Moapa Valley ("site
of Wiser Ranch, near Glendale, |
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Nevada"—Kelly). |
| Ya'-gats, at Armagoza ("spring just north of Tecopa, in Armagosa
Valley"—Kelly). |
Kelly (1932) reduces the number of "tribes" or "bands" to 14, some of
which agree with those given by Powell, while others seem to contain the
remnants of a number of his "tribes." She also gives two not appearing in
his list, viz: the Kaiparowits and a band at Gunlock.
History. The Southern Paiute came in contact with the Spaniards in the
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries but were little disturbed by them. The
first attempt to describe them systematically seems to have been made by
Father Esealante, who traversed their territory in 1776. After the
annexation of California and New Mexico to the
United States, their country was slowly but steadily encroached upon, and
they were in part removed to reservations though by far the greater number
remained scattered through the country. There has been comparatively
little friction between these Indians and the Whites.
Population. Mooney (1928) gives the population of the Southern Paiute and
Northern Paiute together as 7,500 in 1845. In 1906 there were reported to
be 129 Indians at Moapa Reservation, 267 at Duck Valley, and those not
under an agent in Nevada were estimated 6 years before to number 3,700,
but this includes the Northern Paiute; in Utah there were 76 Kaibab, 154
Shivwits, and 370 not under an agency; and in Arizona there were 350
Paiute under the Western Nevada School Superintendent, altogether slightly
more than 5,000. Even allowing for the Northern Paiute, this figure must
be too high or the enumerators of 1910 missed a great many Indians, for
the census of that date reports only 780 Paiute altogether. The Indian
Office Report for 1923 gives 226 in Nevada and southwestern Utah, but
others in Utah are enumerated with the Ute. The census of 1930 enumerates
294 exclusive of the Chemehuevi. According to the Report of the United
States Indian Office for 1937, there seem to have been 439 in that year.
Connections in which they have become noted. The name Paiute has become
identified with the name "Diggers." Both have been used in a contemptuous
sense. A county of south-central Utah is named Paiute.
Panamint, see Paiute, Northern.
Pueblo. In historic times none of the Pueblo Indians have occupied any
part of Nevada, but remains in the southern section of the State testify
to former occupancy by these Indians. (See New Mexico and Arizona.)
Shoshoni. The Western Shoshoni occupied northeastern Nevada as far as, and
including, Reese River Valley. (See Idaho.)
Ute. The Ute claimed a small part of eastern Nevada. (See Utah.)
Washo. From the native term Washiu, signifying "person." Also called:
Tsaisuma, name given them by the northeastern Maidu.
Connections. Until recently the Washo were regarded as constituting a
distinct linguistic stock, but it is now believed that they were related
to some of the tribes of California. J. P. Harrington has announced a
linguistic connection between them and the Chumash, but other students
place them in the Hokan linguistic family.
Subdivisions
Lowie gives the following:
Ha'nale'lti, about Woodfords and in Antelope Valley.
Pa'walu, near Minden
and Gardnerville.
We'lmelti, about Reno.
Location. On Truckee River as far down as the Meadows, though their right
to the latter was disputed by the Northern Paiute tribes; Carson River
down to the first large canyon below Carson City; the borders of Lake
Tahoe; and Sierra and other valleys as far as the first range south of
Honey Lake, Calif.
History. There is some evidence that the Washo were once established in
valleys farther east than the location above given and were driven thence
by Northern Paiute tribes. In 1860—62, according to Mooney (1928), the
Northern Paiute conquered them in a contest over the site of Carson and
forbade them thenceforth to own horses. They had little contact with
Whites until very recent years. In later times they lived between Reno and
a point a short distance south of Carson City, where they adopted a
parasitic mode of life, depending almost entirely on the towns and
ranches. In 1865 it was proposed to set aside two reservations for these
Indians in Carson and Washoe Valleys, but white settlers had already
occupied the territory and the plan was abandoned.
Population. Mooney (1928) made an estimate of 1,000 as of 1845. In 1859
they numbered about 900. In 1907, 300 were reported. The census of 1910
reported 819; that of 1930, 668. In 1937, 629 were reported.
Connections in which they have become noted.—The name Washo is preserved
in the names of Washoe County, Washoe Lake, Washoe Valley, and Washoe, a
post hamlet, all in Nevada. Another locality called Washoe is in Carbon
County, Mont.
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