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!
Gosiute (from Gossip, their chief, +Ute}.
A Shoshonean tribe formerly inhabiting Utah w. of Salt and Utah lakes, and E.
Nevada. Jacob Forney, superintendent of Indian affairs for Utah, reported in
1858 that he had visited a small tribe called the Go-sha-utes, who lived about
40 m. w. of Salt Lake City. "They are," he says, "without exception, the most
miserable looking set of human beings I ever beheld. I gave them some clothing
and provisions. They have heretofore subsisted principally on snakes, lizards,
roots, etc." Writing in 1861, Burton (City of Saints, 475, 1862) says:
"Gosh Yuta, or Gosha Ute, is a small band, once protégés of the Shoshonee, who
have the same language and limits. Their principal chief died about 5 years ago,
when the tribe was broken up. A body of 60, under a peaceful leader, were
settled permanently on the Indian farm at Deep cr., and the remainder wandered
40 to 200 m. w. of Great Salt Lake City. During the late tumults they have lost
50 warriors, and are now reduced to about 200 men. Like the Ghuzw of Arabia,
they strengthen themselves by admitting the outcasts of other tribes, and will
presently become a mere banditti." The agent in 1866 said they "are peace able
and loyal, striving to obtain their own living by tilling the soil and laboring
for the whites whenever an opportunity presents, and producing almost entirely
their own living." In 1868 the superintendent at Utah agency wrote of them:
"These Indians range between the Great Salt lake and the land of the western
Shoshones. Many of them are quite industrious, maintaining themselves in good
part by herding stock and other labor for the settlers." It appears that later
they cultivated land to some extent, being scattered over the country in spots
where springs and streams afforded arable land. It is asserted by some authors
that they are a mixture of Shoshoni and Ute. Their language indicates a closer
relationship with the Shoshoni proper than with the Ute and Paiute, though they
affiliate chiefly with the latter and have largely intermarried with them.
According to Powell they numbered 460 in 1873; in 1885 they were said to number
256.
The following are divisions or sub-tribes: Pagayuats, Pierruiats, Torountogoats,
Tuwurints, and Unkagarits.
This site
includes some historical materials that may imply negative stereotypes
reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. These
items are presented as part of the historical record and should not be
interpreted to mean that the WebMasters in any way endorse the stereotypes
implied .
Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico, Frederick Webb Hodge, 1906
