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Papago Indian Tribe History
Papago (from papáh
'beans', óotam
'people': `beansmen,' 'bean-people' (Kino, 1701,
in Doc. Hist. Mex., 4th s., 1, 360, 1856; McGee in Coville and
Macdougal, Des. Bot. Lab. ,1903); hence Span.
Frijoleros. The name is often erroneously connected with
'cut-hair,' 'baptized,' etc.) A Piman tribe, closely allied to
the Pima, whose original home
was the territory south and south east of Gila River, especially
south of Tucson, Arizona, in the main and tributary valleys of
the Rio Santa Cruz, and extending west and south west across the
desert waste known as the Papaguería,
into Sonora, Mexico. From San Xavier del Bac to Quitovaquita,
one of their westernmost rancherias, it is about 120 miles, and
this may be considered as the extent of the settlements in the
17th and 18th centuries, during which period, owing to the
inhospitality of their habitat, they were less inclined to
village life than the Pima. Like the latter, the Papago subsist
by agriculture, maize, beans, and cotton formerly being their
chief crops, which they cultivated by means of irrigation; but
many desert plants also contribute to their food supply,
especially mesquite, the beans of which are eaten, and the
saguaro, pitahaya, or giant cactus (Cereus giganteos),
from the fruit of which preserves and a syrup are made. An
extensive trade in salt, taken from the great inland lagoons,
was formerly conducted by the tribe, the product finding ready
sale at Tubac and Tucson. Their present principal crops are
wheat and barley. They are also stock-raisers; and in recent
years many of them have gained a livelihood by working as
laborers, especially on railroads and irrigation ditches. The
Papago are tall and dark complexioned; their dialect differs but
little from that of the Pima, and their habits and customs are
generally similar except that the men wear the hair only to the
shoulders. Their traditions also bear close resemblance save
where varied by local coloring. Like the Pima, the Papago women
are expert basket makers. Their pottery is far inferior to that
of the Pueblos, and the designs and patterns of both the pottery
and the basketry are the same as those of the Pima. One of their
favorite games, played with 4 sticks, was that known as kints
(Spanish quince, 'fifteen'), called by them ghin-skoot
(probably derived from the same word). From early times the
Papago have been known as a frugal and peaceable people,
although they by no means lacked bravery when oppressed by their
enemies, the Apache, from whose raids they suffered severely.
Their typical dwelling is dome shaped, consisting of a framework
of saplings, thatched with grass or leafy shrubs, with an
adjacent shelter or ramada. These lodges are from 12 to 20 feet
in diameter, and sometimes the roof is flattened and covered
with earth.
The Papago in the U. S. numbered 4,981 in 1906,
distributed as follows: Under the Pima school superintendent
(Gila Bend Reservation), 2,233; under the farmer at San Xavier
(Papago Reservation), 523 allottees on reserve, and 2,225 in
Pima County. In addition, 859 Papago were officially reported in
Sonora, Mexico, in 1900, but this is probably a low estimate of
their true number in that state.
The Papago subdivisions and
settlements, so far as known, are: Acachin, Alcalde, Ana,
Anicam, Areitorae, Ati, Babasaqui, Bacapa, Baipia, Bajio,
Batequi, Boco del Arroyo, Caborca, Caca Chimir, Cahuabi, Canoa,
Casca, Charco, Chioro, Chuba, Coca, Comohuabi, Cops, Cubac,
Cuitciabaqui, Cuitoat, Cujant, Cumaro, Elogio, Fresnal,
Guadalupe, Gubo, Juajona, Junostaca, Macombo, Mesquite, Milpais,
Nariz, Oapars, Ocaboa, Oiaur, Onia, Ooltan, Otean, Perigua,
Perinimo, Piato, Poso Blanco, Poso Verde, Purificación
(?), Quitovaquita, Raton, San Bonifación,
San Cosme, Sand Papago, San Ignacio (?), San Lazaro, San Luis
Babi (?), San Martin, San Rafael, Santa Barbara (?), Santa Rosa,
Saric (?), Saucita, Shuuk, Sierra Blanca, Soba, Sonoita,
Tachilta, Tacquison, Tecolote, Tubasa, Tubutama, Valle, Zuñiga.
The books presented are for their
historical value only and are not the
opinions of the Webmasters of the site.
Handbook
of American Indians, 1906
Index of Tribes or Nations
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Order Family Tree Maker 2012