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Serrano Indian Tribe History
Serrano (Spanish: 'highlanders', 'monntaineer-' ). A
Shoshonean division with a common dialect, centering in the San
Bernardino mountains, southern California, north of Los Angeles,
but extending down Mohave river at least to Daggett and north
across the Mohave desert into the valley of Tejon creek. They
also occupied San Bernardino valley. Fray Francisco Garcés.
in 1775-76, described the Serranos near Tejon creek, under the
name Cuahajai or Cuabajay (their Mohave name), as living in
large square communal houses of toile mats on a framework of
willow, each family having its own fireplace; they made small
baskets, flint knives, and vessels inlaid with mother-of-pearl,
and conducted much trade with the natives of the coast near
Santa Barbara. One of their rancherias Garcés
named San Pascual. The Serranos on the upper waters of Santa Ana
river. He called also by their Mohave name, Jenequich (Hanakwiche).
In his time these were approachable "and of middling good heart;
they are of medium stature, and the women some what smaller,
round-faced, flat-nosed, and rather ugly; their custom in
gentiledoin is for the men to go entirely naked, and the women
wear some sort of deerskin, with which they cover themselves,
and also some small coat of otter or of hare." The same friar
visited the Serranos of Mohave river, whom he designated Beñemé
(from Vanyume, the Mohave name of this branch). These were very
poor, but possessed baskets, otter and rabbit coats, and some
very curious snares which they made of wild hemp. They subsisted
on wild game and acorns. "As a rule they are very effeminate,
and the women uncleanly, but all are very quiet and
inoffensive." The Serrarios formed part of the Indians brought
under San Gabriel and San Fernando missions. So far as recorded
the villages or rancherias of the Serranos were: Homhoabit,
Jurumpa, Juyubit, Muscupiabit, San Benito, San Gorgonio, San
Pascual, Tolocabi, and Yucaipa. In 1885 there were 390 Serrarios
attached to the Mission agency, but they are no longer
separately enumerated.
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Handbook
of American Indians, 1906
Index of Tribes or Nations
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