|
Yuman Indian Tribe
History
Yuman Family. An important
linguistic family whose tribes before being gathered on reservations
occupied an extensive territory in the extreme south west portion of the
United States and north Lower California, including much of the valley of
Colorado River, the lower valley of the Gila, and all of extreme south
California. The family was formerly supposed to include also the Seri of
west Sonora and Tiburon Islands in the Gulf of California, but these have
been determined to belong to a distinct stock (the Serian) bearing no
linguistic relation to any of the tribes within the United States, while
the tribes that occupied the south half of Lower California, so far as can
be judged from the meager linguistic evidence, belong to another family
yet unnamed. These latter were distinguishable from the Yuman tribes as
being probably the lowest in culture of any Indians of North America, for
their inhospitable environment, which made them wanderers, was unfavorable
to the foundation of government, even of the rude and unstable kind
elsewhere found. The names of a large number of rancherias or villages
have been preserved, and as many of these antedated mission rule, they
indicate that their occupants had at least entered upon a rude social life
and lived under some sort of recognized authority, though less definite
and binding than among most other tribes. There are also the naties of not
a few of the divisions usually termed tribes, but the limits of country
claimed by these and their inter-relations are almost unknown. Father
Baegert, who is perhaps the best authority on the Lower California
Indians, gave five distinct languages, which represented as many divisions
or groups of tribes. These were, from the north southward: Cochimi, Laimon
(usually considered a branch of Cochimi), Waicuri, Uchiti (usually
considered a branch of Waicuri), and Pericu. Of these, however, only the
Cochimi can be definitely regarded as Yuman. Later authorities usually
recognize but three linguistic divisions for Lower California, viz, Pericu,
Waicuri (a distinct stock), and Cochimi, the last occupying the peninsula
north of about lat. 26°. This is a very unsatisfactory grouping, as it is
improbable that a single language, the Cochimi, extended over 6 degrees of
latitude; but it is the best that can be made in our present lack of
knowledge, and the linguistic groups may be accepted as divisional names
under which to group the numerous rancherias in which these now extinct
tribes lived.
Passing from the south to the north end of the
peninsula a marked change for the better was observed. The social groups
appear to have been better defined; the tribes made fine basketry and
pottery, and in many other ways were further advanced. They lived in
communal huts, very well constructed of cottonwood and well thatched. No
better example of the power of environment to better mans condition can be
found than that shown as the lower Colorado is reached. Here are tribes of
the same family, remarkable not only for their fine physical development,
but living in settled villages with well-defined tribal lines, practicing
a rude but effective agriculture, and well advanced in many primitive
Indian arts. The usual Indian staples were raised except tobacco, these
tribes preferring a wild tobacco of their region to the cultivated. None
of the Colorado River tribes borrowed the art of irrigation from the
Pueblo peoples, consequently their crops often suffered from drought. All
of them depended more or less on the chase—the river tribes less, those of
the interior more. Mezquite beans, piton nuts, tornillas, and various
seeds and roots were important articles of food. None of them were
boatmen; in crossing rivers and transporting their goods they employed
rude rafts, or balsas, made of bundles of reeds or twigs. Apparently all
the river tribes cremated their dead, and with them all articles of
personal property. The climate favored nudity, the men wearing only the
breechcloth, and not always that, while women were content with a short
petticoat made of strips of bark.
Regarding the character of the tribes of the Rio
Colorado in the 18th century, Fray Francisco Garcés
(Diary, 1775-76, 435, 1900) says: "The Indian men of
its banks are well-formed, and the Indian women fat and healthy; the
adornment of the men, as far as the Jamajabs [Mohave], is total nudity;
that of the women is reduced to certain short and scanty petticoats of the
bark of trees; they bathe at all seasons, and arrange the hair, which they
always wear long, in diverse figures, utilizing for this purpose a kind of
gum or sticky stud. Always are they painted, some with black, others with
red, and many with all colors. All those of the banks of the river are
very generous and lovers of their country, in which they do not hunt game
because they abound in all provisions."
Important tribes of the northern Yuman area are the
Cocopa, Diegueño, Havasupai, Maricopa,
Mohave, Tonto, Walapai, Yavapai, and
Yuma. These differ considerably, both physically and otherwise, the
river tribes being somewhat superior to the others. The Yuma are a fine
people, rather superior to the Cocopa, although closely resembling them
physically.
The population of the Yuman tribes within the United
States numbered about 3,700 in 1909.
In addition to the tribes mentioned, the following were
also of Yuman affinity, but so far as known they are either extinct or
their tribal identity has been lost: Aguachacha, Bahacecha, Cajuenche,
Coanopa, Cocoueahra (?), Gualta, Guamua, Guanabepe, Haglli, Hoabonoma,
Iguanes, Japul, Kivezaku, Ojiopas, Quigyuma, Quilmurs, Sakuma, Tzekupama.
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
Free
Genealogy |
Indian
Genealogy
|
Index of Tribes or Nations
|
|
