1843–44
Salt River. In the spring the Maricopas, Pimas, and Cocopas went on a campaign against the Apaches. They were scouting through the Verde valley west of the Four Peaks one afternoon when they saw a small band of the enemy. They were unable to overtake the Apaches, who kept sending up signal smokes. The next morning the number of Apaches had increased and formed a circular line, which attacked the allies, who lost two men, father and son.
Four days later a woman went with her daughter to gather cactus fruit for drying. She was accompanied by her husband, who went as a guard. While she was busy gathering the spiny cactus, she heard a step and, turning, saw an Apache. She screamed for help and told her daughter to run to the village and give the alarm. The husband was hunting near at hand, but was too far away to rescue his wife. The little girl brought the men of the village, but they could find no trace of the enemy.
A few days later the Apaches killed a party of Pimas who had gone to the mountains to gather mescal. The Pimas had planned to go to the Kwahadkʽ camp, but changed their minds and camped opposite them. The Apaches sent down scouts from the hills to see how many there were at the place where the smoke from the mescal pits was seen. It was a night attack and many Pimas never wakened to see another day; only one escaped to tell the Kwahadkʽs of the massacre. They followed the trail of the Apaches but did not overtake them. The dead were buried there by the Kwahadkʽs, who knew the Pimas well.
In the summer, when the watermelons were ripe, a large force of Yumas came to attack the Pimas and Maricopas. Their coming was heralded by messengers, who said they were advancing in great numbers as gaily as for a dance. The Maricopas were ready to meet them, but the Pimas were not. The Maricopas went out to engage the enemy and check their advance while the women got out of the way. The Yumas were driven back, but the Maricopas lost two of their bravest warriors.
1844–45
Salt River. The next year the Yumas and Mohaves came to attack the Maricopa village. The fight was undecided, but the enemy retreated. One Pima and several Maricopas were killed.
Gila Crossing, Salt River. A plague swept through all the tribes during this year. Those stricken with it usually died within twenty-four hours, but if they recovered they were well again in three days. From 4 to 10 died each day. The people of Akûtcĭny came to the Gila and the Gila villagers fled into the desert. The [cholera or]
