1900–1901
Gila Crossing. It was during this year that the President came to Phoenix.[1]
Gila Crossing, Salt River. During the spring the man employed to carry the mail between Phoenix and Scottsdale became insane and shot a white man and a Pima youth whom he met on the road near the latter place.
1901–2
Gila Crossing. In September, 1901, the day school was started at Masâʼkimûlt, the Gila Maricopa village.
TECHNOLOGY
The Food Supply
The Pimas subsist upon a mixed diet in which vegetable food predominates. In the past it would seem probable that the proportion of meat was greater than at present, though they have long been tillers of the soil. Certain articles of their diet appear to be markedly flesh producing, and this tendency is at least not diminished by the habits of life resulting from the semitropical climate of the Gila valley. They are noticeably heavier than individuals belonging to the tribes on the Colorado plateau to the north and northeast, and many old persona exhibit a degree of obesity that is in striking contrast with the "tall and sinewy" Indian conventionalized in popular thought. (Fig. 2.)
About every fifth year in primitive times the Gila river failed in midwinter, the flow diminishing day by day until at length the last drop of water that could not gain shelter beneath the sands was licked up by the ever-thirsty sun. The fish gathered in the few pools that were maintained by the underflow, the ducks and other water birds took flight, but the deer and antelope could the more readily be stalked because of their resorting to known watering places. Without water in the river and canals there could be no crops, and necessity drove the people to seek far afield for the native plants that in some degree produce fruits or seeds even in dry seasons. The fruit of the saguaro and the seed or bean of the mesquite were the most abundant and accessible resources. When even these failed the Pimas were driven to make long journeys into the Apache country—
- ↑ The visit of President McKinley to Phoenix, in May, 1901, made a profound impression upon the Pimas. Kâemâ-â lives but 20 miles south of the Arizona capital, and was present at the time of the President's visit. He made no mark upon the calendar stick to commemorate the event, but related the circumstances as a part of the history.
It is not surprising that the Pimas, who had heard for many years of the Great Chiefs in Washington, should be desirous of seeing one in the flesh when the opportunity presented itself. The official interpreter at the agency frequently, during the winter of 1901–2, expressed her desire to obtain a good biography of the late President. After commenting upon the hideous crime of the assassin at Buffalo she made the truthful and suggestive remark that "no Pima would do such a thing; he would never kill his chief."
