Book ?^M

O

C.OM 2-

W

AMONG THE PIMAS

OR

THE MISSION TO THE

PIMA AND MARICOPA INDIANS.

" With their names
No bard embalms and sanctities his song
And history so warm on meaner themes.
Is cold on this/''

PRINTED FOR
THE LADIES' UNION MISSION SCHOOL ASSOCIATION,
'^ ALBANY, N. Y.

1893.

E1^

By

• • •

• •

• ••

CONTENTS.

Introduction, -.-_.. 5

Chapter First, - iS

Mr. Cook's narrative of his journey to Arizona,
with a sketch of his early life.

Chapter Second, - - - - - - 35

Biographical sketch of Mrs. Anna M. Cook.

Chapter Third, ...... ^y

Visit of Rev. Sheldon Jackson, D. D., at the
Pima Agency and Mr. Cook's commission as
a missionary of the Presbyterian Church.

Chapter Fourth, - - - - - - 51

The Pima Indians, their manners and customs,
by Rev. Isaac T. Whittemore.

Chapter P'ifth, 97

The Padies' Union Mission School Association
and its connection with the mission to the

Pimas.

Chapter Sixth, 115

The Gila River Reservation, climate, soil, pro-
ductions and ancient ruins.

An old missionary's story.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

1. Mission House and Chapel at Pima

Agency.

2. Antonio Azul — his son and grandson.
3- A Pima village.

4 The Giant Cactus of Arizona,
5. The Casa Grande Ruin.

INTRODUCTION.

The object of the present volume is to
show the providence of God in the fulfill-
ment of his purpose to send the gospel to the
friendly Indians living on the Gila river
reservation in the territory of iVrizona.

The condition of these Indians, with their
deprivation of the privileges enjoyed by other
inhabitants of our highly favored country,
was brought to our knowledge through the
officers of the U. S. Army in the year 1868. .

These officers, General Frederick Town- ^

send and Gen. A. J. Alexander being on
military duty in Arizona, became acquainted
with the Pima and Maricopa Indians, and
when, a few years later an association of
ladies in the state of New York was found to
promote mission work in our country, an
appeal was made to them in behalf of the
Indians of the Gila river reservation, Gen.
A. J. Alexander, then stationed at Fort Mc-
Dowell, Arizona, addressed to one of the
members of the new association the follow-
ing letter :

6 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

Fort McDowell, Arizona, Ter.
October i8, 1868.
" I have just returned from a ten days' scout in the
mountains, which was very successful. I was accom-
panied by one hundred Pima and Maricopa Indians,
whose wild ways and picturesque appearance were
hi-hly interesting. I have acquired a great deal of
influence over them, since I led the whole band in a
charge over hills, rocks and streams. After my return I
had a very interesting conversation with Antonio Azul,
the chief of the Pimas, who told me he would welcome
any person I would send to teach them, and that the
children should go to school. These Indians are docile
and friendly, and easily approached. As several white
men reside near them, who speak their language per-
fectly, it could be easily acquired. I told Antonio that
the good people in the east, who loved the Indians,
would send a good man to come and live there and teach
them ; that he did not want land or money from them,
but would come only to do them good, and whatever he
told them would be good, and he could trust him. He
said it was very good and wanted to know when he
would come.'*

A letter was subsequently received from
Mrs. Alexander, in which she said, that her
husband before leaving the post on miUtary
duty desired her " to urge upon her friends
at home, the importance of sending a mis-
sionary or teachers to this interesting tribe of
Indians, now living in the heart of Arizona.

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 7

" There are about five thousand souls in this
tribe and though they have been living for
two or three generations in their present
reservation, cultivating the soil in a rude way
they are still sunk in the lowest depth of
heathenish superstition."

''The most intelligent of the Indians— and
there are many such— are anxious for instruc-
tion. There are two white men living at their
villages,— (one of them a licensed trader)—
who have a thorough acquaintance with their
language, and could assist a new-comer in
acquiring it. They make it their boast that
they have never killed a white man, but that
while they are at deadly enmity with the
Apaches, they are the white mans friends."
It is supposed that there are in Arizona,
about thirty-four thousand Indians, not one
of whom has ever yet been instructed in the
christian faith.

The president of the new society, Mrs.
Julia M. Graham, and the secretary, Mrs.
Florence K. Prentice, were personal friends
of General and Mrs. Alexander, and being
warmly attached to them, they entered heart-
ily into their plans tor the welfare of the
Indians, with whose needs they had become

5 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

familiar during their residence in the vicinity
of their reservation. On General Alexander's
return from his distant post of duty, he was
invited to meet with the ladies of the associa-
tion, and at their request, on a subsequent
visit to Washington, he represented to the
Department of the Interior, the desire of the
Indians on the Gila river reservation for
schools and teachers. A letter was addressed
to the Indian commissioner at Washington
by the association, to which the following
response was made :

Washington, June 17, 1869.

Madam : — I have the pleasure to acknowledge the
receipt of a letter dated the 7th inst., accompanied by
a printed report of the Ladies Missionary' Association
for New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado ; also a letter
addressed to the Secretary of the Interior of the 8th
inst. These letters call attention to the project in
view by the association, of a mission and school among
the Pima and Maricopa Indians in Arizona, and refer-
ence is had to a report made by my predecessor to the
Secretary of the Interior, on the 22d of February last,
suggesting that the matter should be referred to the
United States agent, in charge of the Indians, for a
report as to what would be the best plan to adopt to
accomplish the desired object.

The ofificers of the association, it is represented, are
anxiously waiting for the report of the agent, as they

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 9

were advised he would be instructed accordingly ; and
it is asked if the government will make an appropria-
tion in behalf of the proposed mission and school. In
reply, I beg leave to remark, there will soon be a new
superintendent and agent in charge of the Indians of
Arizona, and as I fully approve of the project of the
association, I will bear the subject in mind, and require
the superintendent and agent to give it prompt atten-
tion. I have no doubt but that an arrangement can be
made between the department and the association, that
will be satisfactory, and result in great benefit to the
Indians. But what amount of money the government
will appropriate, or what it will agree to perform can
eonly be determined upon information, which it is de-
sired to have furnished by the Indian agent. When
that shall have been received, your association will be
duly advised of the conclusion of the department in

the matter.

Very respectfully.

Your obedient servant,

E. S. PARKER,

Commissioner.

When General Alexander was ordered away
from Fort McDowell, Col. Geo. B. Sanford,
U. S. A., who succeeded him in command of
the post, continued to take a deep interest in
the welfare of the Pimas and urged the
appointment of a teacher upon their agent,
Captain Grossman, U. S. A., who wrote the
following letter :

lO THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

U. S. Indian Agency, Sacaton, Arizona,

July 22, 1870.
Mrs. A.J. Alexander,

Madam : — By advice of Col. Sanford, U. S. A., I
take the liberty to address you on behalf of the Pima
and Maricopa Indians which have been placed under
my charge. The Colonel told me that you had always
taken a kindly interest in their spiritual welfare, and he
thought it probable that you might be instrumental in
sending a missionary to this agency.

Col. Geo. L. Andrews, U. S. A., superintendent of
Indian affairs for this territory, and myself have both
been and are still anxious to establish a school on this
reservation, believing that by means of it we may in
^me improve the condition of the interesting Indians,
residing thereon. Since my arrival here, I have erected
a commodious agency building in a healthy locality, to
which I shall remove with my family on the first of
next month. In it, a school room has been set apart,
but I am still without a teacher, and see no prospect of
obtaining the services of one, unless associations in the
east will lend a helping hand.

I am inclined to the belief that efforts to christianize
the Pimas will not be strongly opposed by these
Indians, but fear that their total indifference to religious
matters will be, for a time at least, a serious obstacle.

A missionary sent here, would have to acquire the
Pima language to a certain extent, and ought to have
some knowledge of Spanish. The Pima language is
simple and easily acquired. I have already compiled a
small vocabulary and my interpreter, Louis, who speaks

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. ■ II

a little English and very fair Spanish, would render
every assistance.

I shall esteem it a favor to hear from you, and sub-
scribe myself

Very respectfully yours,

F. E. GROSSMAN,

Captain U. S. Army,
U, S. Special Indian Agent.

The U. S. government made a liberal pro-
vision for the erection of buildings at the
agency and for the support of teachers.

Simultaneously with the first efforts put forth
by the Ladies' Association, a deep impres-
sion was made upon the mind of an earnest
christian man in the city of Chicago, III, then
actively engaged there in the city mission.

His remarkable call to the mission in Ari-
zona, is related in the simple narrative, which
at our request he has written, together with a
brief sketch* of the life of his devoted and
heroic wife, who may be said to have fallen
at her post of duty in the service of her coun-
try, as well as of the Master whom it was her
delight to serve.

Rev. Mr. Whittemore, pastor of the church
at Florence, Arizona, gave the first impulse to

12 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

this narrative of the Pima mission.* Being a
member of the same presbytery with Mr.
Cook, he met with him from time to time and
on one occasion, when together at Santa Fe,
New Mexico, Mr. Cook recounted to his
brother missionary, some of the incidents of
his journey from Chicago to Arizona in the
latter part of the year 1870. Mr. Whittemore

*Rev. Isaac T. Whittemore is the custodian of the
celebrated " Casa Grande ruin," which is thus men-
tioned in a notice which emanated from the general
land office and bears date, Washington, October 15,
1869, " The general land office has received returns
of the survey of township and section lines of five town-
Ships on the Gila river in southern Arizona, containing
105,252 acres of agriculture and grazing lands, bearing
evidence of having been formerly under a high state of
cultivation for centuries and abounding in ruins of
elaborate and sometime magnificent structures, to
gether with relics of obliterated races, possessing con-
siderable knowledge of the arts and manufactures.
,.\mong the most extensive of the ruins being those
called Casa Grande, about two miles southeast of the
junction of the east and south channels of the Gila
river. These townships embrace the growing towns
of Adamsville and Florence, of the Fort Yuma and
Fort Grant wagon roads, as well as numerous pro-
ductive farms and pastures, well stocked with cattle and
sheep."

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 13

being deeply interested in what he had heard
of his friend's remarkable experience, urged
him to write some account of his life, together
with a sketch of his mission work during
twenty two years and particularly how he had
gained an influence over the people whose
welfare he had earnestly sought to promote.
This, the modest missionary was reluctant to
do, but through the encouragement given by
Mr. Whittemore, who spent some time with
him at his station at Sacaton, the following
brief sketch of his mission work was prepared
and is now given to the christian community,
in the hope that other tribes of Indians may
receive the gospel with all its attendant bless-
ings and that men and women will be found
consecrated to the work of bringing the light
of the gospel to many now "sitting in dark-
ness," and " in the region and shadow of
death."

In the correspondence which preceded the
publication of the present volume is the fol-
lowing reference to Mr. Cook and his mission
by Rev. Isaac T. Whittemore, pastor of the
church at Florence, Arizona. " When con-
templating the publication of a brief history
of the Pima mission, I wrote to General O.

14 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

O. Howard, asking a few words in regard to
the missionary whose interesting narrative is
here introduced, and soon received the fol-
lowing letter in reply :"

Head-quarters Department of the East,

Governor's Island, New York,

January 5. 1893.
Dear Sir :

Your letter is received. Yes, I became acquainted
with Mr. Cook in 1872, when I was sent by President
Grant to Arizona and New Mexico, to settle difficulties
arising between tribes of Indians with each other, and
with white men, and endeavors to make peace with the
only tribe of Apaches (Cochises) then at war.

At that time Mr. Cook had two schools under his
charge, one at the Pima agency and the other near a
Maricopa village. He had taught the children of
these tribes to read and speak English fairly well.

His history was so remarkable that I have often
recalled the points of it.

First. — A soldier, in probably the volunteer service,
and on duty in New Mexico, and afterwards in the Army
of the Potomac.

Second. — After being mustered out, a citizen, and
then a city missionary in Chicago.

Third — A remarkable conversion to God, and an im-
pression on his mind that he must go as a missionary to
the Pimas.

Fourth. — Filling his trunk with a melodeon and few
necessaries, and starting out with insufficient money to
reach his destination.

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 15

Fifth. — Mr. Cook joined a bull-train after leaving
the railroad in Kansas, and went on with it as far as
Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Sixth. — Stopping with a train over Sunday near a min-
ing camp. Upon making inquiry he was invited to
preach in a large saloon, the only available room. He
preached a short sermon, reading the scriptures, lead-
ing the singing, in which many joined. At the close a
man with a tall hat, declared that the service would not
be complete without a collection. He passed the tall
hat and received — if I remember rightly — some sixteen
or seventeen dollars which he gave to Mr. Cook.

Seventh. — Thus he was enabled to reach his destina-
tion with some money in his pocket after a sixteen weeks'
journey and preaching tour. He first learned the Pima
language and then taught the children as I have said ;
they spoke the English with a German accent.

Eighth. — He acted as my interpreter when I brought
a combined delegation of Arizona Indians from that
territory to Washington. He helped me in the essen- .
tial councils and settlements of difficulties in Arizona.

Ninth. — He corresponded with and visited a beauti-
ful German woman, as full of christian zeal as himself.
He married her, I think in Chicago, and transported
her to Arizona, and there they have done the grand
work with which you are acquainted. I believe that
his original German name was Koch when translated, is
Cook.

These nine items are substantially as the history of
this wonderful young man lies in my mind. I wish all

l6 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

ministers and missionaries were as able, as devoted and
successful as he has been.

Very truly yours,

O. O. HOWARD,
Major- General, U. S. Arniy.'^

Mr. Whittemore further writes under date,
Florence, Arizona, Ter.,
May 22, 1893.

I have been intimately acquainted with Rev. C. H.
Cook, the missionary to these Indians for five years,
and a more devoted and conscientious man I have
never known.

His "call" from missionary work in Chicago, where
he was an intimate friend of D. L. Moody, was provi-
dential. As you will see, Gen. Andrew J. Alexander,
an officer of the United States Army, who was here on
duty in 1868, became interested in the welfare of this
tribe and wrote an article that was published in the
New York Evangelist, which met the eye of Mr. Cook,
and this was the " finger of Providence " that pointed
him to this field. He " was not disobedient to the
heavenly vision," so, leaving his work there, he came
at his own charges and began here.

It was doubtless in answer to the prayers of those
ladies who were looking for the man promised to Chief
Antonio by Gen. Alexander, that God chose, in the
person of Brother Cook, the expected teacher. He
was fitted by nature, education, and grace, for this, his
great life-work. His army life of three years or more,
prepared him for the rough and isolated position. His
patience, coolness, prudence, honesty, perseverance and

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 17

consecration, have given also a fitness for the work,
such as but few men possess. His aim has been, from
the first, to christianize parents and children, as the
primary step toward civilization and citizenship.

His efforts have met with remarkable success. He
is reaping where he has sown, and the fruit already-
gathered is but a foreshadowing of what must follow.
He loves the Indians and they love him. What he says,
they believe. They know him well. He has studied
their character and temperament and taught them by
precept and example, to love God, A wonderful change
has been wrought in them, externally and internally.
The Indian nature has been supplanted by the Divine,
and the fighting principle is no longer there.

The ladies who were the instruments in God's hand of
bringing him here, "wrought better than they knew.'
If they could have seen these Indians as they were,
when Missionary Cook came, over twenty years since,
and see them nozv, packing the chapel each Sabbath,
eager listeners to the truth, " clothed and in their right
minds," they would rejoice and thank God.

Brother Cook is too modest to tell, or have published,
the trials and sacrifices of his work. He desires to
give God all the glory, and keep self in the background,
while he simply tells us much of his Indians, and very
little of himself, or the part he has taken in their eleva-
tion. We who have known him long, love him well.
If we can induce others to go and do a similar work
for other tribes, our purpose in helping to prepare this
little volume will be accomplished.

CHAPTER I.

At the request of the Ladies' Union Mis-
sion School Association, Mr. Cook has given
the following brief account of his journey to
Arizona in 1870 and some important events of
his life.

Sacaton, (Pima Reservation), Arizona,

March 22, 1893.
To the Corresponding Secretary of the Ladies' Union
Mission School Association :

Dear Friend — I will now, in compliance with your
request, try to give you some account of the history of
my life and of my coming to this field of labor.

When but a little child of less than six months of
age. I was left both fatherless and motherless.

" When my father and my mother forsake me, then
the Lord will take me up. " ' ' A father of the fatherless. "
How thankful we ought to be for such gracious
promises !

When barely able to speak, both of my grandmothers
would not permit me to go to sleep evenings without
praying, that the blood of Christ, God's Son, might
cleanse me and keep me from all sin. From that time
forward I have seldom neglected to pray to God.

My father, grandfather, and great grandfather hav-
ing been public school teachers in Germany, it was the
desire of my grandfather to give me a good education.

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. I9

So, when len years of age, I was sent to a first-class
city school, high school and seminary. About the time
of my confirmation in the Evangelical Lutheran Church,
I felt some of the strivings of the Holy Spirit, also
some desire to devote my life to foreign missions.

But some time after, partly on account of my great
esteem for one of my professors, I was led, through
his materialistic teachings, to disbelieve the Bible and
the Divinity of our Lord and my foolish heart was
darkened.

Emigrating to New Orleans, I worked for some time
in a drug store, which has since proved of advantage to
me. Being afterwards ill-treated by a German, I con-
cluded to go to sea.

At this time I prayed the Lord earnestly to direct me.
This the Lord did in a remarkable way and I found a
situation on a ship. The captain, a Massachusetts
man, was a noble christian ; he treated me fully as well
as though I had been his own son. This good man
gave me tracts, invited me to attend the seamen's
chapels and paid me more at times, than at first agreed
to. But what a perverse heart was mine ! I might have
passed for a good Unitarian or a moral materialist, my
heart was a stranger to the God to whom I prayed.

One evening, in the Mediterranean Sea, I fell over-
board and the Lord graciously saved me from a watery
grave and from dying the death of an unbeliever, but
this did not turn me from my wicked unbelief.

With this captain I spent some very happy years and
gained much in health and strength of body.

The captain then left off going to sea, for a while ;
sailing with the new captain I did not feel at home and

20 THE PIMA 'INDIAN MISSION.

not long^ after, I shipped without asking Divine direc-
tion, with the former second mate, who was then first
mate of another ship.

Here we received the most outrageous treatment and
the sailors were plotting to throw the inhuman captain
overboard or at least to put him in chains and keep him
in continement until we should reach Liverpool. Our
first mate, however, learning of the plot, advised the
men to desist, as we were nearing the Irish coast and
as it was abou,t the time of the March equinoctial
storms. We soon reached St. George's channel and
having taken a pilot on board, we learned that our
captain had won the race with the captain of the clipper-
ship, Titian. Then a terrific storm burst upon us ; our
only safety was a small harbor north of Liverpool,
where, after the tide left us, we found ourselves high
and dry on the beach. Most of the sailors ran away
the first night. The captain promised those of us who
would remain, a handsome reward ; we stayed, but the
reward did not reach us.

On our return voyage on another ship, our treatment
was better. Our first mate, the captain's son, often told
me how happy he would be if he could only have forty
acres of land in the wilderness, a yoke of oxen, and a
little cabin and there earn his living. This made a
deep and strange impression upon me. He never
reached his home alive, and his father had been the
cause of his death. This took away from me all ambi-
tion of ever becoming the captain and owner of a fine
ship.

The war having broken out, I enlisted in Rochester,

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 21

N, Y., and while waiting to go to the front, I attended
the Presbyterian Brick Church. Dr. Shaw preached
on Christ cleansing the lepers, and on the leprosy of
heathenism cleansed by Divine power through the
instrumentality of missionaries.

This sermon affected me greatly and after joining
the battery, listening to the chaplain and seeing the
walk of some christian fellow soldiers, I was led to the
Saviour.

From that time on, my army life, though full of hard-
ships and dangers, was a happy one. As a No. i at a
gun and shortly after as gunner, I was in many a battle
exposed to the tire of the enemy, but I did not receive
a scratch.

At one time, lying on my blankets close to the Jeru-
salem plank road near Petersburg, not far from the
rebel lines and thinking of the many lives sacrificed,
of the many homes made desolate, of the wounded at
times lying between the lines, suffering great agonies,
the thought came to me, how can it be that the Lord
permits all this ? I fell asleep and then thought I could
see far above the battle field, two beings, who had
power to stop the war at any time and power to pro-
tect the life of any single individual. This dream
greatly comforted me, and when some time after we
ceased shooting at each other on Sundays, and we
could hear the voice of prayer and praise, and the
preaching of the chaplains on both sides of the line, I
then thought that the war would soon end.

How much ill-feeling it would have saved on both
sides if we, like brave General Grant, had only looked
at the great war as a national punishment for sin.

22 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

After the war was over, I thought of settling on a
farm in Illinois, but stopped for a while at the home of
a comrade in New York state. There being no Pres-
byterian Church near, I joined the M. E. Church.
One day I accidentally cut my foot. Perhaps some of
my neighbors thought, that having come unhurt from
the war, vengeance was still following me.

After five months I was able to walk, though still
lame. I found work in a bank in Chicago and was led
afterwards into city mission work. I received a good
salary ; the Lord prospered my work and the outlook
was very promising.

At one time boarding near where they were excava-
ting the Washington street tunnel, I was sick with
diphtheria. I had no one to stay with me and so 1 was
alone most of the time. The medicine did not seem to
give relief and I was rapidly getting >vorse. I prayed
the Lord if pleasing in his sight that I should die, that
He might let me die with some other sickness. But
my throat kept getting worse, I could only breathe
with great difficulty. I then heard such heavenly music
as I never expect to hear again in this world. The
room seemed to be full of heavenly beings. I con-
cluded that I had died and began to fear that I might
get well again. After a little I could again feel the
pain in my throat but a few days after I got well. (I
have since learned that pure fresh air, an outward
appliance of sweet oil and croton oil mixed, and a
gargle of permangenate of potash is a good treatment
for diphtheria).

I read the life of David Brainard and often thought

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 23

of him and his Indians. I think it was in 1868 or '69
I got hold of a copy of the New York Evangelist. I
read in it an article from an army officer about the
Pima Indians of Arizona, and of their great need of
teachers and missionaries.

At first I did not pay much attention to it and I did
not kep the paper. I was thinking of pieparing
myself and then to go as missionary to China. But
from that time forward, for a year or more, the article
which I had read without much thought would still
present itself to me.

When I prayed over the matter, T would always feel
more convinced that I ought to go to the Pima Indians.
In reading the Bible I was greatly surprised to find so
many passages in both Old and New Testament refer-
ing to the sending of the gospel to the heathen.

I saw some of my friends and brethren go away to
India and China with their necessary expenditures all
provided for and I was glad of it. But the M. E.
Church at that time had no moneyto spare for sending
the gospel to the Indians.

Inquiring at Washington as to the Indian affairs in
Arizona. I was informed that things were very un-
settled in Arizona and that it would not be safe to go
forth on such an enterprise at that time. The thought
then came to me that the same Lord who had pro-
tected me during the war could also protect me in
Arizona, and as to my temporal support, the same God
who provided for George MuHer's orphans must be able
to provide for me, as long as I was willing to work.

On my first journey to Arizona and often since, my
army experience has been of great help to me.

24 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

September i, 1870, with a good supply of clothing,
tent, blankets, a small melodeon, a Winchester rifle,
some groceries and a few cooking utensils, I left
Chicago.

Through the kindness of a fellow-laborer of the Epis-
copal Church, I received railroad passes to Kansas City
where I stopped over Sunday. Attending church, I
unexpectedly met a former Chicago friend, who kindly
invited me to his house, and who on Monday procured
me a pass to Kit Carson, so that instead of being out
about $6.00 for keeping the Sabbath, I gained some
$15.00 or more. As we moved further west, towns
became few and far between. On some part of the
railroad, troops were stationed to protect the road and
stations against hostile Indians. At some places we
could see buffaloes from the car windows.

Kit Carson, Kansas, my terminus on the railroad,
looked like a very hard place, yet near by we beheld a
small church and school hoiase, showing how quickly
these railroads help to move forward christian civiliza-
tion.

Upon inquiry I was told that a mule train had left a
little before for Prescott, Arizona. So I took the stage,
fare $16.00 or 25 cents per mile, to Bent's Fort, or trad-
ing place. During the night we saw a rainbow by moon-
light.

At the stage station I waited several days. The Pres.
cott train arrived on Sunday, but some lady passengers
objected to having a preacher travel with them.

Mr. Price, the kind station keeper learning of my
errand, instead of charging me $15.00, the usual price,
was well satisfied with a few sermons instead. It also

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 25

pleased him to join in singing some of the old familiar
hymns, which he had not heard for years.

Monday evening a Mexican ox train came along ;
the train was not heavy loaded, and the wagon-master
was willing to take me to Santa Fe, N. M., at a reason-
able rate. No one of the Mexicans could talk English,
so I made good progress in the Spanish language.

We made good time with the ox train, traveling by
day and by night. We soon overtook the Prescott
train. The only difficulty which I encountered was
that the Mexicans, like most whites out here, would
travel on Sundays.

On our first Sunday evening, a Mexican robber came
into camp. He eyed my Winchester rifle so sharply
that the wagon-master noticed it and cautioned me.
The next day, late in the evening he offered to help
bring in the oxen for the night journey. He then
imitated the howl of a prairie wolf to perfection, then
stole the wagon-master's mule and pony and decamped.
All of this undoubtedly would not have happened, had
we not traveled on Sunday.

Traveling on the next Sunday and camping in the
mountains near Los Vegas, an ox was stolen and after
the following day we had to wait three days for the
wagon-master's brother, who was to take the train to
Santa Fe.

Saturday, Oct. i. — Just one month from Chicagor
We encamped about fifty miles from Santa Fe. I con-
cluded to take a little clothing and rifle and to walk on
ahead of the train, until the stage should overtake me,
and then if there was room, 1 would go on with it to
the town. When the stage came up to me, I secured

26 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

passage and thus reached Santa Fe, Saturday evening.
Rev. Dr. and Mrs. McFarland gave me a warm wel-
come. I preached for the good brother morning and
evening, the chapel being full each time. They also
had a large Sunday school. Here I learned that a good
Presbyterian sister was already employed by the church,
to labor among New Mexico's Indians. The thought
came to me, if a defenceless woman can live and labor
among the savages, there ought to be hope for a man
who had seen war.

Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 4. — Feeling much refreshed
and after Mrs, McFarland had supplied me with a good
three days' lunch, I left Santa Fe with another ox train
for Albuquerque, where we arrived Friday, Oct. 7, and
where I had to stay until Nov. 5. But this gave me
an opportunity to preach the gospel and to do other
kinds of missionary work.

During one Sunday a Union soldier traveling with a
mule train on that day, had fallen from the wagon and
was killed. The government agent requested me to
assist him in giving the departed a decent burial. This
we did, with a number of whites and Mexicans attend-
ing.

At Albuquerque, being now not far from the haunts
of the Apaches, my purse got so low that I had to
part with my Winchester rifle.

The kind postmaster, Mr. Herner, a German Catho-
lic, of whom I rented a room, did not want to see me
cook my own meals, so he only charged me $15.00 for
four weeks' board, instead of $10.00 a week, the usual
rate at that time.

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 27

Nov. 4, a large number of recruits arrived for the
regular army, in charge of four young officers, with one
officer's wife. They represented different church
denominations, the officer in charge being a Methodist.

All were glad to have me travel with them and
insisted on my sharing their mess. This I did with
some misgivings, having doubts as to whether my purse
could stand the strain. This, however, subsequently
proved to be so light that I did not feel it at all. Here
I had opportunities to preach to the soldiers evenings.
Camping some four miles from Escondida, I started
out early one morning on an errand, and with some
books from an Albuquerque friend, to the house of a
Mr. Baca, who had been advised of my coming. He
could not talk English but, greeted me in polite Spanish,
" How do you do, my brother ? " He then introduced
me to his excellent wife and grown up children, and
soon we sat down to a good breakfast. I could see
at once that the brother was an educated and polished
gentleman as well as a noble christian. I asked him
how long he had been a Protestant ; he told me that he
had been such since boyhood in the city of Mexico.
The brother urged me to stop and stay with him :
gladly would I have done so. After promising him to
do all I could toward having a preacher sent to him
and his neighborhood, I bade him and his family
good-bye.

Thursday, Nov. 10, we arrived at Fort Craig : Major
Coleman commanding, I pitched my tent outside with
the recruits. But the major although a Catholic, soon
came to me and insisted that I should be his guest
during my stay at the fort.

28 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

On the following Sunday, I had the privilege of
preaching to the infantry companies in the forenoon,
and to the cavalry in the evening, the major as well as
the other officers and their wives, attending both
meetings.

Some of the officers and recruits stopped at that
place.

Tuesday morning, a few hours before starting again,
three Mexican brethren from Peralto had come some
seventy miles or more, requesting me earnestly to go
back with them and be their preacher. With a nearly
empty purse and with about 6oo miles before me, this
was a temptation to me. I told them that I was on my
way to the Indians, but that it would not be long until
they could have a Protestant preacher. They then
requested me to accept some nice apples, (nearly a half
bushel,) this I did, and then bade them God speed.

At Fort McRae we were kindly received by Captain
Shorkley and others. Saturday, November igth, we
arrived at Fort vSheldon. Captain Fachet kindly enter-
tained me. Being a Frenchman and a Catholic, he
was afraid that the soldiers were too rough for Sunday
services. However, he attended three meetings and
was agreeably surprised at the good behavior of his
soldiers.

November 23 we arrived at Fort Cummings ; here
Captain Hedberg, a German, took care of me. Here
I bought some groceries and the post-surgeon kindly
gave me a little medicine, some bacon and tea. Cash
on hand, 25 cents, with about 400 miles of road still
ahead of me ; this made me feel a little blue and I was
thinking of Christ feeding the five thousand.

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 29

Arrived at the town of Mimbers, (not very far from
the present Deming,) November 24. Here I liad to
bid farewell to my kind army friends. As I had plenty
of good clothing, they probably thought that my purse
yet contained several hundreds of dollars.

Having a message to a Jewish firm from Albu-
querque, they kindly invited me to make my home with
them. After preaching in the evening, I received sev-
eral invitations by good sisters to stay at their homes,
or at least to come and eat with them on the next day.
Providentially on the next day, a Mexican ox train was
ready to start for Fort Bowie. The kind wagon-
master, though heavy loaded, was willing to take my
baggage free. I persuaded him to keep my watch
chain until redeemed. I walked nearly all the time,
from twenty to thirty miles a day ; this, however, made
me lame on the foot which I had cut. Stopping over
one day not far from a large mining camp, I visited it.
Upon inquiry I was told that the men would like to
have me preach to them in the evening. It being a
little cold they had transformed a large saloon into a
chapel, all the bottles, etc., having disappeared behind
the counter. The place was crowded, the singing
demonstrated that many of the miners had been at
church before. At the close, one of the men took his
hat and said that the service was not complete without
a collection. I was thus enabled to pay the freighter
well and still have $6.40 on hand.

Arrived at Fort Bowie, Sunday, December 5, at
8 A. M. Here I met Captain Russell. I had once
fought side by side with this ^rave officer, before he

30 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

was promoted. He was an Irish Catholic, the son of
a pious 'mother, whose prayers, I have no doubt, fol-
lowed her son all his life. The captain was very glad
to see me and glad to have me share his quarters and
table for some twelve days. He would accompany me
Sundays and other evenings, preaching to the soldiers
and in all devotional exercises. At times he would tell
me of his exploits and often narrow escapes from that
great warrior, " Cochise," and I would tell him of my
exploits as city missionary at Chicago, how at times
some of his zealous country women would try and drive
me away with a broomstick, or poker, while others
would invite me to dinner and at times to have prayers
with them.

Dec. 17, I had an opportunity to travel to Tucson.
Capt. Russell not only supplied me with all necessary
rations, but also handed me $10, telling me to take it, as
I might need it. I have since had the pleasure of
meeting the captain at this place.

On our way to Tucson, we were overtaken by a great
snowstorm. When within twenty miles of Tucson, we
picked up two wounded Mexican teamsters , they had
been wounded and one of their number killed on Sun-
day forenoon, and their oxen had been driven off by
Cochise's warriors, all of which, likely, would not have
happened, had they not traveled on Sunday.

Friday, Dec. 23, 1870, I arrived at Pima Agency,
with nearly as much cash on hand as I had when I left
Albuquerque. Capt. Grossman, a German and an army
officer, was the agent. He and his noble christian
wife gave me a hearty welcome. The agent took me

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 31

over the reservation, and on Jan i, 1871, I received an
appointment as goverment teacher.

My health was excellent, and the journey, especially
that part of it when I had little or no means of my own,
through the \^ld Apache country, had benefited me
greatly.

During the time since I had left the railroad, I had
preached twenty-two times, I had given many other
addresses, and had many conversations with individuals
on the subject of religion, so that the scanty provision
for my long journey and my frequent straits turned out
" rather to the furtherance of the gospel." It was not
,,*intil several months after I reached the agency at
Sacaton that I learned that there were others beside
myself, who were anxious to have the gospel and chris-
tian civilization brought to a people, who are perishing
for want of it. You had been trying for two years, to
find somebody to go to these Indians, while I had been
trying for that length of time to find an opportunity
to go.

On receiving the circular, referring to a mission to
the Pima Indians — I read it wit'i the deepest interest
and felt like saying the Lord bless our sisters in their
noble work and may none of us grow weary in well-
doing, knowing that the promise is sure. " In due
time ye shall reap, if ye faint not."

Twenty-five years after the interview be-
tween General Alexander and the Chief of the
Pimas, Antonio Azul, [to which reference has
been made,] and to whom the general gave

32 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

his promise that teachers should be sent to

his people, Mr, Cook received a visit from

the now aged chief, of which he writes as

follows :

Sacaton, Ariz., March 29, 1893.

Antonio Azul, (or '' Koe Wadthk," Chief of the
Pimas and Maricopas,) has just paid me a visit. He is
probably about seventy-five years of age. He still
works his own farm, with some grandchildren assisting
him. Among other things, I asked him " if he remem-
bered an army officer by the name of General Alex-
ander ?"* This question seemed to have a wonderful
effect upon him and at once seemed to bring before him
vividly, the scenes of the past. He gave me quite a
piece of history, of those early days in Arizona. Among
other things, he told me something like this : I remem-
ber the general very well ; I remember his long beard ;
he was a very, very good man. (Se, se, aw-aw-tam). I
was with him on two campaigns in the mountain region,
back of Fort McDowell. In the first scout, after trav-
eling mostly nights, over very difficult trails and steep
mountains and mountain sides. We came upon a camp
of Apaches, engaged in a drunken feast. The Apache
lookout saw us, but not in time to prevent our attack
upon them, which resulted in the loss to them of nine
of their number, including their chief warrior.

In our second expedition we were also successful and
the Apaches lost seven of their band, besides some
who were taken prisoners. I captured a bright looking
boy, some twelve years of age.

The general then requested me to take good care of

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 33

the captive ; not to sell him into slavery in Sonora,
Mexico, but to treat him as one of the family, to teach
him to work and how to earn a living without stealing
and murdering people as the Apaches were doing ; and
above all to see to it that none of the Pimas would harm
him. I promised the general I would do so.

Some time after this, a large herd of Texas cattle
passed through our country on the way to California.
Many of our people, being hungry, stole some fifty
head of them.

General Alexander, with a small company of cavalr}'',
came here to look into this matter. Kiho Chimkum,
one of our war-chiefs, in a council, advised the Indians
that as they were unable to pay for the cattle, they had
better arm at once, and fight the N. Y. troops.

He soon had some three hundred warriors ready,
armed and painted for war, with the thirty or forty sol-
diers of the general. After a few days of delay and
plenty of good advice from the general, who told them
that the U. S. Government only sought the welfare of
the Indians, and not their destruction and my telling
them the same, our people were persuaded to desist.

Those of us who had been with General Alexander,
fully believed that whatever he would advise us, would
be for our good. After this, all our people thought even
more of the general, than before, and as his name was
rather difficult for most of us to remember and to pro-
nounce, we called him Chue-wa-oespo (long beard).

Antonio gave me a detailed account of all the inci-
dents in the war with the Apaches. He, as well as
many others of his tribe, has lost many relatives, killed

34 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

by them. I need not remind you of the influence for
g^ood or evil, military men, as well as civil officers and
employes of government often exert upon the Indians,
a matter too often lost sight of. When I kept school
here, Antonio, who kept his promise concerning the
captive, sent him here to attend school. Louista, the
Apache, was one of my best scholars ; a very faithful
worker and perfectly honest and reliable. He mar-
ried a Pima girl and lived happily with her and it was
a great grief to him, as well as to his young wife,
when her father took her away from Louista and gave
her to a wicked trader for pay. Louista, for a long
time, felt very badly about this, as also did his young
wife, and after General Howard's treaty of peace
between the Apaches and Pimas, he went to the San
Carlos Reservation where he married an Apache
woman. His children are now attending a government
school and Antonio told me, that Louista, his former
slave, has since his going to the San Carlos Reserva-
tion, prevented by his wise counsel, an outbreak of
the San Carlos Apaches.

I once had hopes of seeing Louista become a mission-
ary to his people. Perhaps, in his present relations to
his tribe, he may be to them now, a true missionary, a
messenger of peace and a promoter of "good-will to
men." He has doubtless accomplished for the welfare
of his people far more than we are now aware of, and
all with the blessing of God, through the few kind
words spoken in his behalf, by General Alexander.
Respectfully,

CHARLES H. COOK.

ffl z

O <

-erf CC

2 W
c

E-i

CHAPTER II.

Mrs. Cook's Missionary Life.

Mrs. Chas. H. Cook was born at Berlin,
Germany, June, 1854. Her maiden name was
Anna M. Bath. Her mother was a faithful
and sincere christian. She had been disin-
herited for marrying a Protestant, as she was
brought up in the Roman Catholic church.
The parents of Miss Bath, desirous of giving
her a good education, sent her to the Ursuline
Convent, one of the best schools in Berlin.
Here she studied the common German
branches and the French and English lan-
guages. She also learned to do all kinds of
needle and fancy work.

After emigrating to America, the family,
except the mother, united with the German
M. E. Church, in Chicago, 111. In July, 1872,
Miss Bath became my wife and since that
time, with the exception of three visits to her
parents, her home Was with the Pima Indians
of Arizona.

In those early days, travel out here was
very expensive, and often tiresome. We took
a train from Chicago to San Francisco, thence

36 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

by Steamer via Gulf of California to the
mouth of the Colorado river, and from there
by a river-boat to Yuma. From Yuma we
had to travel by stage 180 miles, which took
fully two days and nights. On our first trip
we had a delightful time until we reached
Yuma. On our first night out, we were over-
taken by a terrible thunder storm, during
which we reached a small way-station near
midnight. Here we found a number of Mex-
icans, drmking, gambling and quarreling.
At one of these stations, a short time previous,
the Mexicans had killed a man, his wife and
two children, and had taken the stage-horses
and other valuables to Sonora, Mexico. After
the storm had passed, fresh horses were put
on, and we were thankful to be on the road
again. We reached the agency, as may be
supposed, tired and sleepy. Mrs. Stout, the
agent's wife, had arrived a year before and
thus we had two white ladies for several years
at this place. At that time there were prob-
ably not more than fifty or sixty white ladies
in the whole country, even including the
wives of army officers.

During the first year, Mrs. Cook was em-
ployed by the government as assistant teacher.

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 37

Previously, most, if not all of the sewing and
weaving- had been done by men. Being an
expert in dress-making, &:c., it was not long
before she had more than thirty school girls
busy at work with the needle. Hencefor-
ward, for about eight years, most of the dress-
cutting and much of the sewing, for young
and old, was done by Mrs. Cook. After the
first year, however, having the care of a fam-
ily, she would receive no more salary, though
she often worked hard, to help in school and
other work.

Besides being a loving and faithful wife
and devoted mother, she possessed many qual-
ities that fitted her for her position. There
was no such thing as cowardice in her nature.

While visiting our relatives one summer,
the agent neglected to send our check when
due. The little one, our first-born also not
being well, we concluded that it was best for
her to remain with her parents and try to
meet me at Yuma about Christmas. All
went well with her in the sleeping-car and at
sea, she was never troubled with sea-sickness.
When I came to Yuma, the steamer did not
arrive on time. After weary days of anxious
waiting, we received news that the steamer

38 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

was lost, but the passengers were safe After
waiting nearly four weeks, during which time
I had ample opportunity to preach the gospel ,
in Yuma, and at the Military Post, one even-
ing, the river-boat arrived, to our great joy,
bringing the passengers safely. The long
sea-voyage and delay in the harbor of La Paz
had greatly benefited the health of my wife
and baby, for which we had been praying.
One of the passengers on board, a good old
Irish lady, greatly enjoyed telling me the next
morning of the disaster at sea. The captain
had kindly given my wife and a few others,
each a state room on deck. Nearing La Paz
late one evening, the steamer had struck a
rock, which had caused a leak. The captain
told my wife that there was nothing serious,
so she retired and slept quietly until morning.
The cabin passengers below, had sat up all
night with life-preservers on ; men, women
and children, for eight long hours, awaiting
the summons to get into the boats. At
LaPaz, the leak was stopped, but the next
incoming steamer brought the passengers to
the river.

At another time, when earning our bread
by trading for a Mr. Hayden — a gentleman

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 39

well known in Arizona, and who paid us well
for our services — for two years we lived in a
very lonely, deserted place, about ten miles
from the agency. Here we slept under a
tent. A large number of coyotes (prairie
wolves) sounded the reveille at day break or
gave us a nocturnal concert. 7\fter opening
the store, a large number of Indians, well
armed, threatened to tie me to a tree and use
me as a target for the wild young Indians, if
I would not, within twenty four hours, con-
cede to some of their unreasonable demands.
Their object was to frighten us and make us
leave. But we stood our ground, without
even a revolver, trusting in the Lord. After
a few more threats, the next day, they kindly
informed me that I might preach to them,
but should not trade. I replied that I would
comply with their request if they would pay
us enough so that we could live. This put a
new phase on the subject, and soon after, we
were kept busy fron day-break until after
dark, taking in often from 30,000 to 45»ooo
pounds of wheat, daily. Shortly after this,
the Indians came on Sundays and asked me
to preach to them. Courage inspired confi-
dence. Mrs. Cook never manifested fear,

40 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

but was cheerful and happy. But we can
sympathize with the wives of many of our
home missionaries far away from relatives
and church privileges in their isolated desert
or mountain homes, and with many unmarried
women, our Presbyterian sisters,at work teach-
ing Mexicans or Mormons, in these western
wilds.

A German brother and sister, who have
nobly raised a large family of boys and girls,
offered to take care of my children. One of
my girls has since that time voluntarily made
her home with them in Iowa, and enjoys it
exceedingly.

During the first nine years of our married
life, we drew no salary from any missionary
society. All our wants were supplied and
sometimes we had abundance. By close
economy, we saved f 800, which we invested
in land in Iowa, while it was cheap. It is now
near a town and railroad, and this, with a few
more buildings, will make a home for the
children.

Twice, we were driven away from here by
wicked agents, but they could not drive away
Mrs. Cooks' courage ; which, at such times,
was a great reliance to me.

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 4I

We often had no physician within many
miles. At one time, hundreds of Indians had
the small-pox. An old Papago squaw, full of
it, seeing our door open, came into my wife's
room and asked her for a dress. She gave it,
but bade her not enter again until she had
fully recovered.

In housekeeping here, in those early days,
we encountered two serious difficulties. We
could send to New York or Chicago for dry
goods and clothing and have them sent by
mail or express ; not so with groceries.

Our first cooking-stove, a No. 7, cost $86.
Sugar was 50 cts. per lb.; canned goods, 75
cts. to $1 ; coffee, 75 cts.; potatoes from 10
to 20 cts. per lb.; flour, 7 to 12 cts.; butter,
$1 to $1.25 per lb., etc. And the keeping of
one horse cost me nearly $100 a year. We
kept a few fowls, but gardening was useless,
from lack of water. We now have the rail-
road within fifteen miles, and the country is
settling up in some places and prices though
still high, are not exorbitant.

Another serious difficulty that we encoun-
tered was poor shelter, especially in rainy
weather.

I will enclose an article from the pen of

42 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

Mrs. A. M. Darley, who with her husband has
been long at work in Colorado, at present in
Pueblo, where they publish the Brotherhood^
in Spanish and English, occasionally. Their
experience matched ours exactly.

Before the railroad came, the freight on
lumber was 15 cts. a pound ! Nearly all the
houses in New Mexico and Arizona were then
built with adobes — mud walls, roof and floor-
The roof was covered with brush and a layer
of horse manure, mud and ashes. Several
times we had to put up tents inside the rooms
to keep the water off the furniture and beds.
While trading, we built a large house in the
above manner. A brother, Mr. Irving of the
M. E. Church, south at Phoenix, whom I had
met once at a camp meeting, very kindly sent
me $125, and a Bro. Baldwin of Middletown,
Conn., sent money and very encouraging let-
ters. I have never seen him, but hope to
meet him in heaven.

It was our aim then, to make this mission
self-supporting.

Dr. Sheldon Jackson, who had once before
passed this way exploring in the interest of
home missions called and paid us a visit.
Mrs. Jackson, at this time accompanied him.

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 43

This good sister afterwards liad a long ride
on an engine, instead of the sleeping car and
when, crossing the Rio Grande, there was
danger that all would go down in the flood,
some brave Pima and Papago boys jumped
into the river and carried her safely over.
Dr. Jackson saw how I had to work six days
in the week and could not do the necessary
work on Sunday, and suggested the need of a
better dwelling ; but the railroad was not yet
near enough to bring lumber at prices within
reach, so as we had ample room and did not
wish to burden the church board with the
expense of a shmgle roof, it was postponed.

But alas ! here was our mistake, for it cost
me the loss of my dear wife ! Some years
later we had a long rainy spell and one of
our boys, about eight years old, who had not
seen a sick day from the time he was born,
sickened and died. He trusted in the Saviour,
whom he had learned to love and obey. Two
daughters and myself were also sick, but
recovered.

In May, 1889, the new Presbytery of Ari-
zona very kindly elected me as commissioner
to the general assembly in New York city. I
requested my wife to go with me to Iowa,

44 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

and I would come for her and the children
later, feeling assured that she needed rest.
But our good mother had quietly fallen
asleep without any previous illness, in her 7 2d
year, some time before. On this account,
my wife said she would not feel at home in
Iowa without me, and would rather wait
another year. Her parents and brother had
removed from Chicago to Iowa in 1878. In
the early winter of 1889, we had a long spell
of rainy weather and the house leaked badly.
As a result two of our children were sick, but
recovered. My wife became sick, but did
not seem very ill. I had bought a sewing
machine and brought it home, and she
remarked that it ought to be a means of help-
ing her over her sickness. But the rain
increased and so did her fever. The agency
physician treated her disease, but for six days
she ate nothing. The fever then left her,
her appetite returned, but her strength rap-
idly failed, and late in the evening of Decem-
ber 18, 1889, she breathed her last, leaving a
husband and seven children to mourn her
loss. The baby had been weaned about a
month before her departure. She thus laid
down her work when it seemed to us and to

TtiE PIMA Indian mission. 45

the Indians, who loved and respected her,
that she was most needed.

Our eldest daughter, then but little over
fourteen years of age has since that time
done her best to fill the place made vacant by
her mother's death.

We have now, thanks to our Home Board
and a gift from Gen. Townsend, a good par-
sonage and we hope the time will soon come
when all our home missionaries and workers
in the vineyard of the Lord, in this vast west-
ern country, will have a good roof on their
dwellings."

In the experience of our devoted mission-
aries we have been reminded of the " Mis-
sionary Poem," which deeply affected our
hearts, when sent to us by a friend interested
in the cause of missions and who sympathized
in the trials and sorrows of the missionary's
wife.

" ' Mine own !' he said and clasped her hand

Her faithful hand within his own,
' I cannot bear this weary land

This labor all in vain. * * * *

Come, we'll return ; the hind refrains to sow

Where nothing springs to reap ;

We will return to blither plains

Of corn and trees and sheep :

46 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

For mine own fatherland I sigh,

If but to breathe its air and die.'

So, while he mourned — a sudden change

Crimsoned her cheek and fired her eye ;

In boldness, to herself most strange

Spoke out in her reply :

' Cheer thee, my faithful ! Keep thy trust

In one above, the just — the wise ;

Who, though He knows us, frail as dust,

Our faith and courage tries.

Our friends are far — but God is near,

Aye, to this land of gloom and fear !

I too, have wrestled with despair

And weeping, yearned to live and die

Within some christian dwelling fair

Of my sweet Germany !

But it hath passed and I am strong ;

The Lord, who sent us here to toil

Can biiild the shrine and wake the song

On this unthankful soil ;

And bow the heathen heart of stone

To worship at His lofty throne.'
* ******

She spoke with such a beaming eye,

And such a mild benignant brow,

As angels, coming from on high

To comfort earth below.

Her sweet words fell like heavenly dew,

Upon the pastor's heart of care.

And side by side, to God anew.

They bowed themselves in prayer :

More sweet to see

Were none that night in Germany.''

A Pima Village.

CHAPTER III.

Mr. Cook's Account of the Visit He Received
FROM Rev. Sheldon Jackson, D. D,

It was in the seventies when we first had
the pleasure of meeting Rev. Sheldon Jack-
son, D. D. He was making the rounds of
his great parish, bounded at that time, I be-
lieve, by Nebraska, Kansas and the Indian
Territory on the east, and California on the
west. And what a great parish that was ;
greater in extent and in many places, no doubt, "^

more difficult to travel through than the old
parish of Brother Paul.

Here were the oldest settlers in the United
States, speaking many different languages,
some of them hard to be understood. Some
of these tribes made travel through their
countries anything but safe.

Here were also the Mexicans and Mormons,
miners and prospectors and a grand army from
the east, marching as it were, ahead of the
advancing railroads, to occupy the great
Rocky Mountain region.

Here not far from the great Pike's Peak,
our brother with his wife and children, set

48 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

up the banner of the cross. From thence
they sent forth the Rocky Mountain Presby-
terian^ and often while the good sister held
the fort at home, the brother was absent,
exploring the country and preaching the gos-
pel. Not in a Pullman palace car, however,
but mostly in some frontier stage-coach or on
horse-back, or on foot over mountains and
valleys, or through deserts, or the snows of
the rookies, or in the burning sands of some
desert.

It was on one such journey that the brother
stopped at a little stage station a mile east of
the Pima Agency.

After resting a little he paid us a visit, which
resulted in a friendly chat on Indian matters
and a prayer-meeting Never shall I forget
that visit ; it reminded me of a General visit-
ing the soldier on picket, and encouraging
him in the faithful discharge of his duty.

Some time after, Dr. Jackson when in New
York, urged the brethren of the M. E. Mis-
sionary Society to establish a mission among
the Pima and Papago Indians of Arizona.
Finding that the M. E. Church was not pre-
pared and unable to occupy this field, he con-
cluded that the Presbyterian Church ought
to do something for these 8,000 Indians,

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 49

In the winter of 1880-1881, Dr. Jackson
again visited this field in company with Mrs.
Jackson. The good sister stayed here while
the brother explored the surrounding region.
We were at that time trading for the Hon.
C. T. Hayden of Tempe, Arizona, who paid
us a good salary ; but we were only able to
give our Sundays to the preaching of the gos-
pel to the Indians.

We requested Dr. Jackson to send us a
good young missionary, one willing to devote
his life to the work.

On the other hand, the brother having pre-
viously informed himself as to our standing
in the M. E. Church and as to our orthodoxy,
felt persuaded that it was our duty to join
his church and so become their missionary
for these Indians.

We felt a little loth to part company with
very many M. E. Church brethren whom we
loved and highly esteemed ; we also remem-
bered that we owed our conversion under
God to good Dr. Shaw, a Presbyterian, and
believing it to be the Lord's will, we con-
cluded to brave any criticism or odium which
such change might produce.

50 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION,

We found a warm welcome in the Presby-
terian Church, which in reality had been the
church of our first choice.

We hope, and have good reason to believe,
that if Dr. Jackson will pay us a third visit,
he will find the Pima Presbyterian Church
the strongest church numerically, at least, in
Arizona.

There have been and still are many great
and good men at work in this great Rocky
Mountain region, but we sincerely believe that
Dr. Jackson has done more for the Whites,
Mexicans, Mormons and Indians, than any
other man.

The GiAiNT Cactus op Arizona.

CHAPTER IV.

The Pima Indians, their Manners and Customs,
BY Rev. Isaac T. Whittemore.

Many years ago, tradition gives it 350, the
Pimas, Papagoes, Qua-liadtks, Jofe-qua-atams
(Rabbit-eaters) and other branches, all des-
ignated by the common Indian name, Aw-aw-
tam, came here from the east, driving away
the inhabitants, supposed to have been the
Zunis' or Moquis', and took possession of
the country. The Pimas then were very
numerous and occupied all the country, in-
cluding the present Sacaton reservation and
the Salt river valley, where Phoenix, the capi-
tal, temple and other places are now. For
some reason, a part of the tribe, since called
Towana-aw-aw-tem (Papagoes) settled on the
desert of southwestern Arizona ; only the
Pima's remained in the Gila valley.

The Papagoes hunted the mountain sheep
and deer, and lived where they could raise
crops when the spring or summer rains were
difficult for that purpose.

Why they left is unknown, probably be-
cause a branch of the Apaches who were

52 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

war-like, lived just across the Gila, on the
north. Only the Pimas remain in the Gila
valley. A little over loo years ago, nearly
all the Pima Indians, numbering about 4,000,
resided within a radius of about seven miles
of what is now called Casa-Blanca, (white
house), twenty five miles west of the Ruin of
Casa-Grande, in seven villages, or eleven
miles west of the agency. Here they raised
cotton, corn, melons and pumpkins and a
small round seed which they ground and
boiled as mush.

Their mill was a stone twenty inches long,
one foot wide, hollowed out a little, and an
upper stone, ten or twelve inches long, weigh-
ing fifteen or twenty pounds. The squaws
did all the grinding by rubbing the upper
stone on the seed in the hollow of " the
nether mill-stone." The cotton was raised
by the Pimas, spun and woven into cloth of
various widths, and also into rude blankets.
This cloth, aside from what they wore, was
their "stock in trade," with the Colorado
Indians, 200 miles west, and afterwards with
the Mexicans, on the south. It was usually
spun and woven by certain men of the tribe.
As they had small canals for inig ation, their

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 53

fields were small, averaging not more than an
acre, or one and a half to the family. They
were still under the shadow of the " stone
age." They had neither horses nor cattle,
nor any implements of iron. Their tools
were simply stone axes, and a few articles of
wood, dressed by those axes and the fire.
From the Mexicans, afterwards, they traded
their cloth for axes, adzes, and a small brush-
hook, which they used instead of a spade.
These were all made in the most primitive
manner, and contained little, or no steel.

They had no pails or vessels of wood, but
were not slow to invent. They therefore took
willows, which grow in abundance along the
river, and a weed, and stripped the bark, then
very adroitly split these with their teeth, and
wove these so closely together as to hold
water. This they accomplished by means of
needles or thorns of the cactus, of which
there are over one hundred varieties in this
territory.

They used these baskets while digging
small ditches, the women filling them with
earth and carrying them up the bank. The
grain, or seed, was planted in rows ; a hole
was made in the ground with a stick, and

54 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

covered with the foot, just as did the Egyp-
tians many thousand years ago.

The principal article of food, was the bean
of the mesquite, which still grows abundantly
all over the desert. They grow in a pod,
somewhat like the ''carob," the husks, out of
which the prodigal son tried so hard, but in
vain, to get a little nourishment. The day
that ushered in the gathering of these beans
was a happy event.

Large parties started out leaving the aged
and the little ones at home, taking with them
large jars made of clay, or gourds, filled with
water,the women carrying them on their heads.

These " Kihos " they fill with the beans,
which they gather, storing it here and there,
and covering with thorn-brush in such a way
that the prairie-wolves or coyotes could not
steal it until they could bring it home as
needed. These beans were not ground but
pounded^ in a mortar made from a piece of
mesquite tree, which is very hard by burnmg
a hole in it and then inserting it in the ground.
The stone pestle was i6 or i8 inches long, and
weighed often 20 pounds. With this the
women crushed the beans very fine, then sep-
arated the seeds, which are indigestible ; and

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 55

from the remaining pulp, they made large
cakes, containing saccharine matter that re-
mained sweet a year. They boiled them and
with the syrup, made a dumpling. Another
article of food was the fruit of the " Suhuarro,"
or giant cactus. It grows plentifully, still, in
patches on the desert and far up on the moun-
tains, attaining a height of 20 to 30 or more
feet The fruit grows on the top and is gath-
ered dexterously by the Indians with poles —
a small hook of wood fastened on the head, to
bring it to the ground. Part of this fruit they
ate when ripe, and the rest they dried in the
sun, or boiled down to a jam, and stored away
in small earthen jars hermetically sealed, a
foot or two under ground— except a certain
quantity, which, alas ! they mixed with water
and allowed to ferment, and boiled until its
intoxicating qualities were seen in a general
intoxication.

All contributed and brought it to the chief
or medicine men, when an orgie on a large
scale, was inaugurated. All dressed in their
best, the women sitting or standing on the top
of their huts, from ten to twenty huddled
together for safety, and the feast is kept up
until universal intoxication ensues ; and one
or more are often killed.

56 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

Of such feasts they generally had several
each year, except occasionally when the cac-
tus fruit failed.

Rabbits were hunted with bows and arrows.
Caterpillars, which some years in the spring
are plentiful, were also gathered in large
quantities. They were thrown into boiling
water, soon taken out, salted a little and eaten.

Formerly, there were some deer and moun-
tain sheep in this vicinity, but the latter are
nearly extinct, and in hunting them there was
danger of trespassing on the hunting-grounds
of the war like Apaches.

Fish were caught in the Gila with the hand,
then a stick was driven through their gills
and bodies. The sticks were then set in the
ground around a small fire, and thus nicely
roasted, were eaten on the spot.

Often, the Indians were very hungry, espe-
cially in the spring, and they were then glad
to get one meal a day.

The huts of the Pimas were made by using
four stout posts, 7 long, of mesquite, forked
and set two feet in the ground. On these were
laid two principal rafters, round and across
these, eight or ten smaller. Over these, like
an inverted basket, the tops fastened and

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 57

bent to fit, were long poles, brushy top, the
buts outside and stuck in the ground, and the
whole overlaid with a layer of clay. Such a
roof sheds water and is so strong that twenty
persons could stand on it in safety, in a dry
season. These huts were mostly circular out-
side, and from eighteen to twenty feet in
diameter, and capable of containing eight
persons. No ventilation at top, but furnished
by a doorway in the east usually, about two
feet wide and two feet eight inches high.
The air draws in toward the center, where
the fire was made on the ground. The smoke
arose and was drawn out by the heated cur-
rent, at the top of the entrance. The huts
were, as I have said, merely sleeping- places.
They lived in them only in stormy weather,
for they were but five feet high inside, so
they could not stand erect. These huts lasted
many years, but if a member of the family
died, the hut was burned.

Previous to 1878, all the Pimas lived in
winter, or during cold weather, in what they
called Keahim or villages of from one hun-
dred to six hundred people ; and these huts
were called Kih's (pronounced key.) They
resembled an old-style bee-hive or bake-oven.

58 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

Some of them were much larger than those
already described and elliptical in form and
used as a council house.

Mr. Cook says he has preached in the
smaller ones. " How did you standi " I
sat,'' he replied, " and when the smoke was
too dense, turned my head ! "

Usually, however, he sat outside — except
when in the summer, the mercury arose to
120 degrees fahrenheit — with a shade of
brush, with his Indian congregation sitting on
the ground in a circle.

They listened patiently as he preached in
their native tongue, in which he speaks, thinks,
and writes, more naturally now, than in his
own native German or English.

In the winter, in the center of each hut, a
fire was built and kept burning all night, one
member of the family occasionally stirring
and renewing wood, as necessary.

They slept on mats which they made, and
their covering was a blanket, and so warm
were the huts and the winter so mild, that
nothing was needed to keep them comfortable.
All the furniture consisted of mats, ollas,
(earthen jars) and a few earthen dishes ; the
former holding two or three pails of water

THE PlMA INDIAN MISSION. 59

and a few gourds. Many of the huts were
kept so neatly as to astonish one.

The Pimas had one principal chief with one
or more sub chiefs, to each village. These
were chosen usually for their bravery in war
and influence at home and were their leaders
in wars and settled disputes in villages and
families. At present, they have but little
authority. Some of the old warriors are badly
scarred from encounters with the Apaches,
and these are much respected by the young,
who listen in the village council house to their
winter evening tales of former exploits

Antonio Azul, the present head chief, as
well as his father before him, was a great
warrior and both were always friends of the
white man and progressive in their views.

Many years ago, when some of the evil
disposed urged war with the whites, these
chiefs took a firm stand against such folly.
The others knew but little of the strength,
prowess and resources of the whites and
Mexicans ; but concluded, however, that they
had had enough to do with the Apaches,
without embroiling themselves in wars with
either Mexicans or whites ; thus, consider-
ing " discretion the better part of valor."

6o THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

They bury their dead in a sitting posture,
six feet below ground, as do so many Indian
tribes.

Mr. Cook says, " Not very long ago, the
cattle and horses, belonging to a deceased
person, if a husband, were killed and eaten
by the mourners and neighbors, except such
as were given by him to the heirs in the fam-
ily, and other possessions, including even
wheat and other food were burned with the
house.

The bereaved relatives consequently had
nothing left at times, on which to live, until
next harvest, unless friends came to their relief.

Mourning for a child and relatives of distant
consanguinity usually lasted a month. If a
child died early in the morning or late in the
evening, the mourners went a little distance
from the Village and you could hear their
plaintive cry, My child ! oh ! my child !

If a husband, or wife died, mourning lasted
six months or a year. After this the name of
the departed ones must never be mentioned,
and everything relating to them, appear for-
gotten. The women wore sack-cloth as did
the Jews for the memory of the departed."

" The only thing " says the missionary, ''that

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 6 1

I have found, showing the least conception of
their belief in a future existence, was that the
mother prepared food and scattered it to the
winds, with some evident hope that the depart-
ed might thereby find something to eat."
He says farther and what seems strange and
incongruous, " I once saw a party of Indians
going to a funeral as joyful as if going to a
dance. On inquiring where they were going,
they replied to a 'funeral to eat beef."

At the time of which we are writing, these
natives wore only a breech-cloth around the
loins, except the girls, who wore an apron.
In winter, the men had a long shirt, similar
to the Chinese blouse. Women over twelve
years added a chemise or skirt tied around
the waist. Unlike the Indians in the cold
north, in the days when buffaloes roamed in
vast herds and who clothed themselves in
warm robes, these needed very little cover-
ing in winter, and like all heathen, were
indifferent to the exposure of their person.

Their shoes were simply buckskin. They
usually went barefoot, except when travelling.
The men wore their hair longer than the
women, dressing it with mud and gum made
/rom the mesquite tree. They wore this dur-

62 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

ing the night and washed it off in the morn-
ing. The women wore their hair cut short
over their eyebrows in a "bang." The hair
dressing just named, gave the hair a black
and glossy appearance, and it was also a good
dye.

If one is sick, he sends for the medicine
man, often to a distant village. He comes
with great pomp, long eagle feathers, and rat-
tle in hand, of which he makes good use. If
he is on horseback, which is usually the case,
his horse is taken as he dismounts, and as
soon as possible his appetite is appeased, and
he goes at his work with the patient. A
paper of the indispensable tobacco is fur-
nished. He has no pills nor powders, no cal-
omel or morphine, not even a saddlebag.
He spends the night smoking his cigarettes
blowing the whiffs in the face of his patient,
sings weird songs, rattling and fanning to
blow away the devils that caused the sickness.

For certain pains, the patient was scarified
with broken glass or sharp stones. An
instance of this kind is as follows : A woman
had sprained her ankle. She then washed it,
sat down, broke several pieces from a glass
bottle and cut the flesh till the blood ran in
:many places and then went about her business.

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 6;^

Another case was that of a girl, who was
taken sick while attending a school. She was
taken to Maricopa to a doctor and died the
next day. It was ascertained afterwards that
these Maricopa doctors, (sorcerers) when it
was the wish of the relatives, or when recovery-
was doubtful, took a club and killed the
patient.

Rabbit-hunting was formerly one of their
modes of killing the witch that caused the
sickness which was supposed to reside in a
certain rabbit.

On learning that Missionary Cook taught
differently and damaged their reputation for
destroying the witches, they retaliated by
arranging to have the hunt many times on
Sunday, and thus draw largely from his con-
gregation. Ever since the missionary began
work here, these medicine men have been an
annoyance and hindrance to his work, but
they have invariably turned out badly.

There is but little doubt that if all the
facts could be known, many of the murders
of whites by the Apaches, and other tribes
and wars and depredations in this territory,
could be traced to the instigation of these
medicine men. They are one of the most

64 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

dangerous elements with which government,
especially the Indian department, has to con-
tend. They are ambitious, artful, and unscru-
pulous, and in this vicinity have done more to
destroy the efforts of Indian agents to im-
prove the condition of the Indian, both in
school-work and their moral elevation, than
all other undermining and checking influences
combined. Nearly all are low, vulgar, licen-
tious, and dishonest, and spare no pains to
keep the tribe from every good and honorable
work. The Indians crave excitement and
amusement. Since the hunt and chase are
things of the past, a substitute of some kind
is required.

One of the amusements of the women, was
that of tossing balls. They had two small
ones covered with buckskin, and tied about
six inches apart. Young women and married
from thirty to seventy-five in a group, assem-
bled dressed as for a ball, their hair carefully
manipulated so as to be black and glossy.
Each had a stick of willow, six feet long.
With these they dexterously tossed the balls
high in the air, running after them until one
party was so weary that they gave up the
game from mere exhaustion.

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 65

In. order to make the excitement a success,
they had certain active women, keen of wit,
and quick of action, practice weeks in advance.
This muscular play, in addition to other work,
developed strong muscular action and healthy
bodies, gave the women a better constitution
than the men ; the latter, sometimes dying
from debility, and consumption.

The men were addicted to gambling.
From two to eight sat on the ground from
half a day to a whole day at the game. They
had a flat stone about four inches in diameter
and four flat pieces of wood, eight inches long
and one wide. With this stone in one hand
and four sticks held together, each of which
had certain marks on two surfaces, no two
alike, they hit the sticks with the stone, knock-
ing high in air, and as they fell into the cen-
tre of the circle around which they sat, the
marks were counted, and scored and credit
given to the winning side. of each game. The
party that lost gave so many little sticks to
the winning side. The stakes were valuable,
worth from one dollar to fifty ; sometimes a
horse or pony, a steer or cow.

Foot races were of common occurrence.
Sometimes between two villages, or a num-

66 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

ber. The grounds were prepared, every
obstruction removed for a space i,ooo yards
long, and a rod in width. The goal was
distinctly marked at each end. The racers
having practiced long, met at the ground,
denuded, except a cloth around the loins.
Wives or sweethearts, fathers and mothers
assembled in crowds to witness the race, on
both sides of the track. One party in a
village is marked by a blue, another from a
near village by a red ribbon. The racer has
his insignia to denote to which party he
belongs. The day arrives. Part of the blues
are on one side of the track, part on the
other, and so of the reds. The crowd on
both sides is great. Horses, cows, cattle, as
prizes, are on the ground near by. Betting
runs high hours before the race. When all
are ready, two men, a red and a blue, with
toe on the mark, stand ready for the signal
to start. Cool, yet, determined, stand the con-
testants. As the word is given, two, a red
and a blue, dash forward. The instant one
touches the mark at the opposite end, another
of his party starts back. If the one who
started with him is behind, the man of his party
must wait till he touches the line. If his

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 67

party continues to lag and cannot gain what
is lost, the other side eventually wins. But
this may continue for hours before the victory
is won.

During all the time the villagers on both
sides of the track were divided, so that half
the blues were on one side and half on the
other, and vice versa of the reds, the parties
shouting and halloing, men on horseback
and women as much excited as the men.
When the die is cast the winners take their
prizes and leave for home. Sometimes a race
was run between two persons, champions,
from three to five miles, and the amount
staked reached $500 worth of livestock and
dry goods. In these races, men and women
who had large stakes, as their favorite racer
lagged, ran after him, hooting and prodding
with a sharp stick, so intense was the excite-
ment.

There was one advantage which these
Indians had over horse racers of this day.
Although the excitement was great and
betting strong, and the gambling dissipating
to morals, there was so far as we know, no
drinking.

68 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

The word Aw-op, meaning Apache, was
often used by the Pima mother, to still the
crying of her little one.

The old warriors here, who can show the
scars of many a wound received in fights, will
soon be no more.

Many years ago there was but little for
which to fight, except the hunting grounds
and a few slaves. But since the Pimas have
become raisers of horses and cattle, war with
these Apaches is no longer an object. The
Apaches had the advantage over the Pimas
having a very large country to roam over, as
some of our military officers well know.

They had many hiding places and natural
fortifications, where a handful of Apaches
could easily defy such fighters as Gen. Crook
and his brave oflticers and soldiers.

Some of our frontiersmen have regarded
the Apaches as cowards, perhaps because
they would not fight when the odds were
against them. The Pimas, however, did not
so estirnate them, nor did the Apaches con-
sider the Pimas cowards.

To mention all the battles and hand to
hand fights of these tribes within the past
sixty years, would fill volumes. Be content
with a few.

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 69

Once the Pimas, being hungry, went to the
San Pedro to hunt deer. They took their
wives with them and a few ponies. They
left the women in camp in ihe morning and
on their return in the evening, all had been
taken captive by the Apaches.

At another time, a number of Maricopa
Indians, on their way to Tucson, were sur-
prised by a party of Apaches, two miles south
of the Sacaton Agency and every one was
killed. The little hill where the battle was
fought, is still called by the Indians, Aw-aw
pap-ha-koita or Maricopa slaughter.

About seven miles from the agency, near
the Temple road, they had a great battle,
about thirty years ago, where many on both
sides were killed. '' Old Ursutch," who died
seven years since, was surprised by a
band of Apaches, nearly six miles from
home. He kept them at bay until his wife
and children were safe, meantime receiving
three severe wounds. Usually, the Apaches
provoked the wars, either by robbery, or
murdering the Pimas. Whereupon councils
were held by the Pimas and a time fixed for
a campaign. All the war-chiefs and warriors
then got ready, with feathers in their hair,

yO THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

faces and hair painted, war clubs and shields
or bows and arrows and sometimes lances,
and some food. They then met in a village
and there danced as many evenings as they
expected to be absent.

While the young sang and danced, the war-
prophets sat near and prophesied in regard to
what their success should be, like the *' Oracle
of Delphi."

Having learned that it was not the custom
of the Apaches to fight at night, a new system
of tactics was inaugurated by the Pimas.
Taking Apache captives for guides they man-
aged to reach their villages at night, stealthily
approached them and beat them with clubs,
and usually killed them before they had time
to rub their eyes open. Such raids were some-
times very disastrous, at other times success-
ful, as they brought home captives, and if no
Pimas had been killed they had a glorious
dance, in which nearly the whole tribe joined.
The dancing being mostl)'' side-jumps by sev-
eral thousand who joined hands, made the
earth tremble for quite a distance. After the
festivities were over, most of the captives were
taken to the Papagoes, or to Sonora in Mexico,

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 71

and there sold as slaves, at a price ranging
from sixty to one hundred dollars, in goods
and livestock. Then those who had killed
an enemy, had to remain outside the camp for
a month, their food being brought to them.
At the end of a month or moon, the process
of cleansing was performed, and the braves
were then allowed to mingle again with the
people.

In this connection we may mention the war-
drill. From the age of two years, up to old
age, the males carried bows, and arrows.
Some of the experts occasionally gave a drill
in the practice of club and shield. Much
depended on fleetness of foot. Some young
women could travel from forty to fifty miles
in sixteen hours, and there were warriors who
ran twenty miles, keeping a horse on a canter,
following them.

Some imitated the Apaches in their system
of telegraphing from the top of steep hills or
mountains, by smoke in the day or fire at
night ; although in this the Pimas could not
compete with their neighbors, whose system
was so perfect for communicating great dis-
tances, even from sixty to one hundred miles,
which is well known to our army officers who

72 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

fought them. The Pimas, however, were
fully their equal in "trailing." He could
even distinguish the prints of feet in the
sand, of those of his village, and friends, so
as to tell you who had passed before him,
and the print of his horse's hoofs from those
of any other horse.

Sham battles were also frequently given,
some of the Pimas representing the Apaches
so well,, that if a white man had passed he
would undoubtedly have been deceived by
them. After the battle had waged some
time, as usual in such cases, the Pimas came
off conquerors without losing a man. The
opposition, however, did not lose esteem on
that account.

In 1872, Major Gen. O. O. Howard was
sent to this territory by President Grant, with
a view to establishing peace between the
Indians and the whites. General Howard
went with only one of his aids, to see Cochise,
chief of the Chirichua Apaches, at his head-
quarters. This was an act of daring which
few would perform. Cochise consented to
live at peace in Arizona, but not in Mexico,
where as he claimed his father had been
foully murdered, after making a treaty, and

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 73

after coming out of one of their churches.
It is possible that this may have been done
by some crank, for it seems hardly credible
that the priests or authorities would have
committed an act which afterward, no doubt,
cost the lives of thousands.

After this Gen. Howard visited the Pimas,
inspected the school then conducted by Mis-
sionary Cook, expressing his approbation at
finding it not only on the pay list, but a school
in reality.

The general then requested the Pimas to
send a large delegation to make peace with
the Apaches, at Camp Grant.

Gen. Crook and Gov. Safford were there,
and Tucson was well represented. There
was much talk, which lasted two days. Eski-
mensin was the Apache orator and chief
speaker for that tribe.

An Apache, seeing Louis, the Pima inter-
preter, came to meet him in high glee. Taking
his hand, he said : " You are the Pima who
killed me years ago." Louis then recognized
him as the man to whom he had dealt a heavy
blow with a war-club, and then left him for
dead on the battle-field. Peace-making pro-
gressed and all were pleased, except in one

74 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

item of the contracts. The Apaches wanted
the captives restored who had been taken at
the Camp Grant massacre, {vide " Century of
Dishonor," by H. H., pp. 324-335). They
were nearly all held by Mexicans, who objected
pleading that they could not allow them to
return to heathenism, that they had learned
to love them and their hearts would almost
break at the thought of it. Eskimensin lis-
tened patiently, then evidently much moved,
spoke nearly as follows : " Your hearts must
have become very tender all at once. Not
long ago, when the men were away hunting,
you came here and killed defenceless old men,
women and children. You took a number of
our children to Tucson to sell into slavery of
and when some of the little ones cried for
their homes and murdered mothers, you put
water on their heads," (baptized them) " and
then you took them by the legs and knocked
their heads against the rocks and killed them
and left them for the coyotes to eat. How
does it happen that your hearts have got so
tender all at once ? " The massacre occurred
but little over a year previous and was fresh in
the minds of many present, among whom, in
this council, was our missionary, who heard
all the discussions.

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 75

Gen. Howard left the settlement of the
question in regard to retaining or returning
the captives, to President Grant, who issued
an order subsequently for the return of the
captives.

Because Gen. Howard did not assume
authority and return the captives, some were
offended, and a ruse was attempted but
failed. It was as follows : Mannel, a tame
Apache, who was also an interpreter, came to
the Pimas, requesting them to take care of
his horse and rifle for an hour, until he could
bid good-bye to some of his relations. To
this the Pimas assented. After two hours,
word came that Mannel could not be found,
and fears were entertained that there had
been foul play, and he had been put out of
the way by the Apaches. This story was the
all-absorbing theme of conversation for some
time, and was published in the newspapers.

Having seen carriages leave for Tucson,
soon after Mannel left, the Pimas came to the
conclusion that the Mexicans had captured
him instead of the Apaches. They sent to
Tucson, and lo ! after enjoying a nice car-
riage ride, here was Mannel safe and sound.

Since this " treaty," there have been no,
wars between the Pimas and Apaches.

76 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

Very few of the Pimas were originally poly-
gamists. There are many examples that show
honorable fidelity of husband and wife to each
other for life. This, however, was not the
case with the majority.

Some time after the treaty mentioned in the
last chapter, an Apache squaw, a captive, who
had been married to a Pima Indian and was
much loved by her Pima sisters, was claimed
by her brother, as it was understood by the
treaty that the Pimas were to deliver up the
Apache captives to their tribe. In the absence
of the government superintendent, the mis-
sionary, acting as agent, decided the case. He
asked the Apache woman how she liked her
husband and what treatment she had received
from him ? She expressed herself as perfectly
satisfied, and desired to live with him always
The husband fully reciprocated. He was in-
formed that they must not be separated, as
they were truly husband and wife. " But,"
added the missionary, " there is no law against
a Pima husband making a present of a good
pony to his brother-in-law, or his wife visiting
her family as often as she may choose. At
this suggestion, all were well pleased, and the
Apache brother-in-law rode home on his pony,
perhaps the first he had ever owned.

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 77

Until the last one hundred years, the Pimas
knew little or nothing of the Spaniards. At
one time a number of the Indians were invited
to visit Tucson, (pronounced Took-sone, or
Too-sone)^ meaning Blackfoot hills. They
here saw Mexicans, soldiers, cannon and fire-
arms. The Indians were treated to beef for
the first time, which they greatly enjoyed.

Here they met the Catholic priests, called
by the Mexicans, padre, or father. They
taught them of the advent of the Saviour into
the world and invited them to join the mis-
sion. The subject was new to them and they
could not take it in readily. They wanted to
discuss the matter at home with their chief
and others, so they declined after the coun-
cil was over. Some time after this, Chief
Haran-n-mawk (Raven hair) of the Papagoes,
came with many of his people from Tucson,
to the Pimas on the Gila, for refuge. They
stated that the Mexicans wanted him and his
people, without sufficient supplies, towage an
unceasing warfare on the Apaches. Not
long after, however, a body of Mexicans with
cavalry and artillery came in pursuit, where-
upon the Papagoes and Pimas, after hiding
their scanty supply of food, fled to the fast-

yS THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

nesses of the mountains west of this place,
terror-stricken at the booming of cannon and
of fire-arms. Here, like " Leonidas," they
could defend themselves in the canons for
months, against the foe in front. They sub-
sisted on the mescal, in part, which grows on
the top of a mountain range, where the enemy
could not reach them. But after waiting for
months, the Mexicans, their enemies, still
occupying their villages, ready and thirsting
for a fight, a sterner foe in camp threatened
them. The mescal gave out. The men were
afraid of the cannon and fire-arms, and their
children cried for food. The squaws pro-
posed to go and fight — driven as they were
by hunger and the fruitless wails of the child-
ren— if the husbands would not go. In this
extremity, the lion-hearted Ravenhair and
his two sons, went and surrendered. The
Mexicans took them and hanged them on a
tree. They then returned to Tucson.

It is supposed that many of those Papagoes
(one village) have resided near the Pimas,
until the last two years, and a few still remain.
Some time after the above event, several
priests with a band of soldiers, came to
establish a mission near Casa-Blanca, but the

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 79

Pimas forbade them. It was about this time
that the Pimas, with the help of the Papagoes,
managed to get a few ponies.

It is about sixty or sixty-five years since
the first cattle were brought to the Pimas.
Many of the old Pimas remember the event
distinctly. Many of the Indians were at first
frightened at their horns and shaking of the
heads and bellowing of the cattle. But the
old Quacherty, a branch of the Pimas, finally
quieted their fears, assuring them that they
were harmless and very valuable for work and
beef. Henceforth, cattle were driven from
Sonora, Mexico, bought in trade and fre-
quently stolen by Mexicans, Yaqui Indians
and Papagoes, and sold to the Pimas at

reduced rates.

The Quatcharty Indian who brought the

first cattle, married a Pima woman. Some of

his sons were killed in the recent war with

the Apaches, and one died about four years

ago. One of his daughters is a most faithful

christian. His son, named Joseph Roberts,

the only elder in the Pima Presbyterian

Church here, and a number of his children

and grandchildren are members also ; one of

whom, a pupil in the Indian training school

8o THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

at Tucson, plays the organ well. Our Elder,
who was also a great warrior, does good ser-
vice now in the army of the Lord.

Some of these Pimas responded to the call
of Gen. Miles, as spies, and aided him in
capturing " Geronimo " and his band, now
under guard at Mount Vernon, Alabama.
They were always glad to aid the U. S.
government in every way possible. Besides
the Pima^ there are other tribes of Indians
living in the western part of Arizona.

The Maricopas, who many years ago took
refuge among the Pimas and still reside here,
speak the Yuma language. Twenty years
ago they numbered four hundred and fifty
souls. They are now reduced to but half
as many. In some respects they resemble
the Yumas. The Pimas about the same time
numbered four thousand and have not
diminished since. The Papagoes, Quatchar-
ties, and others, who speak the Pima lan-
guage, probably amount to the same number,
exclusive of those who reside outside perma-
nently in Sonora, Mexico. Most of the Papa-
goes, except a few who reside near San
Xavier, live in villages, where they cultivate
the soil when the rains are sufficient to raise

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. OT

a crop, but are nomadic at other times. They
live on deserts, where as soon as the whites oc-
cupy all the grazing lands adjacent, it will be
impossible for them to subsist much longer.
They will be driven to the wall and starve to
death This is inevitable unless provision is
made for them. Should not our government
set apart a small portion of the Pan Handle
in the Indian Territory for them and other
Indians similarly situated, before they become
extinct, and provide them a home and schools,
and should not the churches provide them a
missionary ?

The Quatcharties have built long dams
across the valleys above their fields, where
they store much water in the rainy seasons, and
irrigate at pleasure.

Frequently in the summer many of the
Papagoes come to the reservation here and
help the Pimas at wheat harvest on shares,
and earn sufficient to keep the wolf from the
door the rest of the year. Others near the
Sonora line spend much of their time in
Mexico for the same purpose. Some also go
to the San Pedro valley. They travel with
burros, small mules and on ponies, carrying
household goods, cooking utensils especially,

82 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

camping wherever night overtakes them.
They build a small rude hut on short notice,
generally in a day, for a short stay. Some
speak a little mongrel Spanish, and show a
mixture of Mexican and Spanish blood.

They are fairly clean. They raise more
asses and mules than the Pimas, and formerly
more cattle and horses. Some of them, before
the railroad was built, stole stock from the
Pimas and sold it in Mexico, and the Pimas
played at the same game.

U. S. agent, Capt. Grossman, tried to
induce them to settle on the Gila in 1870 or
1 87 1, but their free and roving nature rebelled.
They preferred the deserts and little springs
in the mountains. A few of them make good
laborers, but the majority decline to work.
When hunger forces them out of ruts and
huts during the winter or early spring, they
come by hundreds, in a long caravan to the
Pimas whom they know to be more provident.

A small delegation is sent in advance to
advertise the Pimas that they are very hungry,
and will soon appear to give them a great
dance in exchange for something to eat.
Looking south some day, you may see a great
dust for miles along the road. As the cara-

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 83

van approaches, you behold Indians, squaws,
kids and papooses, some on ponies, others on
mules or asses, two or three often on one
animal, with extra beasts to carry grain back.
They give the Pimas two or three nights'
dancing, in return for which each Pima family
is expected to give fifty or one hundred
pounds of wheat— so great is their own
estimate of the exhibition, and the generosity
of the Pimas. This wheat is collected by the
Papagoes in the various villages, as they
tarried, and by them transported to their
homes. So hungry were some of these little
Papago children, as to be delighted at find-
ing a crust of coarse bread just cast away,
which the average white child would have

spurned.

Previous to the Independence of Mexico,
/. e. in 1822-25, many of the Papagoes who
were under the influence of the Padres, wore
their hair short while among the Pimas. The
Quatcharties, and others have always worn
theirs long, thus avoiding the necessity of
any other covering for the head. A few of
them settled among the Pimas. and taught
them the art of raising wheat. At this date,
perhaps owing to their desert homes, and

84 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

Other causes, they are behind the Pimas in
wealth and civilization. With the exception
of those living in villages, they oppose schools.

The Apaches in Arizona and New Mexico,
differ from the other tribes in many respects.
Their principal mode of eking out a living
was heretofore by the chase and gathering
the mescal and by robbery. The mescal is a
plant with an enormous root, quite nourishing,
corresponding to the bread-fruit in foreign
countries.

One thing may be conceded to them — they
were the most virtuous of Indians, (if any are
chaste), although adultery was punished with
them by killing the man and cutting off the
nose of the woman. To some extent, how-
ever, they have practiced polygamy.

The natural resources of their country
were such, that they could have kept one
hundred thousand head of cattle, with little
or no work or oversight, had they been so
inclined, and many of the villages could have
produced the best of fruits and grain, had
their people been industrious, like the whites,
if they had been taught ; yet they knew so
little of the way of cultivating the soil, that
at times they were so hungry as to capture a

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 85

Coyote in a trap, cook, and eat it — a thing
that even an Indian rarely does.

The Camp — Apache Indians are probably
the most susceptible to Christianizing influ-
ences of any of the tribes in this territory.
Long ago, they asked for a missionary who
would help them and teach them how to live,
both for this world and the next. So far the
churches have not responded. There is a
probability, however, that the German Luth-
erans will soon establish a mission among
them. There is a great need of suitable
young men and women, to be educated as
teachers and missionaries, and even store-
keepers and farmers, to go and live among
such tribes as these, all over the country
where there are Indians. But they should go
married, as husband and wife. It is ques-
tionable whether two women, however conse-
crated, can succeed. A very important aim
in all our Indian mission schools, should be
first to evangelize the Indians of both sexes,
then to fit them to return and make homes
and aid the above missionaries by supple-
menting their efforts.

The statistics of the Indian tribes in this
territory as given by the commissioner of

86 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

Indian affairs, Gen. T. J. Morgan, Vol. 2,
1 89 1, is as follows :

Colorado-rini agency, 2,891

Navajoe ag*ency, 175852

Pima agency, 91695

San Carlos agency,. 4,819

There are all told under government pro-
tection, 38,481.

This brings us to the present, and shows
what has been done for the Indians on this
Pima reservation during the past two decades.

Before the advent of the S. P. R. R., the
Pimas were doubtless the best known tribe in
Arizona. The overland mail road and most
of the traffic of the territory at that time
passed through this reservation. No danger
here from Apaches or Mexicans, who for a
time made it their business to kill and plunder
between Tucson and Yuma.

It is true, a few of the " baser sort," often
drove the mules or horses of the freight teams
away, when grazing a little distance, in order
to obtain a reward for hunting them. Other-
wise, but few depredations were committed.
Twenty five years ago, there were six trad-
ing establishments on this reservation, where
you could purchase calico or muslin at twenty

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 87

five cents per yard, a cake of soap at the
same price, sugar at fifty cents a pound and
canned goods at from seventy-five cents to a
dollar per can. The goods were brought
over-land from San Diego, Cal. Wheat
brought prices in fair proportion, one dollar
and fifty to two dollars per hundred pounds.
With the Indians, wheat was their " stock in
trade." So the early traders did all they could
to encourage them in agricultural pursuits.
The plow was of the most primitive make.
It was patterned after those made in Egypt,
3,000 or 4,000 years ago, or the one used by
Elisha, vide i Kings, 19:19. It consisted of
a beam of mesquite wood, a hook with a
handle and a pole fastened to it. The share
was simply a piece of mesquite, three inches
square and two feet long, sharpened at the
lower end and fastened ingeniously at the
upper end at an angle of fifty degrees, into
the beam. The pole was fastened to the
plow at one end, and to the ox-yoke at the
other. The yoke, instead of resting on the
neck, was fastened in a curious manner to the
horns of the oxen. This plow answered the
purpose of plow and harrow. It required
from four to six yoke of oxen to do the work

88 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

(which was but little more than scratching
the ground) for a whole village, and was
owned by two or three families.

During the past ten years this tribe has pro-
duced from sixty to seventy thousand bushels
of wheat a year, the government having lately
furnished them axes, spades and modern
plows, which they highly prize.

The first Indian day school under govern-
ment was opened among the Pimas by Mr.
Cook in 1 87 1 . This he conducted successfully
for seven years and for two years more he was
employed as trader. During this time, besides
serving the government and the Indians with
fidelty, he was preparing for a still greater
work as a missionary exclusively.

Not long after this a school was opened at
San Xavier. Gov. McCormick the delegate
to congress, and his wife, visited the school
and secured government aid for suitable build-
ings. The Ladies' Union Mission School As-
sociation in New York, at this time having
had their attention called to the needs of these
Indians by army officers, employed and sent
a lady teacher. They also very kindly sent
(and have several times since repeated the
act) a good Mason and Hamlin organ and

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 89

Other supplies for the school, all of which were
fully appreciated, as they added very efficiently
to the work. After the day school had existed
eight years' it was changed to a boarding
school. This school resembles most of the
other Indian boarding schools. There has
been a gradual growth and improvement,
becoming more apparent during the last few

years.

The girls receive good training in all lines
of housekeeping and the boys learn such trades
and modes of farming as will fit them for a
useful life, as citizens. They are frequently
drilled in military tactics, in two companies,
before school. This is done by native ser-
geants in a manner that would surprise a
West Point cadet. They perform with a celer-
ity of action and unanimity of motion that
would do honor to a company of national
guards of Arizona. It is amusing to see the
children imitate their drill-master and their
delight in the exercise. They do as well-
possibly better— under an Indian, than a
white man. In the day school they memorize
the ten commandments and other portions of
scripture with remarkable facility— especially
considering the fact that they are just begin-
ning to learn the English language.

9© THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

This school, started twenty years ago with
hungry and almost naked Indians, has grown
and multiplied until at present there are about
five hundred pupils in the various schools in
this territory and in Albuquerque, New Mex-
ico. And it would require no very great
effort to place all the children under school
training. One of the best schools in the
country, for educating the Pimas and Papa-
goes, is the Indian training and industrial
school at Tucson. It was first opened in Jan-
uary, 1888, and now has one hundred and
fifty or more pupils. Rev. Howard Billman
is the efficient superintendent and is seconded
in his efforts by his estimable wife, and a corps
of faithful, earnest co-workers.

Not all Indian agents are good or wise men :
would that they were ! The injury that some
of them have done, it is difficult to estimate
and can never be repaired. Those who recom-
mend and those who have the power of
appointment, should be slow in their selection,
unless assured of their fitness for the position.
A mistake may not be corrected, until evil
has been wrought and then it is too late. Here,
however, we have had some very good men in
position. Mr. C. W. Grouse, the present

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 91

incumbent, has worked hard and done well in
bettering the condition of the Pimas and Papa-
goes. Besides erecting several large build-
ings for school purposes and for the general
benefit of the Indians, he has erected a flour-
ing mill, capable of producing twenty-five
barrels a day of (24 hours), that will save its
cost in one year. He has utilized Indian labor
to its utmost ability, thus saving expense and
teaching them how to work at the same time ;
and they are not slow to learn.

He has built an irrigating canal over six
miles in length, in which he was assisted by
Mr. Cook, who has done a similar work for
the Indians several times in past years. In
the construction of these buildings and other
improvements, Indians were principally em-
ployed. This has given them a fair living
and the training they needed, so that at pres-
ent they require no assistance in constructmg
the walls of an adobe building, painting or
plastering. The miller, who is engineer also,
has trained his assistants (Indians) so that
he needs no other help in running his engme.
Much has been said and written m regard
to the best way of elevating the Indian.
Many who are in other respects wise, yet

92 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION,

lacking in knowledge of Indian character
from not having studied it on the ground,
declare that you can do nothing with the
adult Indians. Educate the young, say they,
separate them for years from all tribal in-
fluences and you may. do a little for them, but
you cannot do anything for their parents.

Here is a direct and palpable refutation
of this sentiment. These friends of the
Indians forget, or ignore what the Great
Teacher commanded over t,8oo years ago :
'' Go preach my gospel to every creature."
With the same means that have produced
these results here, why may not the same be
expected elsewhere ? To educate the intel-
lect only, and leave the heart untouched, is
to do but little for the Indian.

The Presbyterian Church has had one
missionary here laboring under a commission
of her Board of Home Missions, for less than
twelve years. During this time he has
received over eighty members into the church,
who before knew but little or nothing of
evangelical Christianity. We have two church
edifices twelve miles apart on this reservation,
the one at Blackwater on the east seating one
hundred and fift}^, this one three hundred,

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 93

and both of these are full every Sabbath and
frequently crowded.

It is expected that a third chapel will be
erected this year, thirty miles west of Sacaton,
and that two native helpers will be commis-
sioned to assist the missionary in his large
and expanding field.

Many come regularly to church a distance
of from two to twenty miles, and not a few
twenty or thirty miles. In summer, when
churches in town are closed from the intense
heat, these overflow with a multitude who are
attracted, not by the eloquence of the
preacher or by the exquisite rendering of
■chants by a well trained choir, or soul-stirring
peals of the organ, but from pure love to
■God and delight in the service of preaching,
prayer and praise. This influence on a people
just emerging from heathenism and breaking
up old superstitions and vices, and instead of
them, leading an industrious and virtuous life,
must far exceed that of churches in town on a
civilized people.

The Indian mind and heart is virgin soil,
never working but when properly cultivated ;
though slow in development and requiring
great patience, yet when thoroughly wrought

94 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

upon by the Hdly Spirit, yields more ample
returns and sometimes more rapid, than a
gospel-hardened soil.

The Indian belongs to the great human
family. He is below his white brother in
mind, morals and heart culture, /. <?., the
representative of the cultured man, but cer-
tainly not below his ancestors in the dark
ages, before the dawn of Christianity.

Formerly news of importance was given
from mouth to mouth, or by the captain of a
village, morning and evening. He stood on
the roof of his house, and proclaimed in a
voice so loud that the captain in the next
village heard and repeated, until all the vil-
lages, one after another, had heard the latest
war, or other news. Now, the young Pima
reads his newspaper or letters from friends in
distant schools, and replies with as much inter
est, as his white neighbor. It is said that
*' Kid," the notorious Apache renegade, for
whom parties are now in pursuit, can read,
write and even operate the telegraph.

During the past ten years the more civilized
and christianized Pimas have built about one
hundred and twenty adobe houses, most of
them superior to the average Mexican house.

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 95

Not contented with this, and finding that in a
wet season, havinga flat roof of brush, and mud
they leak badly— imitating their pale-faced
brother— they have begun to put on a shin-
gled roof, of one-third pitch, and there are
three such within sight. They have cleared
new land, and if sufficient water were pro-
vided at all seasons of the year, nothing could
hinder their advancement in wealth and pros-
perity. At present there is an average of one
pony to every man, woman and child of the
tribe, and many have wagons, while some
enjoy the luxury of a carriage. Some of
them have herds of cattle ranging from ten
to three hundred. Most of the field work is
now done by ponies. They have purchased
within the past five years, about forty sewing
machines of which they are justly proud. A
lame Indian heretofore very poor, has a hand
machine, with which he earns good wages, as
a tailor, and now comes nine miles to church
in his carriage. Formerly, they were often
hungry, but now all who work have enough
to eat. The clothing of men and women is
respectable and many a young girl, especially
in summer, during vacation, comes to church
as stylish as her white sister. It speaks well

96 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

for their school-training, when it was plainly
visible last summer that those girls who had
been at the Indian Training School at Tucson,
after being at home two months, on their
return, were if possible more neat and tidy
in their white dresses than when they came.
The Pimas have always been self-sustaining,
receiving only a few wagons and agricultural
implements from the government, to encour-
age them to help themselves, when greatly
needed.

Many of these Indians now appreciate the
value of an education. Both our govern-
ment and army officers have been the true
friends of these Indians. Unscrupulous
agents, and inspectors we have had, but they
have been " exceptions, not the rule."

CHAPTER V.

Some Account of the First Organization of the
Ladies' Union Mission School Association
AND ITS Connection with the Mission to the
Pimas.

The Ladies' Association formed in New
York city in the month of March, 1868, to
which reference has been made in the intro-
duction to this narrative, after two years'
active service in the territories formerly
known as Spanish America, entered upon a
new and wider field of labor. The first society
which was a union of several christian denom-
inations, on the reunion of the two branches
of the Presbyterian Church in 1870, became
auxiliary to the Boards of Home and Foreign
Missions of the Presbyterian Church ; con-
sequently the " Albany Branch," which was
union in its character was re-organized as an
independent society, not auxiliary to any
church board, but at liberty to aid in sustain-
ing mission schools both among the Indians
of Arizona and in the destitute portions of
onr western territory.

The mission to the Pima Indians having
been urged upon the attention of the Albany

98 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. •

society, the new organization entered heartily
upon this christian work and they were
greatly encouraged by the information re-
ceived from Gen. Townsend of the U. S. army
who addressed to them the following letter :

I am well persuaded that a plan of the nature pro-
posed by the Ladies' Association, would prove eminently
successful among the Pima Indians of Arizona. These
Indians have, for perhaps a hundred years or more,
abandoned nomadic life, and though a brave and fear-
less race, have for as many years been permanently locat-
ed upon the banks of the Gila river, relying for their sus-
tenance upon a rude culture of the soil. I passed
through their villages in 1849, ^^^ found them the
most interesting and friendly Indians I had yet en-
countered. They seemed to be gratified to have us
among them, and could scarcely do enough for us, and
for Indians, appeared already to be pretty well up in
the scale of civilization.

They have at various times since the occupation of
Arizona by our troops, furnished to the military com-
manders, large scouting parties for forays against the
Apaches, while yearly they supply the government
troops with all their surplus grain, and generally have
hitherto, in many ways, evinced their desire to cultivate
the most friendly relations with our people. I hail
with infinite satisfaction the generous efforts you have
made towards the establishment of a christian mission
among the Pimas. May God the Father of us all,
prosper your noble devotion and the great cause.
Believe me truly your friend,

FREDERICK TOWNSEND.

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

99

We entered into correspondence with Mr.
Cook, on learning of his employment as
teacher at the agency, and received from him
the following report of his first year's work :

School Report of Rev. C. H. Cook, Teacher.

U. S Indian Agency, Gila River Reservation, {

December 30, 1871. \

Mari-

Mari-

Pimas

copas.

Pima.

copas.

Date.

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Date.

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0

6

24

0
19

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62

12

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16

Eh

December

1

December 13

53

4

9

10

8

27

14

14

7

21

16

58

5

15

3

11

36

16

19

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16

65

6

22

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65

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15

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17

15

52

6

2

18

9

35

19

13

111

18

16

58

8

15

9

21

15

60

20

17

17!

13

16

63

11

19

13

26

14

66

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11

61

16

14

47

la

15

11

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63

22

10

10!

16

14

50

_A year has nearly passed since our first endeavor to
open school here, and it is with thankfulness that we
acknowledge the aid vouchsafed by Providence, with-
out which our efforts would be but in vain.

Some of the obstacles we had to encounter have
gradually disappeared ; most of the necessary school
utensils have been supplied, and the Pima language has
been mastered to some extent.

Many of the scholars have made rapid progress in
reading, writing, arithmetic, English speaking and
singing. During the last half of the year, I have been
aided by the assistant teacher.

The Maricopa children do not understand the Pima
language ; the distance to their village (over four miles)

LOFC

lOO THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

has heretofore prevented their regular attendance ; it
was thought expedient to open a school here. The
school house, an Indian hut, was built by the Indians,
and serves for school, Sunday school and church. It
is, however, untenable in very cold and windy weather.
The children there, with few exceptions, and mostly
such as live farther away, attend regularly. I think
about $250 would enable us to build a suitable room
there, and the school as a branch school would cause
otherwise but little expense to the department.

The attendence at the agency has not been as large
and regular as last spring, owing partly to much sick-
ness that has prevailed, during which four scholars
have died. The Indians being somewhat superstitious,
all of the first village and others left their homes for a
number of weeks at a time. We have found it almost
impossible to secure a regular attendance here, especially
among the smaller scholars ; the distance to their
villages is from 1% to A%, miles. With a school house
near the center of them, a much larger and more regular
attendance may be reasonably expected ; this would
also give us an opportunity for night school for adults,
and for Sunday school and other religious services, so
much needed.

Our thanks are due to friends of Chicago for sending

a supply of clothing and to some ladies of Philadelphia

who sent us a map.

Very respectfully,

C. H. COOK.

Under the policy instituted by President
Grant, the Indian agencies were placed under

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. lOI

the care and supervision of the several chris-
tian denominations. The Indians on the Gila
River Reservation were assigned to the Re-
formed Church and the Board of Missions of
that church appointed Mrs. Stout missionary
teacher at the agency.

Mrs. Stout entered upon her work with zeal
and energy and soon after Mr. Cook's report
reached us, we received from her the follow-
ing letter :

Gila River Reservation,

April I, 1872.

Let me thank you for sending us the organ and things
for the children, which only arrived one week ago. The
organ is such a nice one and pleased the children so
much. It will be a great comfort to us also, for I don't
know what it is to live without some kind of a musical
instrument, or at least did not, until we came to Arizona.
I feel that words are inadequate to thank you for all
those things, and did I not know that God would abun-
dantly bless and prosper you for doing it unto even the
" least of these little ones," I should feel indeed that
you were poorly rewarded, but I feel so sure of a rich
reward for you, both in this world and in the world to
come, such as only they receive who work for His sake.

I shall commence a sewing school, day after tomorrow
and let the girls work on both boys' and girls' clothes,
but it will be such a few weeks until school closes, I
don't think they can finish them ; but it will, 1 think,
be an inducement for them to attend school more regu^

T02 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

larly. M}- class of girls are doing nicely. They learn
readily and seem very bright. It is very slow work,
however, and requires much patience. The school
improves every day, the children look more tidy and
take more interest. Dr. Bendell has just made us a
visit, together with Dr. Tonner of the Mohave agency,
and they were very much pleased. The superintendent
said he thought they had done well. Their singing
seemed to please him most. I think the Maricopas are
the best singers. The manner in which they talk enables
them to talk plainer English than the Pimas. The
position of teacher to the Indians is far different from
teaching in the states. The person selected for a teacher
here should be some one who is a faithful christian with
a great deal of patience and one who will be willing to
sacrifice all for the Lord's sake.

I remain, truly your friend,

Georgia Stout.

We continued to aid and encourage the
mission while under the supervision of the
board of the Reformed Church, as many of
the members of our association were connected
with that church. On learning the needs of
the children in school, boxes of clothing were
made up and forwarded to the reservation,
which were gratefully received and an annual
report was returned to us by the United States
Indian agent,

, THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 103

The Reformed Church, however, being un-
able to sustain the mission on the Gila River
Reservation, resigned the charge to the United
States government and the responsibility was
assumed in the year 1881, by the Board of
Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church.

It is not to magnify our own humble efforts
in the beginning of this interesting mission,
that we now review a work, which has for the
last twelve years, been successfully prosecuted
by the Board of Home Missions of the
Presbyterian Church.

Our object is to show the importance of
individual effort in carrying the gospel to
the Indians of our own country. It is not
enough to make an annual contribution to
the treasury of the Board of Missions ; some
acquaintance should be had by the society
contributing to the support of a mission,
with the working force on the ground ; as,
after the missionary's salary is raised, there
are many wants unprovided for, which if
supplied, would greatly aid the missionary in
his work, which, for the want of such aid, is
often hindered.

I04 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

Could we have known that Mrs. Cook's life
was endangered by a leaky roof, how gladly
would we have removed this impediment to
the comfort and welfare of herself and family !
But we had at that time, no knowledge of the
difficulties with which those self-denying
missionaries had to struggle ; humanly speak-
ing, that precious life was lost to the cause to
which it was consecrated, for the want of
what we could easily have supplied.

A brother missionary. Rev. I. T. Whitte-
more, writes of Mrs. Cook : " She was a
stranger to fear, a faithful mother, a noble
companion for the pioneer missionary, whom
God had chosen and fitted for his sphere of
duty. Her nameless and unmarked grave
as also that of one son sleeping by her side,
is in the rear of the church, and is pointed
out to the stranger who visits the now
bereaved missionary. Like a bird with a
broken wing, but with a heart rising superior
to all disappointments, he still labors on
zealously and patiently. His heart is glad-
dened by the fruits of his long service, as he
sees the Indians for whose spiritual welfare
he has diligently labored, coming out of
heathenism into the christian faith, and

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 105

becoming members of the church of Christ."
But that unmarked grave ! After a few years
have passed and the toil-worn missionary
shall have ceased from his work on earth, or
shall have been removed from his present
field of labor, shall it be said of the faithful
wife and mother, " No man knoweth of her
sepulchre ?"

Another consecrated life is just closed in
the death of Miss Susan L. McBeth, who has
left to the church and to the world a rich
legacy in her noble work among the Nez-
Perces Indians, showing what one woman, who
has her whole heart in the work, can do for a
tribe of Indians, where her ability is equal to
her zeal.

It is now more than twenty years since
Miss McBeth began her work among the Nez-
Perces Indians of Idaho. She formulated
and published a grammar of the Nez-Perces
language, (being a fine linguist), and under-
took the instruction and preparation for the
ministry of the young men of that tribe, many
of whom are now " proclaiming the unsearch-
able riches of Christ among their countrymen

Io6 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

and in their native tongue." She died May
26, 1893, and her sister writes : " We buried
her where she wished to be laid, down in the
Kamiah Valley, close to the little Indian
church she loved so well."

" The desire to do a good work and the
ability to accomplish it, constitute the ' Call.' '

'' There are living on the American conti-
nent at this time, from ten to twelve millions
of Indians. About three hundred thousand
Indians are in the United States and forty
thousand in Alaska.

The Indians of the United States are now
found in Dakota, Montana, Washington, New
Mexico, Arizona, California, the Indian Ter-
ritory and Idaho. There are also remnants
of once powerful tribes in the Eastern States.
There are over one hundred thousand gath.
ered on reservations,and ninety-eight thousand
have become self-supporting. In the Indian
Territory there are more than thirty-five thou-
sand not living on reservations. About fifty-
eigh\ thousand of the whole Indian population
are receiving assistance from the government.

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. I07

In 1868, the government placed the appoint-
ment of Indian agents with the several Chris-
tian denominations, and in ten years, forty
thousand Indians besides those of the civilized
tribes, could read and write. It would cost
but three millions annually, to give every
Indian girl and boy in the United States a
good industrial and common school education.
It has cost the United States government
more than two hundred and seventy three
millions of dollars in ten years to fight the
Indians, while five years' schooling of twenty
thousand children would cost but twenty-two
millions. There are now several government
schools for the Indians, one at Hampton, la.;
one at Carlisle, Penn., and there are also mis-
sion schools at Albuquerque, N. M., and at
Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona.

The school at Carlisle was begun in 1879
and owes its inception and success to the zeai
and energy of Captain R. H. Pratt of the
U. S. Army. In his ' Historical Sketch of the
Indian Industrial School at Carlisle, Penn.,'
Captain Pratt says: 'The Carlisle school
had its origin in convictions that grew out of
eight years' Calvary service (1867 to 1875),
against the Indians in the Indian Territory.'

Io8 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

I often commanded Indian scouts, took
charge of Indian prisoners and performed
other Indian duty, which led me to consider
the relative conditions of the two races. One
plain duty resting upon us with regard to the
Indians, is to assist them to die as helpless
tribes, and to rise up among us as strong and
capable individual men and American citizens.
These views led me to recommend to General
Sheridan in 1875, when sending to Florida
the Indian prisoners then under my care at
Fort Sill, I. T., that they should, while in
such banishment, be educated and trained in
civilized pursuits, and so far as practicable be
brought into relations with our own people-
Being detailed to conduct the prisoners to
Florida and to remain in care of them, I
established schools among them, and through
letting them go out as laborers, which they
very willingly did, and every other means that
offered or that I could contrive, I pressed
upon them American life and civilization.
The three years of their stay in Florida
wrought wonderful changes among them and
in the spring of 1878, when these prisoners
were released, twenty-two of the young men
were led to ask for more education and said

The PIMA INDIAN MISSION. I09

they would stay east three years longer if
they could go to school."

The money being provided by friends,
seventeen of the released prisoners were
placed in school at Hampton Institute, Va.,
four near Utica, N. Y., and one at Tarrytown-
on-the-Hudson. The following year, Captain
Pratt was detailed by the secretary of war,
for special duty with reference to Indian
education. Thus, we see again the interest
evinced by an army officer in the welfare of
the Indian, culminating in a great educational
institution, where in the peaceful arts in which
the former enemies of our government are
now instructed, we have pleasmg evidence
that " the sword has been beaten into a plough-
share, and the spear into a pruning-hook."

It is with great satisfaction that we learn
that officers of the U. S. Army are now
detailed as Indian agents, and that they will
henceforth be known as the friends and pro-
tectors of the tribes against whom they have
been sent to quell disturbances, and some-
times to engage in the bloody conflict.

Our correspondent at the Pima agency, in
a letter recently received, says: "Let our

no THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

government put all of the Apache children
in school, and let some church send mission-
aries to the Apaches, and ere long, we shall
not need soldiers to protect us from the
Indians in Arizona." In another communi-
cation received from Mr. Cook, he says : " I
have found the U. S. Army officers nearly
always the friends of the missionary." He
also writes under date of August ii, 1891 :
" We have a prosperous government school
here, of about one hundred and thirty chil-
dren, another school at Tucson, with about
the same number of pupils. Then we have
about an hundred children at the Albu-
querque government school, and we expect to
have a school this autumn at Phoenix, Arizona,
about forty-five miles from here and about
twelve miles from the western boundary of
our reservation. We also expect to build
another chapel this fall, some twenty or more
miles west of here, where we already have
eight members. Perhaps you are aware that
the gospel and the schools are taking the
place of the army."

The report of the superintendent of Indian
schools, gives the following for 1892 :

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. Ill

IN SCHOOLS IN ARIZONA.

Pima Government School, 142

Tucson Presbyterial, 171

Phoenix Government School, 48

IN SCHOOLS OUTSIDE ARIZONA.

Albuquerque Government School, 105

Genoa, Nebraska, Government School,. . . 19
The above includes pupils from the three
tribes — Pimas, Maricopas and Papagoes.

p^The first day school," Vv-rites Mr. Cook,
" among the Pima Indians, was opened Febru-
ary 15, 187 1. The pupils came from threesmall
Pima villages, two to three miles distant ; also
from a Maricopa village, about four and a
half miles from the agency. The children
were hungry and almost naked, so we gave
each of them a piece of bread for lunch. A
branch school was subsequently opened in a
Maricopa village, with Mrs. Cook as assistant-
At first, a large brush hut served for the school,
but afterwards a suitable room was built by
the government. The clothing sent by your
society, helped to clothe the children, and the
good Mason and Hamlin organ, aided much
in the English singing, in which the pupils
delighted. The school-house also often an-

112 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

swered the purpose of a chapel, and on winter
evenings, the parents often met there to listen
to the gospel message. At one of the meet-
ings, an Indian asked if it was ' true that we
had immortal souls ? '

Our preaching in the various villages on
Sundays, had the effect of awakening a desire
in the minds of the Indians for schools in all
of their villages. We have translated the first
chapters of Genesis, the Ten Command-
ments, some of the Psalms and several chap-
ters of the New Testament. We have built
two churches and a parsonage with only
Indian help, which has left us but little time
for the translation of the Bible into the Pima
language. We have now eighty-five church
members and expect an additional number
at our next communion. Our chapel will
seat three hundred persons, and we have
now a comfortable church home at a total
expense of $350. The organs at both
chapels are in good order and are doing good
service. One of the organs is played by one
of the girls of the Tucson school. We expect
to build a church this fall, some thirty-five
miles west of the agency, where we have
eight members. During the time of my ser-

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. II3

vice here, I have preached on Sundays in most
of the villages, often to large congregations.
With the help of the school boys during
vacation, we have translated parts of the
Bible into the Pima language. I send you a
copy of the Lord's Prayer in the Pima

language."

THE LORD'S PRAYER.

Ah-chim 't Aw-ock

tahm katch-im chirt 't ta,

se-atch-has-oe-lit moe choe-oe-kick.

Va to cheav-ia hoek near-noi-tam.

Va hap-o-chew et-e chue-wut ap
hoem taht-cho ha-po-mas-e-ma tahm
katch-im chirt hap-o-wah.

Et-e tars ap hie-a-chew hook t mahk.

Va-to stoy-e-kal pat t chew-ay-chick,
ha-po-mas-ay-ma n ah-chim stoy-i-kal
wu-es, ah-chim pe-ap hap-
e-chew.

Wu-es sah-po et wu-ay,

Wu-es hie-a-chew pe-a-po-kum wo
e-wuh-sit.

Wu-e-he-chit ah-pe map-o-ot te-
nah-to-kam, koe-ve-ki-tuck oe-ni-ka,
choep hoe-kick-ka-lick wu-e-he-chit
ssoell. Amen.

114 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

About 8.000 Indians speak the Pima lan-
guage. The Pimas number about 4,000 ;
the Yuacharties, 750 ; Papagoes, 3,250. The
Apaches speak a different language.

The Lord hasten the time when every
Indian on this continent shall hear in his
own tongue, the glad message brought to the
Shepherds on the plains of Bethlehem : " Be-
hold I bring you good tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people ; for unto you is
born in the city of David, a Saviour which is
Christ the Lord."

02

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CHAPTER VI.

The Gila River Reservation— Climate, Soil,
Productions and Ancient Ruins.

The climate of southern Arizona is one of
the most healthful in this country. During
the summer, the heat, though intense, is by no
means unendurable. It is far more tolerable
when the mercury is at 105° to 1 10° than when,
in the east or north, the thermometer stands
at 90". Seldom does a thunder storm from
the mountains, reach this region, or a cyclone
bring destruction to the fields and dwellings.
There are no instances of sun-stroke and the
sand storms which occasionally sweep through
the valley soon pass, and without damage to
the fields or crops. In winter, no chilling
winds or poisonous blasts are to be dreaded,
but perpetual sunshine lights up the land-
scape and invites the invalid to this balmy
atmosphere.

The soil is exceedingly fertile ; it needs
only good cultivation and plenty of water for
irrigation ; the sun will do the rest. The Gila
river is capable of furnishing an abundant
supply of water, when, in addition to the

Il6 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

large amount furnished by the Florence canal
(the only canal in this valley), and a large
reservoir fifteen miles south of Florence,
a d^m shall be constructed at Buttes, fourteen
miles east of the town. This will furnish water
sufficient for many of the Indian villages,
besides irrigation for 250,000 acres more than
the canal now furnishes.

The Pima or Gila river reservation is the
largest of the four reservations (belonging
to the Pimas, Papagoes and Maricopas) of
the Pima Agency.

It is about forty-five miles long and four-
teen miles wide, and is situated on the Gila
river. The valley proper averages two miles
in width and the land is very rich. The only
difficulty in making it productive and fruit-
ful, is the want of sufficient water for pur-
poses of irrigation. Nearly all kinds of grain
and vegetables, as well as nearly all the citric
and other fruits of a semi-tropical climate, are
produced in the rich valley of the Gila river.
With a full supply of water to irrigate their
farms, these Indians will soon be entirely
self-supporting.

Fourteen miles east of the Pima Agency
is the famous Ruin of Casa Grande.

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. II7

This rain is one of the deepest studies for
the antiquarian and ethnologist and is
among the best preserved of the pre-historic
remains in our country. It was old when
Columbus discovered this " New World," and
is supposed to have been erected by the
unknown race of civilized people who once
inhabited this valley. It is an object of curi-
osity to the traveler, though of the hands that
built it and for what purpose it was erected,
we have now no knowledge. Its massive
walls were built of a peculiar concrete of
unknown ingredients, which differs greatly
from the materials used by any of the Indian
tribes of the south-west ; and its interior was
finished with a smooth coat of cement that
has successfully withstood the ravages of
time. It was evidently a handsome and
imposing edifice, of six or eight stories high ;
but beyond this fact all is shrouded in
mystery.

This ruin was first discovered in 1540, when
the walls were four stories high and six feet
in thickness. Around it were many other
ruins, with portions of their walls yet standing,
which would go to prove that a city of no
inconsiderable dimensions once existed here.

Il8 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

As showing its great antiquity, it is mentioned
that the Pima Indians, who then, (1540) as
now, were hving in the immediate vicinity,
had no knowledge of the origin or history of
the structure, or the people who built it In
the immediate vicinity, the traces of an
immense irrigating canal have been followed
tO the Gila river, forty miles distant. This
canal, no doubt, brought water to the city and
irrigated the rich valley which surrounds the
river.

Sphinx-like, the mysterious ruin stands
amid the solitude of the desert plain, while
from its weather beaten crest, voiceless cen-
turies look down upon the curious inquirer.

The review of twenty-five years brings to
our memory an incident, which is not irrelevant
to the subject of " missions of christian women
to the Indians."

It was in the beginning of our mission
work for the tribes of Indians, commended
to our sympathy and Christian effort by
officers of the United States Army, that
one evening, at the house of the president
of our association, with whom we were then
in consultation, a good elder of the Presby-

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. HQ

terian Church called and introduced to us,
the Rev. H. H. Spaulding of Oregon. The
venerable missionary was on the way to his
old home at the east, after an absence of
thirty four years. He had come to vindicate
the good name of his associate, Dr. Marcus
Whitman, the martyr missionary, and to erase,
if possible, from the record? of congress, the
false statements published under what pur-
ported to be "an account of the murder of
Dr. Whitman."

Under date December i, 1870, the fol-
lowing account of the visit of the veteran
missionary appeared in the same weekly jour-
nal which had given not long before, a place
in its columns to the appeal for a teacher for
the Pima Indians, to which we have already
referred. The writer says under the heading,
" An Evening with an Old Missionary : "

"One day last week a man of humble appear-
ance, about seventy years of age, called at
our office and was introduced by a stranger,
as the Rev. H. H. Spaalding of Oregon. We
had heard something of his labors as a mis-
sionary among the Indians in that region and
were glad to take the veteran by the hand.

I20 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

The few words we could then have together,
led us to press him to share our hospitalities
for the night, which he accepted.

" Dr. Whitman's wife and mine," said the
missionary, as we drew up our chairs about
the study table, and opened our " Colton " to
the right map, "^were the first white women
that ever crossed the Rocky Mountains."
" But how came you to go ?" we asked.

And then for four hours of the rarest
interest, we listened to the wondrous story
of

•• THE MACEDONIAN NEZ-PERCES."

About their council fire, in solemn conclave,
it was in the year 1832, the Flat-Heads and
Nez-Perces had determined to send four of
their number to the rising sun for " that
book from heaven." They had got word of
the Bible and a Saviour, in some way, from
the Iroquois. These four dusky wise men,
one of them a chief, who had thus dimly
" seen His star in the east," made their way
to St. Louis ; and it is significant of the perils
of this thousand miles journey, that only one
of them survived to return. They fell into

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 121

the hands of an explorer who had traveled
extensively in the regions of the Columbia
river. How utterly he failed to meet their
wants is revealed in the sad words with which
they departed, •' I came to you " — and the
survivor repeated the words years afterwards
to Mr. Spaulding — " with one eye partly
opened. I go back with both eyes closed
and both arms broken. My people sent me
to obtain that book from heaven.

I am now to return without it, and my people
will die in darkness." And so they took
their leave. But this sad lament was over-
heard. A young man wrote it to his friends
in Pittsburgh. Then showed the account to
Catlin, of Indian portrait fame, who had just
come from the Rocky Mountains. He said,
" It cannot be ; those Indians were in our
company, and I heard nothing of this ; wait
till I write to Clark before you publish it."
He wrote ; the response was, " It is true."
That was the sole object of their visit, — '* To
get the Bible." Then Catlin said, " Give it
to the world." The Methodists at once com-
missioned Rev. Mr. Lee to go and find this
tribe, who had so strangely broken out of
their darkness toward the light.

122 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

Dr. Marcus Whitman, of the American
board who was too late for the overland
caravan for that summer, followed the next
year. He found the Nez-Perces. But so
fearful were the ridges and the ravines of the
path to them, and so wild the country where
they roamed, that he pushed on to the tribes
living near the coast.

WOMAN'S HEROISM.

It was with great joy the Nez-Perces wel-
comed Whitman the next year. Having
explored the situation, and taking with him
two boys which the Indians had placed in
his hands, as hostages, in some sort, for his
return, he went back for his intended wife and
to secure others for the work. But who
would go ? Men could be found, but where
was the woman willing to brave the vague
horrors of that howling wilderness ? His
betrothed consented. But an associate and
he, a married man, must be obtained. More
than a score of most devoted ones were
applied to in vain. Friends said it is madness
to make the attempt. For that country and
the way between, in the popular impression*
was a dark unknown, tull of terrors.

The PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 1 23

A year was spent in the search for associ-
ates, and then light came from an unexpected
quarter. In the early spring or 1836, a sleigh,
extemporized from a wagon, was craunching
through the deep snows of Western New
York. In it were Rev. Mr. Spaulding and his
wife. They were on their way, under com-
mission of the American board, to the Osage
Indians. Mrs. Spaulding had started from
a bed of lingering illness and was then able
to walk less than a quarter of a mile. Dr.
Whitman, having heard of the rare courage
of this woman, by permission of the board
started in pursuit.

"We want you for Oregon," was the hail
with which he overtook them.

" How long will the journey take ? "

" The summers of two years."

" What convoy will we have ? "

" The American Fur Company, to the
Divide."

" What shall we have to live on ? "

" Buffalo meat, till we can raise our own
grain."

" How shall we journey ? "

" On horse-back."

" How cross the rivers ? "

" Swim them."

1^4 THE PiMA INDIAN MISSION.

After this brief dialogue, and we give it
precisely in the missionary's own words, Mr.
Spaulding turned to his wife and said, " My
dear, my mind is made up. It is not your
duty to go ; but we will leave it to you after
we have prayed."

By this time they had reached a wayside
inn, in the town of Howard, N. Y. Taking
a private room, they each prayed in turn and
then Mrs. Spaulding was left to herself. In
about ten minutes she appeared with a beam-
ing face, and said, " I have made up my mind
to go."

" But your health, my dear ! "

" / like the command just as it stands^ " Go
ye into all the world,' and no exception for poor
healthy

" But the perils in your weak condition —
you don't begin to think how great they are."

" The dangers of the way and the weakness
of my body are His ; duty is mine."

" But the Indians will take you prisoner.
They are frantic for such captives. You will
never see your friends again." And the
strong man broke down, giving vent to the
anguish of his soul in a flood of tears.

Was it the wife who answered, or was it a
voice from the old time ?

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 1 25

" What mean ye to weep and to break
mine heart ? for I am ready, not to be bound
only, but also to die at Jerusalem," or in the
Rocky Mountains, " for the name of the Lord
Jesus."

*' Then," said the veteran, with a charming
simplicity, *' I had to come to it, I didn't know
anything."

" Well, you were crazy," we interposed,'' to
think of such a journey and she so weak."

" We were, but God meant to have us go.
He wanted to have an emigration go across
the mountains, and this was the way He took
to start it."

Mr. and Mrs. Spaulding continued their
journey and Whitman sending forward to his
bride to be ready, went back for his Indian
boys — they were then about sixteen years old
—and pressed on after them. There was a
hasty wedding by the way, and then the
bridal tour began.

But the strife of parting was not yet over.
At Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, St. Louis, all
along the way, hands were stretched out to
hold them back. Catlin at Pittsburgh, assured
them they could not take women through.
The hostile Indians that hover about the

126 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

convoy, would fight against any odds to cap-
ture them. One woman had tried it, but the
company was massacred, and she was dragged
away and never heard of again. Mrs. Spauld-
ing was especially beset with these tales of
horror. "But," said the husband with an
honest pride, " it did not move her a hair."

A SUNDAY ON SHORE.

The party took boats at Pittsburgh. Satur-
day night found them between Cairo and St.
Louis. Mrs. Spaulding, who seems to have
had a good share, both of the courage and the
conscience of the company, insisted that they
should be put on shore to spend Sunday.
The captain and the passengers laughed at
her scruples. " But," she said, " out on the
plains we shall be at the mercy of the Fur
Company, and must go on. Here we can
stop."

" But no boat will ever call at such an out-
of-the-way place as this, to take you off."

" We'll take the chances of that. Put us
on shore. The New England home mission-
ary marked that day in white, which brought
such a rare accession to his little meeting in
the school house. He said it was like an

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 1 27

angel's visit. Early Monday morning, a
great puffing was heard below, and a grand
steamer, better than the one they had left,
rounded to, at their signal, and took them
on board. Fifty miles above they overtook
the other boat, hopelessly stranded on a sand
bar.

At St. Louis, the missionaries found the
American Fur Company fitting out their an-
nual expedition for the mountains, but as the
two wives were of the party, they could not
have secured a place in the caravan, had not
Whitman been in special favor by his services
rendered the year before, when he rendered
invaluable aid on the breaking out of the
cholera in the camp and through his skill and
tact restored order and stayed the pestilence.
Having secured the company's pledge, they
pressed on by boat to Liberty Landing. Here
Spaulding purchased mules — wild, he found
them— fifteen or twenty horses, as many cows
and two wagons, not forgetting a quart of seed
wheat. With this retinue, he started for Coun-
cil Bluffs, while Whitman waited with the
women and the goods for the company's boat.
After some days that boat passed, purposely
leaving them behind. Through this bad

128 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

faith, he was obliged to send forward to Spauld-
ing for horses,and to overtake him, as he could,
by land. This part of the trip was peculiarly
trying. Spaulding especially, who for his
wife's sake, was not yet altogether happy in
going, seemed to be the sport of a very ill
.fortune. A tornado scattered his cattle, swept
away his tent, tore his blankets from him while
suffering from ague, and left him to be
drenched by the rain.

It did not help the case any to learn, when
they were within twenty-five miles of Council
Bluffs, that the Fur Company's convoy had
started, and were already five and a half days
out on the plains.

" 'Twas a poor chance," said the narrator,
" for us greenhorns. They were old trappers
with fresh horses, while our teams were already
jaded." And I said^for I was terribly sick —
" we can't overtake them, we shall have to go
back." But my wife constantly affirmed, " I
have started for the Rocky Mountains and I
expect to go there !"

And now commenced a series of marked in-
terpositions. It was pure faith and not sight
at all to push on after that cavalcade. The
trappers evidently designed to keep ahead, and

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 129

induce the missionaries to turn back. Bui to
secure the protection of the convoy was
indispensable.

"It was a desperate race," said the. mis-
sionary, kindling at the remembrance, " but
we won it. They had to halt and fill up
ravines and make roads. This detained them
four days. After various detentions, at Soup
Fork, still four other days were lost in find-
ing the ford, and drying their goods, wet in
crossing. Meanwhile, we were pressing on
behind and the Lord helped us. The day
before we reached Soup Fork, we rode from
daylight till two o'clock at night. One horse
broke down and was turned loose, and my
wife fainted by the way. A signal gun at
the ford brought answer from the other side
and we camped. The convoy started early
in the morning, but left a man to show us
across, and late that night, we missionaries
filed into their camp and took the place
reserved for us, two messes west of the
captain's tent, and so we won the race by
two lengths ! " Once among them, nothing
could exceed the kindness of the men. The
choicest buffalo morsels were always kept for
our ladies, but now, sick or well, we had to

130 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

go on. We were two hundred souls and six
hundred animals. Every thing was in the
strictest military order, for hostile Indians
continually hovered on our flanks. At night,
we camped with the animals solid in the
center. The tents and wagons were disposed
around them, and outside of all, sentinels
marched their steady round. Each day, two
hunters and two packers went out for Buffalo.
Each night, save when we had lost the way,
they overtook us at the appointed camp with
four mule loads of meat. This was our only
subsistence."

" Did they never fail to find game ?"

" Yes, once or twice, and then we had to go
hungry,"

On the 6th of June, we were at Fort Laramie.
Wife was growing weaker and weaker.

" You must stay here," said the captain ;
" Mrs. Spaulding will die for want of bread."

" No," said she, " I started to go over the
mountains in the name of my Saviour, and I
must go on."

July fourth, they entered the South Pass.
Mrs. Spaulding fainted that morning and she

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 13I

herself thought she was about to die. As they
laid her upon the ground she said : " Don't
put me on that horse again. Leave me and
save yourselves. Tell mother I am glad I
came."

But the caravan stopped on the "divide" and
sent back for her and she was borne on. She
soon revived and three hours afterward they
saw the waters trickling toward the Pacific.
And there— it was Independence Day— they,
alighting from their horses and kneeling on
the western slope of the continent, with the
Bible in one hand and our national flag in the
other, took possession of it as the home of
American mothers and of the church of
Christ.

Just beyond, was the great mountain ren-
dezvous, the end of the convoy's route, a kind
of neutral ground where multitudes of Indians
were gathered for trade. There were rough
mountaineers there, who had not seen a white
woman since they had left the homes of their
childhood. Some of them came to meet the
missionaries and wept as they took their wives
by the hand. " From that day," said one of

132 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

them, " I was a better man." But best of all,
here met them a greeting party of the Nez-
Perces. '' They were the happiest men you
ever saw." Their women took possession of
Mrs. Spauldingand the gladness they showed,
not less than the biscuit-root and the trout
with which they fed her, revived her spirit.
From that hour she began to mend ; and
from that hour, her future and theirs were
one. Ten days of rest here, and the journey
was resumed. The remainder of the way, if
shorter, was no less perilous and they had
asked in dismay, " What shall we do for a
convoy ? " But God took care of them. He
sent an English trading company to the ren-
dezvous that year — an unusual thing — and
with them, they completed their journey. It
was the twenty-ninth of November when they
reached the Columbia river. They had left
civilization the 21st of May, a long journey,
but not the trip of two summers to which they
had made up their minds.

And now they were at home, amid a nation
that had no homes ; they had found a resting-
place among restless wanderers. But faith
had become sight — the first battle had been
fought and won. White women had come

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 133

safely over the mountains ; cattle and horses
had been kept secure from Indian raiders ; a
wagon had been brought through, '' the first
wheel that had ever pressed the sageT

Whitman had demonstrated to himself that
an emieration could cross from Missouri to
Oregon ; and when, six years afterward, he
led a company of a thousand along the same
track, he demonstrated it to the world, and
saved Oregon, and with it California, to the
United States.

The old missionary's story is not half told,
but we must cut it short. Whitman took the
Cayuses at Waiilatpu, near Walla Walla;
Spaulding camped 120 miles farther up the
Snake river, among the Nez-Perces. He
found a people without a hoe or plow, or hoof
of cattle ; savages, who feasted when the hunt
was good,but starved through the long winters.
Eleven years afterward they were settled in
homes ; their crops of grain had reached from
20,000 to 30,000 bushels a year. The cows
which the missionaries brought,had multiplied
for the Indians into numerous herds ; gardens
and orchards were planted ; the sheep, which
the Sandwich Islanders gave them, had grown
to flocks. In the school which Mrs. Spauld-
ing taught were five hundred pupils ; a church

134 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

of a hundred members had been gathered.
The language of the people had been reduced
to writing. A patriarchal government with a
code of laws had been established ; the Sab-
bath was observed. Upon the first printing
press west of the mountains, and that pre-
sented to the mission by the native church at
Honolulu, (the type-setting, press-work and
binding done by the missionary's own hand)
were printed a few school books, the native
code of laws, a small collection of hymns, and
the gospel of Matthew.

And then came the terrible martyrdom of
Dr. Whitman. Spaulding, visiting him at
the time, fled for his life to his faithful Nez-
Perces. Six days he was without food, feel-
ing his way, sore-footed, by night, and hiding
when the dawn appeared.

There was a hasty gathering of the house-
hold, a journey of two hundred miles to the
settlements in mid-winter, and the mission
came to an end. Almost blind himself, and
broken in constitution, he watched for many
months by the bed-side of his wife, dying from
that exposure — watched till she passed
through the river to the Celestial Mountains
and the Land beyond.

" The dead are there where rolls the Oregon."

THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION. 135

But again the "blood of the martyrs"
proved " the seed of the church." Eventually,
Mr. Spaulding returned to his loved field of
labor among the faithful Nez-Perces and from
a young missionary, consecrated to that work
two years after the interview which we have
described, we received a most interesting let-
ter, in which is the following, under date Nez-
Perces, Indian Reserve, Aug. 6, 1872 :

" I can only write now of the topic which I
think will most interest you : The election of
this people to the brotherhood in the kingdom
of God's dear son. Of our revered Brother
Spaulding's early labors and sacrifices among
them, and the martrydom of his angel wife
you have undoubtedly heard. But though the
exile of Brother Spaulding from his beloved
people continued through a period of twenty-
four years, the light did not all go out.
Through the long twenty-four years, the voice
of prayer did not cease, nor were the hymns
and the translated passages of Scripture laid
aside, but were sacredly kept and used."

The noble policy of President Grant
restored to them again, their beloved pastor,
and the seed which he had sown in tears, so
many years before, now seemed to need but

136 THE PIMA INDIAN MISSION.

his presence (as the warmth of the sun) to
cause it to spring up and ''bring forth fruit
abundantly."

On his return to his field of labor at Lap-
wai, a new generation met him (only eighteen
of his former church being left); but the
fathers had taught the children to watch and
pray for the return of their old pastor, and
they received him and the word of life which
he spoke, with an eager welcome. Within one
week, over eighty were added to the church,
and the great work went on.

There are already two old men and seven
young men, who preach acceptably in the
native language. We aim at the conversion
of the whole tribe, which numbers nearly three
thousand."

In taking leave of our readers, if any
apology should seem necessary for bringing to
them our personal reminiscences, we can only
say that the story of the two missions which
we have related, it is hoped may be blessed
of God to the " sending forth laborers into
his harvest."

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