THE YAQUI INDIANS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2242, 18 February 1897, Page 50

THE YAQUI INDIANS.

The YBqui Indians are the most populous aboriginal tribe dwelling in the Mexican province of Sonora. Before the advent of the Spaniards they were the most numerous and powerful race in Northern Mexico, and were then, as now, an exceedingly peaceful people. They lilled the soil and raised large crops of grain, and even engaged in many of the minor manufactures, making an excellent pottery, and weaving blankets and woollen fabrics, which they exported or traded with their neighbours. Since the Spanish conquest wherever they have been left to themselves they have remained an independent, self -supporting people; but that inherent faculty for oppression and extortion everywhere common to Spanish peoples has decimated their numbers and driven many of them' into open rebellion against the recognised authorities. Shortly after the arrival of the Spaniards thousands of these Indianß were enslaved and driven at the point of the musket to

himself, it will be seen that it is no diffioult matter for him to be invariably in debt. This system is bad enough as oondnoted on the haciendas, bat it is infinitely worse in the mines, where many of the Yaqais are yet worked and overworked in a manner that reminds one of the days of Oortes Shamefully as he has been misused for generations, erery one who comes in oontaot with the Yaqui gives him credit for being a good, industrious Indian. Neithar better nor worse than other plaoes in Senora is the treatment acoorded to him on the Llanos and Cienega Concession. These mines support in luxury a score of wealthy families in the city of Mexico, and as many indolent, dissipated Mexican overseers in the province of Sonor*, who squander at th« gaming tables in Her* mosillo and Quay mas thousands of pounds with a nonchalance that is only to be accounted for by the fact that they feel secure in anever-ending supply of the precious metal to be garnered at their order by a herd of docile Indians. It is estimated that the gold from this concession, which is worth £3 15b an ounce, costs only 17s an ounce to produce. Down in Hermosillo the Government of Sonora considers it has an Indian question. So it has in a manner, one that it has railed itself, and for which it is entirely responsible. Mexican-like, the Sonora Govern*ment some years ago confiscated the lands along the course of the Yaqui River, which had from time immemorial been owned by the Ysqui tribe. This land the Government recently sold to an American company, which intends, after directing the Yaqui River over its fertile soil, to raite large crops of tobacco and coffee for the European markets. Angered at what they consider a barefaced robbery, a portion of the tribe went on the warpath, and bade defiance to the troopß sent against them. For over 20 years has the Government tried to subjugate

ment without ever being sent to gaol, with the same eoonomical end in view. This method of recruiting the army prevails to a greater or less extent all through Mexico, and is more particularly the rule in the province of Sonora, where not infrequently a whole regiment, barring the noncommissioned and commissioned officers, is composed of criminals. With a regiment so recruited it is not surprising that there are many desertions, and that esprit de corps is entirely lacking. Before going to the front these criminal soldiers have often been given but three or four weeks' drill In company and regimental movements. This is perhaps considered enough to gat them to the point where the enemy are to be found, but it is not sufficient to inculcate discipline and enable them to overcome the Yaqui with his demoralising style of warfare. Under these circumstances, no one ought to be surprised that the Yaquis still hold up their flag and laugh at the Government. So repeatedly have they beaten the troops sent against them that they do not now look upon war at all serioutly ; indeed, they rather enjoy it than otherwise, sometimes provoking it just to get possession of the commissariat waggons with their contents, and thß titles and ammunition of the troops. Of the Yaquis on the warpath, the number is relatively veiy small, and the fighting strength of the tribe is kept up in this way. As soon as the chief is informed by his scouts that a detachment of soldiers is advancing to demand his surrender, or to exterminate his band of followers, he at once sends out messengers in every direction to the district where he knows bodies of his clansmen are working. In a short while, by twos and threes, they straggle io, and coming from many quarters they bwbll the Yaqui army to respectable proportions. After haviDg 3tayed away from their em-