Family Album of Cacti

The builders and the people who lived at Casa Grande were hard-working artisans. Here is shown pottery made by the Hohokam people, who were the early inhabitants of the area. The early painted wares have bands of small figures or lines painted in red on the buff-colored vessels. The copper bells, above, were made from native copper, the technique probably being learned from the Indians of northern Mexico. Apparently forced into this area by drought, they had previously inhabited the territory surrounding the headwaters of the Salt River, and had migrated into the lower Gila and Salt River valleys some time in the last of the 13th century. From 1300 A. D. at the latest, until approximately 1450, these two races dwelt together in the numerous villages they built, apparently without friction, and likewise with very little intermarriage or interchange of ideas, until some as yet unexplained calamity, or series of calam ities drove them from their villages and forced them to seek homes elsewhere.

In regard to their means of living, both the Hohakam and the later Salado were agriculturists, farming the level valley floors by means of irrigation, which was just as necessary two thousand years ago as it is today in this portion of the arid southwest. Their principal crops were corn and cotton, with squash, pumpkin, and beans cultivated as well. Wild game afforded a variety of fare, whenever it could be obtained, although it is indicated corn and wild plants afforded them their chief food staples. Aerial photography reveals a total of about 125 miles of prehistoric irrigation canals in the Salt River Valley, some over 30 feet wide at the top, and 6 to 10 feet deep, running from the original river source as much as 10 miles distant.

The history of the rise and fall of the civilization which built and inhabited the Casa Grande is only conjectural but the ruins themselves present much interesting material to the student. These people probably came into the valley as immigrant farmers looking for new lands, and the opportunities for agricultural pursuits must have appealed to them. One of their first steps was the construction of an irrigation system, the remains of which are still visible. Housing was also one of the first problems, and finally the need for defensive construction for protection from their enemies. When the valley people were at their prosperous stage, there were probably between 15,000 and 20,000 of them in the Gila and Salt River Valleys.

This multi-storied house was probably evolved as a defensive measure. As a watch tower it must have proved a good investment, for from its top one can see over the country within a radius of ten miles. From this tower could be sent signals which would tell the neighboring Pueblos of the attack or of the approach of the enemy. The enemy, whoever they were, probably came into the fields in small groups, and actually could not be discerned from the watch tower, but a warning cry from the fields could be heard from the tower and other workers in the field warned that the enemy was in the vicinity. Hearing or seeing such a warning from the tower, the workers could run to the aid of their fellow workers, or run to the shelter of the compound walls. The other villages in the vicinity could also be warned to be on the lookout for the raiders should they pass their way. Even with this watch tower, it is possible that raiding tribes became too strong for the valley dwellers, and year after year they lost a larger percentage of their crops and a larger number of warriors than they could afford to lose, until they at last de-cided to abandon the country. Waterlogging, lowering of the river level and the resulting water shortage, floods, famine, disease, and religion are given as other possible reasons for the abandonment.

The first written record of the Casa Grande having been seen by white man occurs in the journal and reports of the in-trepid Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, the pioneer missionary among the Indians of this region, and founder of Tumacacori Mission, another of our Southwestern National Monu-ments. Juan Mateo Mange was commis-sioned to accompany the missionaries on their perilous journeys among the strange and sometimes hostile tribes of the region. In June of the year 1694, while making a reconnaissance toward the north of Kino's mission Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, Mange heard of some casas grandes, massive and very high. The news was communicated to Kino and shortly afterwards was confirmed by some Indians who visited Mission Dolores from San Xavier del Bac. He set out north-ward from his headquarters and speaks in his journals of his arrival at several Indian Pueblos on the bank of the Gila River, near which stood the ruins of many ancient vil-lages, and which contained several "casas grandes." He made another visit on a later trip to the largest in which he said mass. The house was described as large and ancient and certainly four stories high, and "having walls nearly two varas in thickness, polished to the lustre of fine pottery." From that time onward for nearly 200 years the Casa In the walls of Casa Grande Ruin are inscribed names of travelers who passed through the decades. The earliest name found is that of "P. Weaver, 1832." Pauline Weaver, one of Arizona's earliest white citizens, is noted in the annals of the west as a trail blazer, trapper and hunter.

Grande, or "Casa de Moctezuma," as it was sometimes called, seems to have been a land-mark for early Spanish and American explorers, soldiers, and missionaries who passed through the Gila Valley, many of whom have written reference to the structure.

These were great construction engineers in more ways than one. Besides the problems they had to contend with in the construction of the walls, they had to build doorways and roofs in this Big House. Because the doorways were small, there was no great problem in getting lintels for this short span, but when it came to roof timbers (Turn to Page 34) In the drama of pre-historic peoples in the southwest, the Salados followed the Hohokams upon the scene. Shown here are types of Salado pottery taken from the ruins about Casa Grande. Especially note-worthy is the intricacy of design shown in these pieces. These served as water jars, cooking vessels, and ladles.

Most famed member in Arizona's family album of cacti is the Saguaro, whose blossom is the state flower. It is well equipped to withstand the severest drought, its pulpy interior serving as a reservoir. The blossom is white and satiny.

Necessary to cut away the tough surface, in order to reach the pulp. After the plup is cut into rectangular blocks, it is soaked in lye water to remove the bitterness, then washed several times and boiled in a strong sugar and water solution to tenderize and sweeten. The chief value of the product is its appeal to tourists, though many people of the region where the Candy Cactus grows make the candy for a delicacy.

It is common hearsay that a Barrel Cactus can supply a thirsty desert traveler with water. The methods used to get the water vary considerably, according to popular opinion. Some have been heard to express the opinion that a hole bored or pounded into the interior will free enough water to quench thirst. Some authorities, in a number of publications on cacti, agree that in order to get to the water, the top of the plant must be cleaved, and the pulp pounded to free the water. The Barrel Cactus is so named because of its shape. Blossoms take on multicolors and are arranged in a circle on the tip of the stem. A delicacy, cactus candy, is made from this cactus.

Starting from a seed sheltered among rocks and scanty brush, the Saguaro has a remarkable growth. At ten years of age it is only about four inches high, and in thirty years it attains a height of only three or four feet. It is still in its youth at this age! During the next twenty years it has a more rapid growth, reaching maturity between the ages of fifty and seventy years. It is estimated that this tree will live from 150 to 300 years, bearing fruit each year after maturity.

THE BARREL CACTUS

Another conspicuous genus of the Cactaceae is the Echinocactus, which includes a group of cacti known as the Barrel Cactus, Bisnaga, or Bisnagita. Other names sometimes used are Fishhook Cactus, Compass Cactus, Candy Cactus, and Water Barrel.

Though the Barrel Cactus is less pretentious in size and form than its near relative, the Saguaro, its numbers, varieties, peculiarities, and uses have gained attention and acquaintanceship from all lovers of desert flora.

The Barrel Cactus is distinctly globose when young, and matures into a more cylindrical plant, one to ten feet high and one to two feet in diameter. The barrel shaped appearance and stave-like ribs suggest the name, Barrel Cactus.

A variety of uses has been found for this cactus. Cactus candy is probably the most useful product. The candy is made from the pulpy interior. A knife or axe is neces-

sary to cut through the heavy spines and the thick skin to reach the moist pulp. Desert Indians are said to have used the pulp for food and water. A recent publication, however, disagrees with the idea that a refreshing drink can be obtained from this cactus, or any other, that pounding the pulp brings only a "mucilaginous consistency." The author agrees with the latter, after testing the Barrel Cactus for its drink-giving properties.

Many of the Barrel Cacti are found leaning toward the southwest due to the effect of the hot sun on this side of the plant. For this reason the Barrel Cactus is often called Compass Cactus, and reportedly has helped lost hikers and travelers to find their way.

Blossoms array themselves with the colors of the rainbow, and are arranged in a circle on the tip of the stem. They have a tendency to face the sun and change color with age.

JUMPING CACTUS

Well known to desert dwellers and visitors is the Jumping Cactus. The spiniest and fiercest of all the family, it is a formidable foe to the unwary hiker. It stands three to twelve feet high, and consists of a main stalk branching a few feet above the ground into many stems and joints which are densely covered with spines and spine-lets. The stems are easily dislodged, making hiking quite hazardous.

Pincushions are possibly the smallest of the cactus clan and are considered among the most highly developed plants of the cactus family.

Of reduced surface area, Pincushions have highly developed carrot-shaped roots which add to the storage capacity of the plants. The colors of their blossoms vary with the species.

The Night Blooming Cereus, often called "Queen of the Night," has a beautiful delicate blossom, which cannot resist the rays of the sun. Cactophiles regard the blossom as one of the most beautiful of all flowers.