Cajuenche Indians. A Yuman tribe speaking the Cocopa dialect and residing in 1775-76 on the east bank of the Rio Colorado below the mouth of the Gila, next to the Quigyuma, their rancherias extending south to about lat. 32° 33º and into central south California, about lat. 33° 08′, where they met the Comeya. At the date named the Cajuenche are said to have numbered 3,000 and to have been enemies of the Cocopa 1 . Of the disappearance of the tribe practically nothing is known, but if they are identical with the Cawina, or Quokim, as they seem to be, they had become reduced to a mere remnant by 1851, owing to constant wars with the Yuma.
As of 1905 Bartlett reported only 10 survivors living with the Pima and Maricopa, only one of whom understood his native language, which was said to differ from the Pima and Maricopa. Merced, San Jacome, and San Sebastian have been mentioned as Cajuenche rancherias.
Citations:
- Garcés, Diary, 443, 1900[↩]