Kroeber, A.L. & G.B. Kroeber
1994 A Mohave War Reminiscence: 1854-1880 (reprint). New York: Dover.
Notes: Originally published 1973 by University of California Press, UC Publications in Anthropology Series v. 10. x, 97 p.: ill., map; 24 cm. ISBN: 0486281639.Reviewed 30 Jan 2001 by:
John Gill <johngi@datacom.co.nz>
12 Huia Rd, Hataitai, Wellignton, New ZealandMedium: Written Literature Subject
Keywords:Mohave Indians - Wars
Mohave Indians - History - 19th century
ABSTRACT: This is a minor classic. In the Mohave territory in 1903, Alfred Kroeber interviewed and informant through an interpreter for two days about Mohave warfare in the 1855 to 1880 period. The work is incomplete, and the methodology is weak, but some professional issues arise which could benefit anthropology students, especially those studying method.
The core of A Mohave War Reminiscence 1854 -1880 is a two day interview of Jo Nelson (Chooksa nomar) by Alfred Kroeber, in 1903. Through a Mohave interpreter, Jack Jones, Sr. (Quinchnailk) Alfred Kroeber made longhand notes of the discussion and in subsequent years identified many of the place names mentioned by Chooksa homar in his reminiscence.Alfred Kroeber has published other works (not reviewed) on the Mohave, and is regarded to have been a well respected authority on the Mohave in the early 20th century. Alfred Kroebar was interested in Mohave warfare and Chooksa homar describes thirteen episodes of inter-tribal war and war with the 'Americans' from 1854 to 1880 (more of that later).
In 1958, Clifton Kroeber was visiting his father and helped with the final stages of editing. In particular, he was trying to date various events. Clifton Kroeber ultimately worked on the manuscript from 1958 to 1970 and it was eventually published in 1973.
The earliest depicted event dates to 1854, when Chooksa homar was a child. Some of the events he saw firsthand, some he participated in, and others he had only heard about from others in the tribe over the previous 50 years.
Between Alfred and Clifton it took another 70 years to get the manuscript published. At no time did further enquiry or interview take place with Chooksa homer or others in the tribe to verify or clarify events. Their goal was to seek confirmation through non-native, 'American', records. The time lag from fieldwork to publishing does weaken this work.
Clifton Kroeber comments that the questions asked may have limited the scope of the reminiscence. Some known episodes of war were omitted. He suggests that this may be because his father's questions excluded some events, or that some of the narrative had been excluded, or that Chooksa did not know about some events, or that for some reason he did not wish to disclose what he knew about the episode.
The Kroebers did not put much historical context into their reminescence. The Mohave Museum of History and Arts, on the Internet1, claims a Mohave population of 6,000 at first contact, and a current population of 335 today. Even allowing for spurious accuracy, there is surely a story to tell about the Mohave and the 'Americans' that is not told by the Kroebers.
The Kroebars describe a hostile tribe, motivated by a range of factors but with a habit of aggression and frequent incursions into other peoples' territories. Alfred Kroeber goes so far as to say that the Mohave fought for pleasure. The Mohave Museum has a different opinion, that they were not a warlike, generally only acting in self defense or to recover stolen property, including kidnapped women.
Part one is the reminiscence, while in part two the Kroebars offer their own commentary. One episode is about the 'first conflict' with the 'Americans', the story of the ambush of an emigrant wagon train en route to California. There had actually been hostile encounters before; for example, in 1830, the Ogden trapping party killed 26 Mohave, but Chooksa does not mention the episode. With the emigrant wagon train the flash point was probably the identification of women, children and cattle, whose presence could have suggested settlement to the Mohave. In the ensuing attack, nine 'Americans' were killed and the remainder were only saved by other wagon trains and the US Army as they fled back to Albuquerque.
Another episode describes the arrival of US troops, come to quell the troublesome natives. The Mohave drew attention to themselves but the encounter with the expanding interests of the US government was likely inevitable. The Mohave faced an army ready for war, and wisely sued for peace.
Communication was in Spanish, though two interpreters. There really must be doubt about how well they understood the negotiations, especially when both sides spoke with more bravado that was justified by the circumstances.
At the end of the negotiations the 'Americans' took hostages. The Mohave had no idea of what being a hostage entailed. They did not know where they were being taken, what they were expected to do while they were there, and they did not know how long they would be held hostage. We can not be sure that the hostage takers knew the answers either, the Kroebers describe this encounter as 'two resolute men in bloodless conflict' (p. 65).
Another episode involved a night raid on another tribe. Unlike the Krobers, the Mohave Museum notes the Mohave were one of the few tribes to not fear fighting at night. Indeed this practice gave them an edge in tribal conflicts.
Overall the Mohave War Reminiscence is an interesting piece of work with some potential for classroom use in studying method. Reprinting the Kroebers' work ensures continued access to this valuable ethnographic data on Contact-era Mohave life. However, at this point it really needs an introduction to provide a broader historical and cultural context.
1 See Carroll S. Farley, 1973, "War Life Of The Mohaves" online at the Mohave Museum of History and Arts, Kingman, Arizona: http://www.ctaz.com/~mocohist/museum/mohave5.htm (visited 02/29/2000).
To cite this review, the American Anthropological Association recommends the following style:
Gill, John
2001 Review of A Mohave War Reminiscence: 1854-1880 (reprint). Anthropology Review Database. January 30. Electronic document, http://wings.buffalo.edu/ARD/cgi/showme.cgi?keycode=103, accessed November 22, 2009.© Anthropology Review Database
(available online: http://wings.buffalo.edu/ARD/)