PI'UTE. A name loosely applied to vari ous small bands of Shoshonean stock (q.v.), scattered over the arid region between the Rocky Mountains and the Sierras, from the Colorado almost to the Columbia, in Nevada, northwestern Arizona, eastern California and Oregon, western Utah, and southern Idaho. According to Powell, who took a census of the bands in 1873, the name properly belongs only to those living in or ad joining southwestern Utah, while those now gathered upon Pyramid Lake and Walker River reservations in Nevada. popularly and officially recognized as are really of another tribe and language. which he calls Paviotso. Still others he classes with the Shoshoni and Banak. As there is practically no tribal cohesion, and hut few cultural differences among the various bands. the only classification must come from a close study of the dialects. A few hands, as the Cheinebuevi along the Colorado in northwestern Arizona. and the Mono in the Sierras of eastern California, have acquired a separate tribal recog nition. Those of Oregon and the north are fre quently known also as Snakes. See SHOSHONI. The meaning of the popular name is unknown; they themselves pronounce it. in three syllables, Pai-u-ti. Those on Walker River Reservation, and probably the others as well, desginate them selves by the common Shoshonean term ;chola, `People.' • Living in a country too barren, as a rule. for agriculture or large game. the Piute subsisted chiefly upon wild seeds. berries, and roots, grass hoppers, and jack rabbits, with fish and ducks from the few scattered lakes. Their houses were the so-called wikiups, low, dome-shaped or elliptical structures open at the top, covered with mats woven from rushes, and equipped with a variety of well-made baskets, but other wise destitute of furnishing. They formerly
went nearly naked, excepting in the coldest Nveather, when they wrapped around their bodies thick blankets woven from jack-rabbit skins cut into strips with the hair left intact. Their ordinary weapons were the bow and arrow and club. They did not use the lance or shield, and very few owned horses. The dead were usually cremated. Although stolid and apparently of low mental type as compared with the Plains tribes and their kindred, the Banak and Ute, they seem to hold their own well in the presence of civilization, and several of their men have at different times acquired reputation and influ ence far beyond their own boundaries. The Ghost Dance religion, the greatest Indian religions movement of modern times, originated among the Pinte of Walker River Reservation. Some of the bands were hostile up to 1864, since which time treaties of peace have been made and a large number assigned to reservations. As a people they are now efficient workers among the whites, avoid the vices of civilization, wear citizen :s dress, are healthy and apparently increasing. Those officially designated as Pinte are in Cali fornia, near Fort Bidwell, 200; in Oregon, Kla math and Warmsprings agencies, 185; in Utah, near Saint George, 100; in Nevada, Pyramid Lake, Walker River, and Wester, Shoshoni agen cies, 1300; "not under an agent," about 3700.