The powerful missionary organizations, comprising as they do, hundreds of earnest workers, will accomplish much more for “Indian uplift” if they devote their energies to “pagan Whites” as well as to the pagan Indians. The worst people I have met had white, and not red skins. These men swarm about all Indian communities. Enough evidence against their character has been brought before the benevolent organizations and Washington, to convince the most skeptical. Suppose the Indians of a certain region were found to be swindling each other, importing whiskey, gambling, stealing and committing all sorts of crimes. Immediately half a dozen organizations would raise funds and send their best workers to “lead the pagans from darkness into light.” It has been clearly shown that the worst elements of our white race are responsible for the deplorable condition of thousands of Indians. Yet, I fail to observe any concerted effort to check this evil at its source. No one seems to realize that the “pagan White” is vastly more in need of reformation than his red brother. We have tried to save the Indian—meanwhile permitting whiskey and graft, immorality and greed, to continue virtually unchecked. We tell him to be upright, yet we surround him by examples of civilization, the antithesis of that which we preach. No wonder the Indian loses faith in us and our culture. Some wealthy man or woman will do the Indian a great and good service by liberally endowing a score of missions to labor among the “pagan Whites”, living near (or in) Indian communities. [Illustration: NAVAHO WOMAN WEAVING A BLANKET From “Indian Blankets and their Makers,” by G. W. James. ] ----- Footnote 51: My Friend the Indian, pages 80, 242, 245. Footnote 52: The Indian and His Problem, page 303. Footnote 53: Page 296. CHAPTER XXVIII. IRRIGATION PROJECTS The Indians of the Southwest in both ancient and modern times built dams, dug irrigation canals and watered certain tracts more or less extensive in area. The subject of agriculture as conducted in arid regions by the Indians is an exceedingly interesting one and has been treated briefly by Doctor Hodge in the Handbook of American Indians. Many of the modern canals in Arizona, New Mexico and California follow the old ditches dug by the Cliff Dwellers, Pueblos and other tribes. Excepting the Apaches and Comanches, probably all southwestern Indians understood and made use of irrigation in the raising of crops.