Between 1500 and 1700 the name Jumanos was used to identify at least three distinct bands of Native Americans each living in a different region. One area was along the Rio Grande and Rio Concho rivers in West Texas, in Old Mexico and in New Mexico. Another was on the Southern Plains and the third area is less know and was between the Rio Grande and the plains. The Jumanos have been identified as and with the Patarabueye, the Conchos and the Otomoaco. The Jumanos were very nomadic at times and would be found all over Texas by the Spanish who lumped all nomadic, tattooed indians under one label. Many Texas tribes had tattoos, but the Spanish had no way of knowing this. The Otomoaco Indians of the late sixteenth century seem to have been the same people later known as Patarabueyes, who are generally considered to be Jumano Indians. The name Patarabueye has been used to refer to the agricultural branch of the Jumanos and the name Jumano to refer to the nomadic, bison-hunting branch of the Jumanos.

More information on the current state of the Jumanos can be found at Ojinaga Home Page.

Back to Indians in Texas

Back to Texas main page.