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Portrait of "Fig Tree John"

Currency:USD Category:Western Americana Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 300.00 USD
Portrait of  Fig Tree John
SOLD
100.00USD+ (24.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2016 Dec 12 @ 13:21UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
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Portrait of the enigmatic Fig Tree John. He was a Coachella Valley legend in his own time. Although considered kind and likeable by many, he also developed a reputation as one tough dude. Armed with an old, busted-up Winchester and wearing a cold, poker-faced expression, the old man threatened to shoot any trespassers. Fig Tree was a shrewd trader and frequently used his string of horses as bait. After having made the sale of a horse to some passing prospector, Fig Tree and his wife would ride into the general store at Mecca, near Indio. The cagey Cahuilla Indian then made his purchases with gold dust or small nuggets, giving rise to the belief that he had a secret gold mine somewhere in the Santa Rosa Mountains. "Fig Tree John" is a striking character of the Mission Indian tribe. He is said to be 102 years old and he bears the scars of fifty battles. He mocks at the present day hunters of his tribe who shoot rabbits and squirrels, for in his day the braves brought home scalps of the enemy as trophies of the chase. (from The Sun News) The portrait is from the collection of Mayor Evans, Riverside, CA. State: California City: Date: c. 1915 FHWAC#: 41934