30 ON THE PEONTIEE. 



practical but desperately dangerous ; " however, as we in- 

 curred all the danger, and he would receive much credit 

 should one of the hostile Indian bands be got on to a 

 reservation, he was persuaded, though with evident reluctance 

 and with many recommendations as to the observance of 

 caution, to accept our offer as a volunteer service, for he 

 declared he would not have it on his conscience to order any 

 men on such a hazardous expedition. 



The following night we set out a party of five, in 

 buckskin trousers and hunting-shirts, moccasins on our 

 feet, well-mounted on unshod Californian nags, heavily 

 armed, lightly provisioned, and prepared at all points to 

 run or fight ; every man of us as well able to take care 

 of himself, if it came to a case of scatter and sauve qui 

 pent, as any one in the country, while at the same time 

 each knew he could count on the rest standing by him if 

 necessary, at the cost of their lives. To such a party, an 

 expedition of the kind was one whose hazard, and the 

 feeling of calm excitement (if such an expression be 

 permissible) engendered by its risks, made it a pleasure- 

 trip. 



After stealing our way along the mountain ridges for a few 

 nights, and watching from good look-outs in the day-time, 

 we found the Indian band we sought where, considering the 

 time of the year, we had expected they would be, in the lava 

 beds of the Black Canon district. 



We could see them far away below us, looking like 

 animated dots ; bucks, squaws, and papooses, all engaged in 

 gathering their tuna harvest. 



Tunas are the fruit of the prickly pear or Indian fig, a 



