ON THE GREAT SANDY DESERT. 157 



made to answer the double purpose of head-dress and goblet : 

 a convenient arrangement. 



These Indians were of the Pah-Utah tribe, and were similar 

 in physical appearance and attire to their brethren of the Rio 

 Virgin, whom they, however, excelled in impudence. As they 

 were continually and vociferously crying for shetcop (some- 

 thing to eat), and as our conductors wished particularly to 

 gain their good will, a call was issued to our company for 

 alms in the shape of flour for the famished Diggers. This 

 was made by the captain and was responded to with right good 

 will by the different messes, so that enough of flour was raised 

 to make three kettles of " hasty pudding." The Diggers, in 

 hopes that they would not be disturbed by the " Americats " 

 in their culinary operations, repaired with their provender to 

 a little distance from our encampment, where they built fires, 

 and placing over them the camp-kettles filled to the brim with 

 an uninviting mixture of flour and water, squatted around 

 them, waiting anxiously for the decoction to come to a boil- 

 ing point. Two old and withered gentlemen, the patriarchs 

 of the flock, were the appointed chefs de ceremonie, their 

 business being to stir the pudding, a task they performed 

 with becoming gravity, while their juniors looked on with 

 mouths watering as they thought of the forthcoming feast. 

 It was as much as the venerable cooks could do to keep the 

 others from pitching pell-mell into the provender before it 

 was half cooked. As soon as it had reached the scalding 

 notch, the famished guests made a rush, and with wild cries 

 crowded around the mess like so many swine each one fearful 

 of not getting his share. Such pushing, scrambling and 

 yelling I never beheld. Some would get their cups full of the 

 beverage and sneak off to some locality where they could 

 enjoy it unobserved, while others would dip their hands into 

 the scalding contents of the kettles and lick them with evident 

 relish. In the uproar about as much was spilled as was eaten, 



