■ 'Ex. Doc. No. 41. 87 



, Though fewer in numLer, they appear to be superior in intelligence 

 and personal appearance. 



Don Jose Messio is their governor, and, like the governor of the 

 Pimos, holds his office by the appointment of the Mexican governor 

 of California. The people have no choice in the selection. Both 

 these Indians are respectable looking old men, and seem to be 

 really worthy of the trust reposed in them. 



We had not been long in camp before a dense column of dust 

 down the river announced the approach of the Maricopas, some on 

 foot, but mostly on horseback. They came into camp at full speed, 

 unarmed, and in the most confident manner, bringing water melons, 

 meal, pinole, and salt, for trade. The salt is taken from the plains- 

 wherever there are bottoms which have no natural drainage, the 

 salt effloresces and is skimmed from the surface of the earth. It 

 was brought to us, both in the crystallized form, and in the form 

 when first collected, mixed with earth. * 



My camp was selected on the side towards the villao-e, and the 

 constant, galloping of horses rendered it difficult for ''me to take 

 satisfactory observations, which I was desirous of doing, as it is 

 an important- station. When I placed my horizon on the ground, 

 Mound that the galloping of a horse five hundred yards off affected 

 the mercury, and prevented a perfectly reflected image of the stars, 

 and It was in vain to hope for these restless Maricopas to keep 

 quiet. News got about of my dealings with the stars, and my 

 camp was crowded the whole time. . 



^vJn*^ n'^'''^'' °^ ^^'^ ''^^P ^y ^^<^^ observations as the Maricopas 

 wouUl allow me to make, was 33^ 09' 28", and the longitude 112^ 



V^Zll'"^}'' ^l f/^ 14.-\Vith"the morning came the Maricopas 

 Women, dressed like the Pimos. They are somewhat taller, and 



nospr^^'^'^ '\''''^ "^^ forcibly, that while the men had aquiline 

 mpnl 1^°'^ ^^^ women were refrousses. Finding the trade in 

 anH L 1 ?u^''.'^' t^^^y collected in squads about the different fires, 



Mr T^^ ^^ ^'"^ '''''^ ^'^'^^ ^^'^^' j°^^^ ^^'^ "^^'^y peals of laughter, 

 of ;|~^^^°^^ spectacles were a great source of merriment. Some 



thpL .. """^^"^ ^^^ '"^^^ ^^^^^ ^"^^ ^^^'^ aid, he could see through 

 othpr''°f^^ blankets. They would shrink and hide behind each 

 nose f *^^s approach. At length, T placed the spectacles on the 



eTnU- ^/.°^'i \voman, who became acquainted with their use and 

 explained it to the others. 



findincr^^^f notified that a long journey was to be made without 

 eourric ^ ' ^*^ ^"^^ °^^^ elbow in the river,) and the demand for 

 four .? •''^' "^^ ^ greater than the supply. Onelarge gourd cost me 

 interRr f"^^ °;, ^ ^^^ ^^^'^^' '^^^'^^ ^'^^ thought a high price. The 

 side of th' ^-1° ^"^'^^^ us to the Casa Montezuma, on the north 



and a half fh ^^^'^ *^^^ °^ *^^ ^^^^ "^^^' *^^^^ ^ "^^^'^ journey 

 all re<?n t' e ^*as one of those buildings standing, complete in 



With h? iVf ^^P^ ^^^ ^°°" ^^^ ^°°^- ^e sa^^ ^* ^^^ ^'^O' large, 

 ia b.iii]^^ V ^^^^^^ wallsj that the footsteps of the men employed 

 imiVr • ^ ^°^^^ ^^^^^ ye* ^e seen in the adobe, and that the 



pression was that of a naked foot. Whenever a rain comes, the 



