18 COLORADO INDIANS.—PAH-UTAHS. 
Tallig yq 3,000 
Cajuenches (Cuchans ?) 2,000 
Yumas 3,000 
Ta-ma-jábs (Mojaves ?)...... 3,000 
Talched 3,000* 
Cucapa (Cocopas ?) 3,000 
Making in all 17,000 
Therefore, supposing the above estimates both approximately correct, the number of Indians 
in the Colorado valley has considerably diminished since the beginning of the present century. 
To what has been related in the Itinerary, illustrative of the character of the Indiaus of this 
valley, little will be added here. By all who have seen them, they are considered superior, 
both in mental capacity and in physical development, to others of their race in this section of 
the continent. Of their bravery our troops have had experience in a contest with the Yumas, 
who are a branch from the same stock as the Mojaves ; but it is believed that they prefer peace to 
war, and fight only upon their own soil for the preservation of their independence and the pro- 
tection of their homes. It is true, they are extremely jealous of the presence of strangers among 
them. The missions of San Pablo and San Pedro, established at the mouth of Rio Gila about 
a century since, were tolerated for a short time only. The Indians, doubtless, suspected that 
their liberties were menaced, and, therefore, put an end to those establishments, by killing the 
priests and destroying their dwellings. About fifty or sixty years ago, some Spanish adven- 
turers established a colony upon a portion of the wide and fertile bottom lands of the Colorado, 
and, after a brief residence, experienced the same fate as the missionaries. From ten to fifteen 
miles from the river, the ruins of their acequias, now overgrown with large mezquite trees, 
are still visible. In 1849, numerous emigrants to California passed through this country, and 
gave many accounts of the hostility of the Yumas. But, in investigating the causes of the 
troubles, it appeared that the Americans, by appropriating the maize belonging to the Indians, 
had been the first aggressors ; and that, too, after having received from the natives great assist- 
ance in crossing the river. At this time government troops were sent to the Colorado, and, by 
kind treatment of the Indians during a stay of two months, restored friendly relations between 
them and the emigrants. Afterwards, a band of outlaws, from the frontiers of the United States 
and Mexico, established a ferry below the mouth of Rio Gila, and imposed many restraints 
and indignities upon the natives. The latter took advantage of their first opportunity, and ` 
exterminated the party. This led to a contest with our troops, who, after several sanguinary 
engagements, succeeded in restoring peace. 
The rude, untutored savage, without doubt, believes that he has a right to the spot where 
his wigwam stands—to the fields where his maize and melons grow—to the land which has 
been cultivated by his forefathers since time immemorial. Hecan see no reason why he should 
yield up his home and the graves of his ancestors to the first grasping white man who covets 
the spot. If the privileges, which nature has led this people to expect, are not secured to them, 
or some satisfactory compensation substituted, another Indian war may be the result, and the 
tribes upon the Colorado annihilated. It is hoped that they may be saved from such a melan- 
choly fate by the prompt and generous interference of the government. 
West of Rio Colorado we enter the range of the widely extended Utah nation. Those that 
roam over the region traversed by us, call themselves Paiutes,t and are closely allied to those 
that massacred the party of the lamented Captain Gunnison. This band probably does not 
number above 300 persons. Though supposed to maintain a scanty and precarious subsistence, 
* No number is specified in the original manuscript; but this tribe is represented as being about equal with the rest. 
1 José Cortez, in chapter vi, writes the name Payuches. 
