ORIGIN OF THE COLORADO INDIANS. 43 
ever, to return to his people and dwell with them forever; and the time of his coming is 
believed by them to be near at hand. The narrator then became enthusiastic in the anticipa- 
tion of that event, which is expected to realize the Indian’s hopes of paradise upon earth. 
Much that he said was incomprehensible. The principal idea suggested was the identity of 
their deliverer, coming from the east, with the Montezuma of the Pueblo Indians; or, perhaps, 
the Messiah of Israel; and yet the name of Montezuma seemed perfectly unknown to our 
Indian guide. His ideas of a future existence appeared to us somewhat vague and undefined. 
The Mojaves (he said) were accustomed to burn the bodies of the dead; but they believe that 
an undying soul rises from the ashes of the deceased, and takes its flight over the mountains 
and waters eastward to the happy spirit-land. 
Leroux says that he has been told by a priest in California, that the Colorado Indians were 
Aztecs, driven from Mexico at the time of the conquest by Cortez. He thinks the circle repre- 
sents thait ancient city, and the water spoken of refers to the surrounding lakes. This idea 
derives some plausibility from the fact, mentioned by Alarcon, that in his memorable expedi- 
tion up the Colorado river in 1540, he met tribes that spoke the same language as his Indian 
interpreters who accompanied him from the city of Mexico or Culiacan. 
t is to be regretted that we had not a better medium of communication with this people, as, 
upon this subject, much that is interesting might be learned from them. They have not yet 
received from white men any impressions to conflict with, or to change, the traditions handed 
down from their ancestors. They seem to be isolated, even from the Pueblo Indians of New 
Mexico. Although a blanket made by Moquis, and a sash of Zuñi manufacture, were found 
among them, they stated that these had been brought to them by Paiutes and Yampais Indians. 
