34 MOUTH OF THE COLORADO—DEPARTURE OF CAPTAIN WALSH. 
of cotton. While the steamboats were unloading both males and females sat in groups about 
the decks, watching the hands at work, and having a good time themselves doing nothing. 
The rumor of the preparation of an expedition to ascend the Colorado was long ago circu- 
lated among the adjacent tribes, and has occasioned much interest and excitement. I am told 
that curious inquiries have been made of the troops by the Indians about Fort Yuma as to the 
object of the enterprise, and the half understood replies have been transmitted, with many 
amplifications, up and down the river, occasioning all kinds of surmises concerning our pur- 
poses and probable movements. None of the Cocopas were disposed to cultivate us, nor was 
there much in the appearance of the camp to tempt them from their comfortable quarters on the 
steamboats. We could see, nevertheless, that our operations engrossed a good deal of their 
attention and conversation, and that nothing escaped their keen-sighted inspection. The size 
and appearance of our unfinished boat evidently disappointed them, and I think they, regarded 
it, and the expedition altogether, as rather a poor affair, and derived much amusement there- 
from. One or two long-legged fellows, the wits of the party, were foremost in facetious criti- 
cism. They seemed to be pointing out to their female companions our makeshifts and defi- 
ciency in numbers, and were, no doubt, very funny at our expense, for their sallies were 
received by the young belles with great favor and constant bursts of merriment. 
Before the steamboats left, I was so fortunate as to secure the services of Mr. Robinson, who 
is to accompany me up the Colorado as pilot, for which duty his experience on the river emi- 
nently qualifies him. He has gone to Fort Yuma with Captain Johnson, but intends to join 
me in a skiff at the end of the month, at which time I informed him that I should be ready to 
start, though the steamboat people think I will not be able to get the boat launched much 
before the Ist of February. A great source of anxiety is removed now that I have engaged a 
capable person for that responsible position. 
The work upon the steamboat has meanwhile gone busily on. The riveting of the sections 
has been completed, and the joists have been bolted upon the bottom, making the hull, to all 
appearances, abundantly stiff and strong. The arrangements for lowering the boiler into place 
were entered upon with some trepidation. A pair of ways had first to be made, conducting to 
the bottom of the boat, and then the heavy mass hoisted upon the upper end, from whence it 
could slide down into position. The breaking of a rope, or of one of the half rotten sticks of 
timber, would have brought the whole concern suddenly upon the hull, which it would have 
crushed like an eggshell; but nothing gave way, and at noon to-day we had the satisfaction of 
seeing the task safely finished. 
The digging of the channel from the pit to the river was then commenced, and the men” 
labored hard at it till dark, almost completing that also. 
December 21.—On the morning of the 18th a northwester set in, and, with the exception of 
a short lull yesterday, has been raging furiously up to the present time. The river has been 
overspread with 4 thick haze, a high sea running, and the spray driven by the gale over the 
flats. The tents were strongly secured, particularly the observing tents, for the transit was in 
good adjustment, and I hoped that it would not be disturbed. For one day and night the 
result was doubtful, but yesterday morning a gust came that settled the business, and put an 
end to a very unpleasant state of suspense. One rope and tent-peg still held on, forming a 
fixed centre, about which the tent was whirling and waving like a handkerchief, thumping 
against the transit stand, and undoing the labor of many a long night. The photographic tent 
made a clean thing of it, apparatus and all, but that was comparatively of little importance. 
Our friend, the captain, has had a miserable time getting in his mud ballast, and, I think, 
has wished himself back in the gulley. The current and shoals and the loose bottom made 
his position a dangerous one. I suppose he found he could not stand it any longer, for he 
tripped anchor this morning and made a precipitate retreat, the Monterey looking as though 
she were being cuffed out into the Gulf, while Captain Walsh, with hair and coat skirts stand- 
