44 MOUTH OF THE COLORADO TO FORT YUMA—START FROM FORT YUMA. 
lishment, however, has brought into entire subjection the Yuma Indians, who had been a 
scourge to their neighbors and to California emigrants. They area fierce and cruel tribe, 
but a much finer race, physically, than the Cocopas. The men are powerfully built and the 
women better looking. As is always the case, they have deteriorated since the whites have 
come among them, and many of their former warriors are now idle loafers about the fort and 
inveterate pilferers and beggars. At present they are in a state of much excitement. There 
is a settlement of Mormons not far from the Colorado, a few hundred miles above, and it is 
rumored that some of that people have been among the upper tribes of Indians, telling them 
of their difficulties with the other whites and endeavoring to secure their alliance. There is 
an impression among these Indians that the Mormons contemplate, before long, descending the 
Colorado, which corresponds with a rumor brought from the east by the latest mail of a pro- 
jected movement into Sonora. The commanding officer of the fort, Lieutenant Winder, a few 
days ago, sent Lieutenant White, with a detachment of men, up the river, with Captain 
Johnson, to make a reconnoissance and endeavor to ascertain the truth of these reports. 
The fact that my expedition, just at this time, is preparing to ascend the Colorado, has 
much exercised the Indians above, who are jealous of any encroachment into their territory. 
I have tried in vain to secure the services of one or two Yumas to accompany me as inter- 
preters. They all seem to be unwilling to go, but Lieutenant Winder has kindly taken the 
matter in hand and sent for the chief of the tribe, to prevail upon him, if possible, to make 
the detail. 
The river still continues to fall. The Indians say that they have never seen it solow. We 
shall be able to test the experiment of navigation at as unfavorable a stage of the water as 
will probably ever be experienced. The load upon the boat is to be made as light as possible. 
Only six weeks provisions and such arms, ammunition, and luggage as are indispensable, are 
to be taken along, but it will be impossible to reduce her draught to less than two and a half 
feet, owing to her small size and heavy boiler and engine. The fore and. aft pieces that Mr. 
Carroll bolted upon the bottom have answered the purpose for which they were intended, in 
giving the requisite strength and stiffness to the hull, but they add to the difficulty of working 
over bars and are apt to catch upon snags. The trip from the mouth of the river has developed 
several deficiencies which we are ‘oar endeavoring to have remedied. With the assistance 
of Lieutenant W inder and the steaml oat company some extra lines and rudders have been 
obstacles we expect to encounter in the ascent of the unknown river above. 
