CHAPTER III. 
FORT YUMA TO MOJAVE CANON. 
DEPARTURE FROM FORT YUMA.—INDIAN GUIDES.—YUMA SHOALS.—A BAD START.—PuRPLE HILLS.—EXPLORER’S PASS—ARRIVAL OF 
MAIL.—PURPLE HILL PASS.—REEDY BEND.—VARIETIES OF COLORING.—CANEBRAKE CANON. HIMNEY PEAK.—PRECIPICE BEND,— 
Rapip.—BarRRIER ISLAND.—THE SPIRES-—CHOCOLATE MOUNTAINS.—RED ROCK GATE.—THE SLEEPER.—LIGHT-HOUSE Ri 
PoRPHYRY GATE.—GREAT COLORADO VALLEY.—SNAGS AND SUNKEN ROCK8.—BARRENNESS OF REGION.—NATURAL HISTORY COLLEO- 
Mosave spies.—NortHER.— DrirtInG sAND.—MOJAVE RANGE.—THE NEEDLES —MovuntT WHIPPLE.—RETURN OF RUNNER WITH 
MAIL.—AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.—SHORT SUPPLY OF PROVISIONS.—TRADING WITH INDIANS.— DIspaRITY BETWEEN TEMPERATURES 
OF DAY AND NIGHT.— DIFFICULT RAPID.—MOJAVE CANON. 
Camp 12, Yuma shoals, January 11.—It was the intention this morning to make an early start; 
but the last preparations, as usual, consumed several hours of time, and it was nearly 11 when all 
of our party were collected at the wharf,everything put aboard,and steam gotten up. Our friends 
at the garrison came down to see us off, and the sides of the bluff were lined with Indians— 
men, women, and children—assembled to witness our departure, and, in spite of their distrust, 
delighted to have something to see and talk about. The urgent request of Lieutenant Winder 
to the chief had not failed of its effect, and the latter engaged (though reluctantly) that two 
Indians should accompany us—an old Diegeno, by the name of Mariano, and a young chief who 
had signalized himself by escaping unhurt from a recent memorable conflict with the Pimas 
and Maricopas,* and whom it pleased to be called the ‘‘ Capitan.’’ With an eye to theatrical 
effect, not at all uncommon with their race, my two recruits delayed making their appearance 
till the latest moment. We had bidden our friends good-bye, the plank was about to be hauled 
in, and I had begun to believe that the chief had played us a trick, when they came stalking 
* The Pimas and Maricopas live upon the Gila, one or two hundred miles above its mouth. They are peaceable, ae 
disposed Indians, and subsist principally upon the products they derive from cultivating the soil. 1 ha 
friendly to whites, but, from the time of the earliest records, bitter foes to the Yumas and Mojaves, who have been pane 
to regard them with contempt, as an inferior race. 
In the year 1856 the principal chief of the Yumas became mortally ill. Upon his death-bed he charged his tribe not to 
be remiss in hunting down their hated enemies, and prophesied that if they would, during the following year, organize an 
expedition against them, it would result in the latter’s complete overthrow. 
r the chief’s death the Yumas, regarding with superstitious reverence his dying injunctions, prepared 
attack upon the Pimas and Maricopas villages. They notified the Mojaves of their intention, and a al number of picked 
Mojave warriors united themselves to the party. The intended victims of the enterprise had meanwhile—through the 
offices, as is supposed, of the Cocopas—got wind of the meditated attack, and not only mustered is’ whole of their own 
force to repel it, but obtained assistance from the Papagos—a warlike tribe living within the province of Sonora. 
It was in the month of September, 1857, that the invading force, numbering between one hundred and one hundred and 
fifty of the most distinguished Yuma and Mojave warriors, set out for the Pimas villages, under the guidance of a prominent 
and ambitious Yuma chief. ‘They had no suspicion that their movement was anticipated, and the unprotected a appearance _ 
of the first village they catewest convinced them that they had been successful in effecting an entire surprise. The few 
inhabitants that were sauntering about fled in apparent terror, and were hotly pursued. The attacking party followed them 
beyond the entrance of a small cafion, where they suddenly found themselves surrounded by an overpowering force. They — 
attempted to fly, but finding that impossible, fought bravely to the last. The advantages of position and numbers were, i 
however, altogether against them, and rendered resistance hopeless. The contest lasted less than an hour. Out of the — 
whole number of assailants only three or four escaped to carry to these tribes the bitter tale of the discomfiture. a 
The moral effect of the defeat will long be felt. The very name of a Pima or Maricopa now inspires the Yumas and 
Mojaves with chagrin and dread. 
