56 FORT YUMA TO MOJAVE CANON— ENGAGEMENT OF MAIL-CARRIER. 
shoals, where the Colorado is divided by islands into numerous channels, and the navigation is 
more difficult than any yet experienced. One bar would scarcely be passed before another 
would be encountered, and we were three days in accomplishing a distance of nine miles. A 
boat drawing six inches less water, and without any timbers attached to the bottom, could have 
probably made the same distance in three hours. The ascent of the river, under the circum- 
stances, promises to be a tedious business; and as our provisions are half consumed, Lieutenant 
' Tipton took advantage of an opportunity afforded a few days ago by our meeting Captain 
Johnson, with Lieutenant White and party, returning to the fort, and went back with them in 
order to bring up the pack-train. 
This slow progress and the long detentions, though dull enough for us, have been a source of 
intense satisfaction and fun to the spectators on the banks. The Yumas are no longer seen. 
Our sharp witted friends, the Chemehuevis, seem to have exclusive possession of the upper 
end of the valley. Not having the same experience in steamers as the former tribe, for they 
seldom go to Fort Yuma, they have doubtless watched with great curiosity for the long- 
expected boat. If we had anticipated inspiring them with awe or admiration, we should be 
sadly disappointed, for I am sure they regard our method of ascending the river with unaffected 
contempt. They have been demonstrating to Mariano and Capitan—who are disposed to 
espouse our side, and yet are a little ashamed of being in such ridiculous company—how vastly 
inferior our mode of locomotion is to theirs. They can foot it on the shore, or pole along a 
raft upon the river without interruption; and that we should spend days in doing what they 
can accomplish in half as many hours, strikes them as unaccountably stupid. The gleeful 
consciousness of superiority at all events keeps them in an excellent humor. When we reached 
the Sand Island shoals, as usual, they were awaiting the approach of the steamer at points 
opposite to the bars. At first our troubles oczasioned them unqualified delight. They watched 
the boat with breathless eagerness as we tried in vain to get through one place after another, 
and every time she ran aground a peal of laughter would ring from the bank; but after a while 
our mishaps appeared to move their compassion, and some one of them would run ahead, and 
point out to Captain Robinson the part of the bar that had the greatest depth upon it, which 
their frequent fording of the stream often enabled them to know. An old woman, among 
others, endeavored to help the captain along, but as we approached the place she indicated 
his knowledge of the river showed him that it would not do, and he sheered off without making 
the trial. The benevolence of the old hag was at once converted into rage, and with clenched 
fists and flaming eyes she followed along the bank, screaming at the captain, as long as he was 
in hearing, a volley of maledictions. 
At evening, when we go into camp, they come to visit us in great numbers. As long as 
their women and children are about we know that they have no hostile intentions, but sentinels 
are always posted, and exactly at sunset I make every Indian leave the camp limits. At first 
I think they entertained a dim mistrust of my right to eject them thus summarily from their 
own premises, but habit is everything, and now they all go away at sundown as a matter of 
course. A few evenings ago, being visited by a chief of apparently some importance, I pre- 
vailed upon him to send a runner to Fort Yuma for the mail, and after a little trouble he found 
a volunteer. A great deal of haggling and changing of mind had to be gone through with 
before a bargain was concluded, but finally the Indian was satisfied, and promised to return for 
our letters on the next day. After once making an agreement, I have never known one of 
them to recede from it, and punctually at the time appointed he came for the package. We 
were near falling out from his demanding to be paid in advance, but the matter was com- 
promised by his receiving a red blanket, and consenting to wait till his return for the balance 
of the payment agreed upon. He told me that he would reach the fort in three days, rest a 
day, return in three days, and that in one more day he could accomplish the distance that we 
