66 MOJAVE VALLEY—DESCRIPTION OF VALLEY—MOJAVE INDIANS. 
bluffs, and terminated by a narrow gateway, we issued from the hills and beheld the broad 
and noble valley of the Mojaves spread before us. 
At this season of the year, before the burning heat has withered the freshness and beauty 
of the early vegetation, this valley, of course, appears in the most attractive aspect. It may 
be that the eye, weary of the monotonous sterility of the country below, is disposed to exag- 
gerate its charms, but as we first saw it, clothed in spring attire, and bathed in all the splendor 
of a brilliant morning’s sunlight, the scene was so lovely that there was a universal expression 
of admiration and delight. Towards the north, to the limit of vision, the tortuous course of 
the river could be traced through a belt of alluvial land, varying from one or two to six or 
seven miles in width, and garnished with inviting meadows, with broad groves of willow and 
mezquite, and promising fields of grain. From either border of this glistening expanse, and 
contrasting with its emerald hue, rose dark gray terraces, leading, with regular steps, to the 
bases of lofty mountain chains, whose bold and picturesque outlines are so softened by the 
distance as to harmonize with the smiling scene below. A pale blue haze, singularly trans- 
parent and delicate, lends an exquisite tint both to mountain and valley. 
As the steamer emerged from the cafion the Mojaves began to cluster upon the banks, and 
I was glad to see, from the presence of the women and children, that they had no immediate 
hostile intentions. A chief, with a train of followers in single file, approached the edge of 
the bank to pay his respects, but as it was not convenient just then to stop, I made signs to him 
to visit us in camp at evening. All day the Indians have followed us, examining the boat and 
its occupants with eager curiosity. They, on their side, have been subjected to critical 
inspection, which they can stand better than any of the tribes that live below. The men, as 
a general rule, have noble figures, and*the stature of some is gigantic. Having no clothing 
but a strip of cotton, their fine proportions are displayed to the greatest advantage. Most of 
them have intelligent countenances and an agreeable expression. The women, over the age 
of eighteen or twenty, are almost invariably short and stout, with fat, good-natured faces. 
Their only article of dress is a short petticoat, made of strips of bark, and sticking out about 
eight inches behind. Some of the younger girls are very pretty and have slender, graceful 
figures. The children wear only the apparel in which they were born, and have a precocious, 
impish look. Their delight to-day has been to mimic the man at the bow who takes the 
soundings, every call being echoed from the bank with amusing fidelity of tone and accent. 
At some of the prominent points as many as fifty women and girls would be collected, pre- 
senting, with their brilliant eyes and teeth, an agreeable picture. They regard the steamboat 
with a ludicrous mixture of amusement, admiration, and distrust. The stern wheel particu- 
larly excites remark. It is painted red, their favorite color, and why it should turn around 
without any one touching it is evidently the theme of constant wonder and speculation. The 
little babies form a remarkable feature of the group. Those that are very young the mothers, 
with unusual good judgment, bn ee of by tying them in a wooden arrangement, shaped like 
an old fashioned watch case, h may be carried in the hand as conveniently as a walking 
stick, or ‘suspended to a tree, per the infant thus be securely and at the same time conve- 
away till required for nursing. When a few months older, they are taken out of 
carried upon the projecting petticoat, where they sit astraddle, with their legs 
. a waist and their little fists tightly clutched in her fat sides, They have 
: ession, and their faces may always be seen peering from under their 
Pbeia 3 ut what is going on. They nurse without moving their position, 
vate their mouths at aslight angle. It is rare for one of them to utter a 
attributed to the judicious system of their early training. 
into camp large crowds surrounded us, and numbers, both of the men and 
and beans to to trade. Of the latter they have seven or eight varieties. 
t 5 ees and they seemed nawalling to come to any 
