MOJAVE VALLEY—VISIT FROM CAIROOK. 69 
ayment for his services—some cloth, beads, cotton, and fancy articles, which he forthwith 
distributed, retaining nothing for himself but a handsome red scarf ; this caught his fancy so 
strongly that he could not part with it, but twisted it about his head, turban fashion, where it 
excited general admiration. Their tastes are very arbitrary. Small white beads they highly 
prize; blue and red beads they will not accept as a gift, with the exception of a single variety 
of large blue glass beads, which they intersperse with the white in their necklaces; for cloth 
or blankets, red is the color most esteemed; white cotton and any kind of clothing they are 
glad to procure. Apart from their fondness for beads, their tastes are generally for things that 
are useful; and for paints, ribbons, imitation jewelry, feathers, &c., they have a contempt. 
We left José and his clan looking very much pleased at the result of the morning’s negotia- 
tions, and their friendly demeanor has relieved Mariano and Capitan from a load of anxiety. 
Their position would be a delicate one in the event of hostilities, as it might create unpleasant 
complications between the Yumas and Mojaves. I think Mariano, though a good-natured old 
fellow, would run away were there to be any fighting; but Capitan seems disposed to stand by 
our side. He quite surprised us by the bold and decided ground he took last night. Any 
outbreak would be a cause for much regret. Besides our reliance upon the Indians for pro- 
visions, our little party of twenty-four, in an open boat, half the time stuck upon a bar, could be 
greatly harassed by six or seven hundred men concealed in the thickets that often line the 
banks of the river. 
On the same day that we bade farewell to José we passed another of the chiefs, whom they 
call Manuel. He was seated in state on the bank, with his tribe around him; but it was not 
convenient to stop, and when camp was reached at evening I learned that we were beyond 
the limits of his domain, and that it would not comport with his dignity to visit us. 
The next day we remained in camp. During the morning, while passing in and out of the 
boat, [remarked an Indian seated for a long time near the end of the plank. At last I observed 
that he was constantly regarding me with a half smiling, half embarrassed air, and, looking at 
him more intently, discovered that it was my old friend Ireteba. He had been too modest to 
introduce himself. He was delighted at being recognized, and at the cordial greeting he 
received. He told me that his chief, ‘‘ Cairook,’’ lived across the river, and would soon come 
to. see me. I at once proposed to Ireteba to accompany me on the boat, and upon the arrival 
of the pack train to go with us eastward; and he expressed his willingness to do so. I judged 
from his appearance that he was very poor, and gave him some blankets and other articles. 
When he and Cairook parted from Lieutenant Whipple they were loaded with enough presents 
to make them rich, according to an Indian’s notions, for the rest of their lives; but it is the 
custom of the Mojaves to burn their property when a relation dies to whose memory they wish 
to pay especial honor, so that wealth is held by as uncertain a tenure as life. 
The appearance of a great crowd upon the opposite bank indicated the presence of Cairook, 
and in a few minutes a messenger swam the river, and asked me to send a boat over. This it 
was impossible to do, as the skiff had been hauled upon the bank for repairs that were not yet 
completed, and there was no steam up. I was, therefore, obliged to send word that he must 
furnish his own transportation. The river was deep, and it was inconsistent with his dignity 
to make the first grand entré into camp dripping with water; and after a good deal of commo- 
tion and delay he hit upon a truly regal method of crossing. A raft was provided, and four of 
his tribe, one swimming at each corner, conveyed him over. He stood erect in the centre, and 
the water, for an acre or two around, was alive with his swimming followers. The meeting 
was friendly and pleasant. Cairook is a noble looking man. He is nearly six feet anda half 
high, and has a magnificent figure and a fine open face. He seemed glad to see me, and laughed 
@ great deal as he alluded to former adventures. He inquired particularly for Lieutenant 
Whipple, for whom he had conceived an exalted opinion. Many of his tribe remember, and 
have been recalling, incidents of that expedition. Among other things, they were inquisitive 
