72 MOJAVE VALLEY— RELATIONS WITH OTHER TRIBES. 
musicians to show ours how the thing ought to be done. ‘These artists performed a kind of 
chant, in a discordant, monotonous tone, and after making some of the most unearthly noises 
that I ever listened to, regarded us with an air of satisfied triumph. _I tried, by showing them 
the boundaries upon a map, to make them comprehend the extent of our nation, as compared 
with their own, and to explain the relative numbers of the inhabitants. The statements were 
received simply as a piece of absurd gasconade, and had the same effect as the visits of some 
of the chiefs of the northwestern Indians to the Atlantic cities, which have resulted in destroying 
the influence of the unfortunate ambassadors, by stamping them forever, in the estimation of 
their own tribes, as egregious liars. 
Two of the five great chiefs I have not met. One of them, named ‘¢Sikahot,’’ lives not far 
below our present camp, but we passed his territory without stopping, and like Manuel, he 
does not think it dignified to go beyond his own dominions to visit us. They think it due to 
their position to receive the first call. I had a long discussion with Cairook, Ireteba, and 
Mariano about it. They were desirous that I should see Sikahot, and importuned me to stop 
and visit him. This I was not anxious to do. For the sake of future parties that might visit 
the valley, I had determined not to encourage the expectation that they were to receive from 
the whites gratuities, but to exact always some equivalent in return for what should be given 
them. The others had rendered or agreed to render certain services, for which they had 
received payment, but of Sikahot there was nothing to be asked. I told Cairook, and the 
other Indians, that if I met their friend I could not give him anything, but that if he would 
bring flour I would pay him for it as I had paid them; that Indians never gave white men any 
presents, and ought not to expect any. This was an idea that had never occurred to them, 
and they could not help grinning at the fairness of the reasoning. All the crowd laughed 
when the remark was translated to them. 
It is a fact well known to those who have had much to do with Indians, that, as a rule, they 
never give anything to whites. Gratitude seems to be an element foreign to their nature. 
The only emotion that benefits excite in their breasts is a desire to receive more. The Mojaves 
have been uncontaminated by the vices that the approach of civilization engenders among 
Indians, and are. perhaps, rather superior to the generality of their race, but, as far as we can 
judge, they have, with few exceptions, certain qualities common to the Indian character. 
They are lazy, cruel, selfish, disgusting in their habits, and inveterate beggars. Even Cairook 
is not exempt from this last frailty, though, to do him justice, the things he asks for are seldom 
for himself. Treteba is the only one that I have never known to beg for anything. 
We have had such agreeable intercourse with the Colorado Indians that it is pleasant to be 
able to notice one good quality in them, and that is the exactitude with which they fulfil an 
agreement. On several occasions this has been called to our attention, and I am disposed to 
give them all credit for so honorable a characteristic. 
Chemehuevis and Yumas, and were 
aricopas, last September. At that 
f their best warriors. The Cocopa 
ntry, slaying and taking prisoners. 
em to offer much resistance to these 
hae rning to the Pimas, which resulted in 
Cocopas has been raised to the highest pitch by the ane bc ge against the 
this intervention of their despised foes.* eter the war party from 
®= The hatred which the Mojaves bear to this tribe, and the ferocity of their 
pond account, by an eye witness, of the treatment to which they subjected 
passions when excited, are exhibited in the fol- 
@ prisoner belonging to the Cocopa nation. The 
