90 BLACK CANON TO GREAT BEND —INTERVIEW WITH CAIROOK. 
distant mountain, still maintaining their rapid gait towards the villages of the Mojaves. This 
performance argues that the latter Indians, as well as the Mormons and Pai-utes, entertain a 
lively interest in all our proceedings. 
Violent gusts of wind have retarded our progress, and the temporary loss of some of the 
mules that had strayed off in a useless search after better fare delayed the pack-train. We 
have camped together at the foot of the Pyramid cafion, under the lee of the Bull’s Head 
rock. There is no grass, and the half-starved animals are trying to fill their stomachs with 
dry twigs of the desert growth. 
Ireteba has not returned. It appears that even this steadfast old friend has deserted us. 
Ihave sent Nah-vah-roo-pa to tell Cairook and the chiefs that we shall be at their villages 
to-morrow, and that they must come into camp and have a talk. : 
For the last week the days have been raw and blustering, in uncomfortable contrast to the 
delightful, balmy weather experienced during the month of February. 
Camp 60, Sitgreaves’s Pass, March 23.—A cold, raw wind followed us from the Pyramid 
cafion until the bottom lands of the Mojave valley were reached, and then, as if by magic, the 
temperature became soft and warm. Not an Indian appeared upon the banks—a great contrast 
to the scene of our departure, when a crowd of friendly looking faces occupied every little 
promontory and knoll. One or two bars caused detention, and the pack-train arrived a little 
before us. Camp was made on the east bank, at the point where the wagon road of Mr. Beale 
strikes the river. A few of the Mojaves made their appearance before dark, with an air as 
though doubtful of the reception they might meet. They had little to say, and seemed to 
have come principally to spy out the condition of things. I received them as usual, and told 
them to let Cairook know that I wanted to see him. 
A strong guard was kept till morning, but the night passed without disturbance. The next 
day the Indians came straggling into the vicinity until a large number were collected. They 
were all armed, and unaccompanied by women and children. Our own party had their weapons 
ready, and were in too good a position for defence to tempt an attack from a party provided 
with nothing better than bows and arrows and clubs. About noon Cairook came to see me. 
He was much embarrassed, and it was some time before I could get any satisfactory explanation 
of the changed state of affairs. After a vast amount of beating around the bush, and panto- 
mime, and interpreting, he at last, however, told a distinct story. While in the Cottonwood 
valley I had given a Mojave a note to carry to Lieutenant Tipton, in which I asked him to 
push on and join us as rapidly as possible. The Indian had delayed his departure, and by so 
doing had encountered the scouting party of Mormons, one of whom had taken the note from 
him and destroyed it. The startled messenger communicated the fact to the rest of his tribe, 
and they believing that we would blame them for the breach of faith and be disposed to 
resent it, and half persuaded by the Mormons that we had evil designs against them and their 
possessions, were prepared for immediate hostilities. I inquired of Cairook, with anxiety, 
whether the other messenger, who had taken our mail from the Black cafion and had after- 
wards met the Mormons, had likewise allowed his bundle of letters to be torn up. Cairook 
assured me that he had not. That, on the contrary, fearing lest the package in his charge 
might be tampered with, he had made off as fast as he could, and was far advanced on the 
road to Fort Yuma.* | 
When Cairook had made a clean breast of it, he opened a pouch that he held in his hand, 
and taking from it a folded paper, handed the latter tome. I found that it was a kind of 
recommendation that had been given to him many years before by one of the Mormon leaders. 
To any paper of this description Indians attach a superstitious value, and Cairook evinced no 
slight degree of magnanimity when, in a spirit of fair dealing, he informed me by signs that 
: ° I afterwards learned that this was strictly true, and that the letters had been safely delivered. 
