BLACK CANON TO GREAT BEND—DEPARTURE FROM RIVER. 91 
I was at liberty to destroy it. His face beamed with delight when I told him that I had no 
wish to do so, and restored it to him. I further assured him that he had been humbugged by 
the Mormons, and that so far from having designs upon the Mojave valley, we intended to at 
once take our departure from it. Upon this he delivered to his people an earnest speech, 
which was respectfully listened to, and had the effect of altogether restoring harmony. Before 
night the Indians were about camp as usual, without weapons, and in company with the women 
and children. Ireteba came back after the interview with his chief, greatly pleased that good 
feeling had been restored. He told me that he and two other Mojaves had been detailed by 
Cairook to accompany the land party, and were to guide us to some point on the Colorado 
above the Great Bend. 
I now hastened the preparations for departure, being anxious to leave before anything could 
happen to interrupt the harmonious relations with our fickle neighbors. A rupture with the 
Mojaves would have seriously interfered with the progress of the expedition. The land explo- 
rations would have been delayed and perhaps altogether disconcerted. With foes on the 
bank, it would have been impossible for the steamboat party to descend the river without a 
detachment on either shore to defend them from attack, and this would have necessitated the 
return of all the members of the expedition to Fort Yuma. I now made an almost equal 
division of the force. The officers of the Explorer, with Messrs. Taylor, Bielawski, and 
Booker, half of the escort, and all but three of my men, were selected to go back with the 
boat. Dr. Newberry, Messrs. Egloffstein, Mollhausen, and Peacock, three laborers, the Mex- 
ican packers, together with twenty soldiers, commanded by Lieutenant Tipton, composed the 
land party. The notes and collections were placed in charge of Mr. Taylor to transport to 
Washington. The preparation of maps, reports, and letters, the division of provisions, and 
selection of the articles to be carried across the plains, occupied a large portion of the night. 
By eight this morning the steamboat detachment was ready to leave, and our friends on the 
Explorer bid us good-by and were soon out of sight beyond a turn of the river. 
The first arrangement and adjustment of the packs occupied two or three hours, and it was 
almost noon by the time we were prepared to start. Ireteba and his two friends appeared 
punctually and took their place at the head of the train. A Yuma Indian, who had accompanied 
Lieutenant Tipton from the fort, expressed a desire to go along, and was allowed to do so. 
Cairook came to bid us farewell. I was never before so struck with his noble appearance. 
When he shook hands his head was almost on a level with mine as he stood beside the mule 
on which I was sitting. He indicated his wishes that we might have a successful trip, and 
remained watching the train till it was out of sight, waving his hand and smiling his adieus. 
We all felt regret at parting with him, for he had proved himself a staunch friend.* 
“This excellent chief is no longer living. Not many months after our departure a difficulty occurred between the 
Mojaves and a party of emigrants, in which some of the latter were killed. A detachment of troops, enqeenty ordered to 
the valley, was fired upon by the Indians, and a large force was sent to obtain satisfaction. The Mojaves made peace by 
surrendering eight or nine of their principal men as security for the future good behavior of the rest. Cairook Meneses om 
to go as a hostage, and was taken to Fort Yuma and confined, with his companions, in the guard-house. The r 
became irksome and galling to their wild natures, and to Cairock in particular it was almost intolerable. His faithfal follower, 
Ireteba, visited him several times during his confinement, and one day made an eloquent appeal in his behalf to Lieutenant 
Tipton, who was again on duty at the fort. He recounted in moving terms the services Cairook had rendered, both to 
Lieutenant Whipple’s party and to my own, and begged that he might be set free. Of course Lieutenant Tipton esched 
power to grant the request, but this Ireteba could not comprehend, and went away grievously disappointed, saying that if 
the ‘‘commandante ”’ (a title he had formerly applied to me) were there he knew the favor would not be refused. 
When the chief learned the failure of the mission he made a characteristic ition to his brother ane for the 
termination of his own and their confinement. At certain hours they were all permitted to come out for fresh air upon the 
rful man, to seize and hold the sentinel and allow the ret to 
- escape. ; sits 
front of the guard-house, they made a sudden rush down the hill towards the river, Cairook at the same instant PUSS 
the sentinel in his arms. He was bayoneted on the spot by the members of the geen, The fagitre . 
Some were killed and some escaped. None were retaken alive. The survivors carried to the tribe the story of their chief's ; G 
self-sacrifice, and the only son of Cairook, a fine boy, has since been regarded by the Mojaves almost with veneration. 
