MOJAVE VALLEY TO BIG CANON—DIAMOND RIVER. 101 
lands of New Mexico, presenting, perhaps, the most splendid exposure of stratified rocks that 
there is in the world. 
A few of the Hualpais paid us a visit, but their intelligence is of so low an order that it is 
impossible to glean information from them, and’their filthiness makes them objectionable. Our 
new guides seemed to think we should have difficulty in ascending to the portion of the plateau 
which they traverse on the way to higher points upon the river. The route they ordinarily 
pursue follows the cafion of Diamond creek, but this they pronounced impracticable for mules, 
and said that we must retrace our course for several miles in order to strike a more circuitous, 
but easier trail, that ascended one of the branch cafions. 
Following their advice and guidance, yesterday morning we toiled up the rough road by 
which we had come, for six miles, when they struck off into a side ravine that led towards the 
southeast. Half a mile from the mouth, the Hualpais told Ireteba that our camping place was 
just ahead, and scrambling over the summit of a hill, in a minute were both out of sight. For 
a mile we kept on, every few moments coming to a fork, where the selection of the right road 
was left to chance. There was a network of caiions, and the probabilities were that nine out 
of ten would lead to an impassable precipice. The ascent became so rough that it was already 
Fig. 32.—Side Cafions of the Colorado. 
almost impracticable for the mules, and at last the Mojaves stopped, declaring that they had 
lost their way, and had no idea how to find the camping place or the water, and that the 
Hualpais were a very bad set. This opinion no one was inclined just then to dispute. I how- 
ever asked one of the Indians to go back and endeavor to find the deserters or some other 
member of their tribe. We waited impatiently half an hour, and then the order was given to 
countermarch, for I intended to search for the route by which we had come; but before going 
far, the little Hualpais came back. He seemed amused that we should not have been able to 
nd the water, and again took his place at the head of the column. He conducted us for two 
