AND THE ADJACENT COUNTRY. 157 
G. W. Paige, with twenty-seven men as an escort, to 
accompany the Commission to the Pimo Villages. They 
commenced crossing the Colorado to-day; but, owing 
to the swiftness of the current, were so unfortunate as 
to swamp their boat, which was laden with provisions. 
Excepting this accident, the parties of Lieutenants 
Whipple and Paige got safely over, and encamped on 
the margin of the river. 
June 14th. Sent the cattle over to-day, a more 
troublesome task than was expected. As they refused 
to lie down in the small scow, they were lassoed and 
thrown, and then drawn into it by their feet with 
mules. Qnce, just as the scow reached the opposite 
bank, one of the cattle broke loose, leaped into the 
river, and swam back; the current carrying him so far 
down, that he escaped into the woods, and could not 
again be found. 
June 15th. While the parties were still engaged 
ingetting across the river, I took occasion to make 
repairs on the wagons. My small wagon, in addition 
to the axle-tree, had given out in other places. An 
examination showed plainly that it was an article 
“made to sell,” and not to use. Every portion was 
found defective, all flaws being carefully covered up 
with paint. With no other conveyance than this for 
our long journey, Dr. Webb and I had a poor prospect 
ahead. The Doctor’s riding mule was among the num- 
ber stolen. The wagon we had picked up on the 
desert was found to be loose in many parts, requiring 
repairs. In consequence of the loss in horses and 
mules that we had sustained by the Yumas, we 
Were obliged to add some hundred pounds to each 
