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AND THE ADJACENT COUNTRY. 173 
Indians approached the soldiers, and drew their fire, 
when a large number, who lay in ambush, rushed upon 
them with the short clubs which form their principal 
weapon, and put them all to death. Major Heintzelman 
in turn sent several parties against them, and drove 
them all from the banks of the Colorado for some 
eighty miles above, destroying their corn fields and 
their villages. They had been so cruel and treache- 
rous to the various parties of Americans passing 
here, and had manifested so much hostility towards 
the troops, that it was found useless to attempt to 
conciliate them, or make any treaty with them, 
unless they themselves were forced to come in and ask 
it. They have often made treaties with the Mexicans, 
only to break them when a favorable opportunity 
offered to plunder andemurder. ‘When Lieutenant 
Whipple was here, in 1849, with a party of engineers, 
to determine the point of junction between the two 
rivers, and establish the monuments on the boundary 
line, he remained several months among them, on 
_ terms of intimacy and friendship.* 
One afternoon while here, Major Heintzelman and 
myself made some experiments to ascertain the velocity 
_ of the Colorado below the junction. The result gave 
us.5¢ miles per hour. But it must be remembered 
* Since the above was written, Major Heintzelman has been com- 
pletely successful in reducing ‘the Yumas. He pressed them so hard 
that they at length came in and begged for peace, which was at once 
Sranted them, and a treaty made. They now occupy the rich bottom- 
lands near Fort Yuma, which they cultivate, raising wheat, corn, melons, 
hs, etc.; and the best feeling exists between them and the Ameri- 
