192 FORT YUMA 
A number of the fish called by Major Emory the 
“Gila trout” were caught near our camp by Mr. 
Pratt with a hook and line. They proved very pala 
table, where fresh fish is such a rarity ; but the flesh is 
quite soft, owing to the warmth of the water, and 
would scarcely be tolerated on the tables of the Atlan- 
tic coast. ‘Ata little distance,” says Major E., “ you 
will imagine the fish covered with delicate scales; 
but, on a closer examination, you will find that they 
sweet, others of a grateful acid. And as the petahaya is very juicy, it 
is chiefly found in dry soil."—Watural and Civil History of Califor- 
nia, London, 1759. Vol. I. p. 42. 
Father Salva Tierra, one of the most laborious of the California 
missionaries, and who resided in that country in 1697, speaks of the , 
festivities among the Indians on the occasion of gathering the petahaya. 
“The three petahaya months,” he says, “ resemble the carnival in some 
parts of Europe, when the men are ina great measure stupefied or mad. 
The natives here, also, throw aside what little reason they have, giving 
themselves up to feastings, dancings, entertainments of the neighboring 
rancherias, buffooneries, and comedies, such as they are ; and in these 
whole nights are spent to the high diversion of the audience.”— Vl. 
p- 82. 
Alcedo has the following article respecting it: 
“Pita Haya (Cactus Pitahaya). Arbol grande y muy singular ; 
porque sus ramas son al modo de cirios histriados, que salien derechos 
desde su tronco acia lo alto, no llevan hoja alguna, y en la misma rama 
nace pagada Ja fruta, que tiene la corteza lena de espinas, y se parece 
algo a los higos de tuna, aunque la carne es mas blanca y delicada ; 
unas la tienen roxa y otras amarilla distinguiendose tambien en dulces 
y agridulces ; pero muy sabrosas. Monardes C da el nombre de Car- 
din y abunda en el Jardin Botanico de esta Corte.—Dicetionario Geo 
grafico Historico, Tomo V. Appendix, p. 152. Madrid, 1789. 
On referring to Monardes, I find his description does not corres nd 
to the Petahaya, whence it is evident he had reference to something else. 
But Hérnandi, another Spanish botanist, has a very full descriptto? 
