THE PIMO INDIANS. 215 
through a thick underbrush of willows, we at length 
reached the bank of the river, when I found the state- 
ments of the Indians too true. There were many fine 
large cotton-wood trees, beneath which we stopped, 
‘and which afforded us a good shade from the scorching 
rays of the sun; but there was not a blade of grass to 
. be seen, and, what was worse, the Gila was dry! We 
crossed and recrossed its bed without wetting the soles 
of our shoes; although by digging a couple of feet, 
we found water for ourselves and our animals. 
We now turned the animals loose to browse upon 
the twigs of the willows and cotton-woods, as there 
was no other food for them; and I sent Mr. Leroux 
up the stream, in search of the two great desiderata 
for the party, grass and water, and shade if it was to be 
found. In three or four hours, after making a diligent 
search through the bottom, he returned and reported 
that the river was dry as far as he had followed it, 
and that he had met with no grass. In fact, he was 
told by the Indians, that we should find no grass until 
we passed the Pimo villages, from twelve to fifteen 
miles beyond. It was so hot and dry where we were, 
that we did.not pitch our tents, having concluded to 
tetrace our steps in the morning to our first camp at 
the water-holes. 
The dryness of the river was produced by the 
water having been turned off by the Indians to irrigate 
their lands, for which the whole stream seemed barely 
sufficient. It is probable, however, that, with more 
Cconomical management, it might be made to go much 
further, 
A party of the Coco-Maricopas remained with us 
