PIMO VILLAGES, 259 
few things we wanted, they now asked more than 
double their former prices. Green corn, which we had 
bought for one dollar a hundred, in the ear, they now 
‘asked four dollars for, and other things in proportion. 
We had, however, procured every thing we required, 
except mules, which we were much in want of. These 
they had promised to bring us, but had failed to do 
so, 
Lieutenant Whipple joined us to-day, having com- 
pleted his notes and plottings, and we are again en- 
camped together. 
July 12th. As the escort under Lieutenant Paige 
furnished ‘me by Major Heintzelman at Fort Yuma, 
had accompanied us as far as was deemed necessary, 
that officer made arrangements to set out on his return 
‘ to the Colorado this morning, with his command. I 
availed myself of the opportunity to communicate with 
the government, and advise it of the successful com- 
pletion of the Survey of the river Gila. 
We were now to leave the Gila and strike across a 
desert of ninety miles, where there is said to be neither 
grass nor water, before we should reach Tucson, the 
extreme outpost of the Mexicans. I deemed it advi- 
sable, therefore, to move our camp to the farthest point 
on the Gila, before attempting to cross this jornada. 
The Mexican traders who arrived yesterday said they 
had found no water the entire distance; and unless 
it should rain, of which there was some prospect, 
(although we had seen none for two months) our ani- 
mals would undergo great hardships in crossing it. 
We accordingly set out after breakfast this morning, 
.passing through the last of the Pimo villages and their 
