46 
given the name of Signal» mountain; 
this consists of a form of syenite, as- 
sociated with recent lava. “Its sur- 
face is bare, and presents a forbidding 
outline of dark weathered rock, vari- 
ously marked by furrows, and shows 
an irregular crest, gradually sloping 
towards the east.’ (Parry). 
The Maricopas (of Arizona), the 
Cuchanos or Yumas, and the Cocopas 
are said to have originally formed one 
tribe. The Cocopa Indians reside with- 
in the limits of Mexico and the Yumas 
in United States territory. Major 
Heintzelman, in speaking of their ag- 
riculture, says: “It is simple; with 
an old axe, if they are so fortunate as 
to possess one, knives, and fire, a spot 
likely to overflow is cleared; after the 
waters subside, from the annual rise, 
small holes are dug at proper intervals, 
a few inches deep, with a sharpened 
stick, having’ first removed the surface 
for an inch or two, as it is apt to cake; 
the ground is tasted; if salt, rejected 
and if not the seeds are planted. No 
further care is required but to remove 
the weeds, which grow most luxuriant- 
ly wherever the water has been. They 
cultivate watermelons, muskmelons, 
pumpkins, corn, and beans. The water- 
melons are small and indifferent, musk- 
melons large, and pumpkins’ good; 
these latter they cut and dry,for win- 
ter use. Wheat is planted in the same 
manner, near the lagoons, in December 
or January, and ripens in May or June. 
It has a fine, plump grain and well- 
filled heads. They also grow grass- 
seed for food; it is prepared by pound- 
ing the seed in wooden mortars made of 
mesquite, or in the ground. With wa- 
ter the meal is Kneaded into amass and 
then dried in the sun. The mesquite 
bean is prepared in the Same manner, 
and will keep to the next season. The 
pod-mesquite begins to ripen the lat- 
ter part of June; the screw-bean a lit- 
tle later. Both -contain a great deal 
of saccharine matter; the latter is so 
full, it furnishes, by boiling, a palatable 
molasses; and from the former, by boil- 
ing and fermentation, a tolerably good 
drink may be made. The preat depend- 
ence of the Indian for food, besides the 
product of his fields, is the mesquite 
bean. Mules form a favorite article 
47 
of food; but horses are so highly priz- 
ed, they seldom kill them, unless press- 
ed by hunger, or required by their cus- 
toms.”’ 
Much the same methods are followed 
by the Cocopas today, as observed by 
the writer. They also visit the can- 
yons opening on the desert from the 
west, and gather the sweet and edible 
palm fruits, there so abundant, and no 
doubt seek at times the pinyons or pine 
muts in the forests at the summit of 
the peninsula range. 
The townsite of Imperial is situated 
about 30 miles east of the old stage 
station on Carrizo creek, and here a 
new civilization, based on modern agri- 
cultural methods, is like to thrive 
where roamed the nomad in former 
time. 
Dr. J. Le Conte, gave an interesting 
account of some volcanic mud springs 
or solfataras, near the Southern Paciiic 
railroad, on the Colorado desert in Sil- 
liman’s Journal (2d ser. XIX, Ja. 1855). 
Arthur Schott mentions a Severe earth- 
quake which occurred November 29, 
1852, and quotes from manuscripts by 
Major Heintzelman, as follows: “There 
exists, about 45 miles below Fort Yuma, 
in the desert between the western Cor- 
dilleras and the Colorado, a pond, con- 
sidered as an old orifice, which had 
been closed for several years. The first 
shock of an earthquake, in 1852, caused 
a mighty explosion. The steam rose 
a beautiful snowy jet more than 1,000 
feet high into the air, where it spread 
high above the mountains, gradually 
disappearing as a white cloud. This 
phenomenon repeated itself several 
times in a diminishing scale. Three 
months later I visited the place; jets 
took place at irregular intervals, from 
15 to 20 minutes. The effect was beau- 
tifui, as they rose mingled with the 
black mud of the pond. The tempera- 
-ture of the water in the principal pond 
was 118 degrees F., in the sraaller one 
135, and in one of the mud holes, from 
which gases escaped, 170. The air 
which escaped was full of sulphurated 
hydrogen, and in the crevices crystals 
of yellow sulphur were found. The 
‘ground near abeut was. covered with 
a white efflorescence, tinged with red 
and yellow. On the edge of a small 
