88 EXPLORATION OF THE CANONS OF THE COLORADO. 
time unknown; and there are traditions, among the people who inhabit 
the pueblos that still remain, that the canons were these unknown lands. 
Maybe these buildings were erected at that time; sure it is that they have 
a much more modern appearance than the ruins scattered over Nevada, Utah, 
Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Those old Spanish conquerors had a 
monstrous greed for gold, and a wonderful lust for saving souls. Treasures 
they must have; if not on earth, why, then, in heaven; and when they failed 
to find heathen temples, bedecked with silver, they propitiated Heaven by 
seizing the heathen themselves. There is yet extant a copy of a record, 
made by a heathen artist, to express his conception of the demands of the 
conquerors. In one part of the picture we have a lake, and near by stands a 
priest pouring water on the head of a native. On the other side, a poor Indian 
has a cord about his throat. Lines run from these two groups, to a central 
figure, a man with beard, and full Spanish panoply. The interpretation of 
the picture writing is this: "Be baptized, as this saved heathen; or be hanged, 
as that damned heathen." Doubtless, some of these people preferred a third 
alternative, and, rather than be baptized or hanged, they chose to be impris 
oned within these canon walls. 
August 17. Our rations are still spoiling; the bacon is so badly injured 
that we are compelled to throw it away. By an accident, this morning, the 
saleratus is lost overboard. We have now only musty flour sufficient for 
ten days, a few dried apples, but plenty of coffee. We must make all haste 
possible. If we meet with difficulties, as we have done in the canon above, 
we may be compelled to give up the expedition, and try to reach the Mormon 
settlements to the north. Our hopes are that the worst places are passed, 
but our barometers are all so much injured as to be useless, so we have lost 
our reckoning in altitude, and know not how much descent the river has yet 
to make. 
The stream is still wild and rapid, and rolls through a narrow channel. 
We make but slow progress, often landing against a wall, and climbing 
around some point, where we can see the river below. Although very anx 
ious to advance, we are determined to run with great caution, lest, by another 
accident, we lose all our supplies. How precious that little flour has become ! 
