114 EXPLORATION OF THE CANONS OF THE COLOEADO. 
waits demurely until we come, always meeting us with a jest, his face a rich 
mine of sunny smiles. 
At dusk we reach the water-pocket. It is in a deep gorge, on the flank 
of this great mountain. During the rainy season the water rolls down the 
mountain side, plunging over precipices, and excavates a deep basin in the 
solid rock below. This basin, hidden from the sun, holds water the year 
round. 
September 16. This morning, while the men are packing the animals, 
I climb a little mountain near camp, to obtain a view of the country. It is 
a huge pile of volcanic scoria, loose and light as cinders from a forge, which 
give way under my feet, and I climb with great labor ; but reaching the 
summit, and looking to the southeast, I see once more the labyrinth of deep 
gorges that flank the Grand Canon; in the multitude, I cannot determine 
whether it be in view or not. The memories of grand and awful months 
spent in their deep, gloomy solitudes come up, and I live that life over again 
for a time. 
I supposed, before starting, that I could get a good view of the great 
mountain from this point ; but it is like climbing a chair to look at a castle. 
I wish to discover some way by which it can be ascended, as it is my inten 
tion to go to the summit before I return to the settlements. There is a cliff 
near the summit, and I do not see the way yet. Now down I go, sliding 
on the cinders, making them rattle and clang. 
The Indians say we are to have a short ride to day, and that we will 
reach an Indian village, situated by a good spring. Our way is across the 
spurs that put out from the great mountain, as we pass it to the left. 
Up and down we go, across deep ravines, and the fragments of lava 
clank under our horses' feet; now among cedars, now among pines, and now 
across mountain side glades. At one o'clock we descend into a lovely val 
ley, with a carpet of waving grass; sometimes there is a little water in the 
upper end of it, and, during some seasons, the Indians we wish to find are 
encamped here. Chu-ar' -ru-um-peak rides on to find them, and to say we 
are friends, otherwise they would run away, or propose to fight us, should 
we come without notice. Soon we see Chu-ar' -ru-um-peak riding at full 
speed, and hear him shouting at the top of his voice, and away in the dis- 
