156 FORT YUMA. 
CHAPTER XXVIII. 
FORT YUMA AND THE ADJACENT COUNTRY. 
Crossing of the Colorado continued—Description of Fort Yuma—The 
Colorado and Gila Rivers—The adjacent country—Rich alluvial bottoms 
—Facility of irrigation—Ruins of the old Spanish Missions—Difficulty of 
supplying Fort Yuma—Plan for surveying the head waters of the Gulf 
of California—Frustrated by Colonel Graham—Discovery of the Colo- 
rado in 1540 by Alarchon—Later voyages—-Difficulties in navigating 
the Colorado—Attempt of a steamer to ascend the river—Its velocity 
and height—Fort Defiance—Massacre of Dr. Langdon and his party by 
the Yumas—Indians of the Colorado—Early tribes not identified—The 
Yumas—Cocopas—Mohavis—Extent of Alarchon’s voyage in 1542— 
Fathers Kino, Font, and Garces. 
June 12th. At Fort Yuma, Lieutenant Whipple con- 
tinued crossing his party over the Colorado, and com- 
menced the survey at the mouth of the Gila. 
An express was sent by Major Heintzelman to San 
Diego with the particulars of Colonel Craig’s death, in 
order that additional efforts might be made to arrest 
the murderers. 
Colonel McCall, Inspector General U. 8. Army, 
arrived to-day, accompanied by Lieutenants Bond and 
Gardiner, to inspect the troops at Fort Yuma. 
June 13th. In accordance with the orders of Gene- 
ral Hitchcock, Major Heintzelman detailed Lieutenant 
