200 FORT YUMA 
ried the investigation further. A great deal of proper- 
ty has thus been buried by parties crossing to Cali- 
fornia, in the hope that they or their friends might at 
some future time recover it; although it is safe to say 
that of every hundred caches so made, not five are ever 
opened afterwards. 
In making a cache, it is best to select a spot within 
fifty feet of a tree, rock, or other prominent object, 
from which the distance can be measured and the bear- 
ings taken. <A hole is then dug to such depth as may 
be required to bury the intended articles, which are to 
be protected by cloths or boards when necessary. 
When the hole has been covered over, the earth or 
sand that remains is scattered about or removed, so as 
to leave no indications of what has been done. It is 
well to build the camp-fire immediately over it, as that 
will account for the disturbance of the ground, and the 
foot prints about the spot. It is never prudent to 
make a cache beneath a tree, or in a spot where the 
party can be watched by Indians or others lying in 
ambush. When Fort Yuma was abandoned a few 
months before our arrival there, as it was expected to 
be re-occupied, many articles which the garrison did 
not wish to remove were thus hidden. But on their 
return, they found that their place of concealment 
had been discovered by the Yumas, and every thing 
carried off. . 
June 24th. As the soldiers, being all on foot, were 
greatly fatigued by their yesterday’s march, I deter- 
mined to allow them until evening to rest, and endea- 
vor to make a march in the night. There was here a 
little salt grass and cane about the lagoon, with willow 
