214 THE COCO-MARICOPA AND 
I told them we wanted vegetables, fruit, green 
corn, and mules; for which we would pay them in 
white cotton cloth, calico, red flannel and other shirts, 
blankets, and trinkets. They generally raise a great 
many fine melons; but it was too early yet for them. 
They brought us green corn, squashes, beans, and 
dried peas. We also bought of them some dried 
corn (maize) for the animals. | 
The culinary department, as usual, seemed to have 
most attractions for our Indian friends, who formed a 
double row around the fire while cooking was going 
on. They also crowded into the tents, and occupied 
all the space about them. When night came, we 
expected they would leave; but they stretched them- 
selves out on the grass, and passed the night in the 
camp. 
June 30th. As the heat was intense, the mercury 
ranging from 100° to 110°, and as we had very little 
shade, if was thought advisable to get nearer the 
river, where there were more trees, and where the 
men would have a better opportunity to bathe, a lux- 
ury which they had enjoyed every day since leaving 
Fort Yuma. The Indians told me we had better 
remain where we were, as there was no grass near the 
river. I felt disposed to listen to them; but such was 
the desire of the party to be on the water that I con- 
sented to go, and gave orders to strike the tents imme- 
diately after breakfast. 
By eight o'clock we set off, under the guidance of 
Francisco, and followed by fifty or sixty more of his 
tribe. After crossing a deep arroyo of sand, which is 
filled by the river at its floods, and pushing our way 
