218 THE COCO-MARICOPA AND 
became fond of the beans in the pod, and liked to pick 
them from the trees as we rode along, I could not eat 
them when dry and converted into flour. They also 
brought us the fruit of the petahaya rolled up in masses 
or balls as large as one’s fist. In this state it resem- 
bles in appearance the pulp of figs, and has something 
of the same taste mingled with that of the raspberry. 
We had gathered some as we came along the Gila, but 
had found none so good as this. All became very 
fond of it, and our Indian friends found a ready sale 
for all they brought. Jars of molasses extracted from 
the same were also offered for sale. 
[inquired of the Indians to-day what they knew of 
the murder of the Oatman family before mentioned. 
They remembered the affair well; indeed one of the 
chiefs present had accompanied the party after the 
committal of the murder. His statement corresponded 
with what I have related. They charged the Tonto 
Apaches with the crime, and said, ‘‘ With God’s per- 
mission, we will retake the two children, and restore 
them to the Americans.” I told them they should be 
well rewarded, if they would do so; and that if so for- 
tunate as to recover them, they might take them to 
the American Fort (Yuma) on the Colorado; or if 
they could not carry them there, to the Mexican com- 
manding officer at Tucson. 
Among the Maricopas, I noticed to-day three whom 
I had seen in Ures when there last winter, and to whom 
I had given notes of recommendation. They now 
showed them to me carefully wrapped up in several 
envelopes, and deposited in a bag of black skin. All 
the chiefs, both Pimos and Coco-Maricopas, have let- 
