258 AT THE COCO-MARICOPA AND 
They were much pleased with these trifling pre- 
sents, reiterated their expressions of friendly feelings 
towards the Americans, and said they would do all in 
their power to recover the two girls. They believed 
the Tonto Apaches to have been the murderers of 
their parents. I told them of the intention of the 
government to establish a military post near them on 
the Gila, which would protect them from further attacks 
of the Apaches. This pleased them much. 
After the conference was ended, trading com- 
menced with much briskness. The same articles were 
bought of them as from the Maricopas, and we were 
enabled, without difficulty, to obtain all the corn that 
was necessary for the mules of the whole train. One 
of their baskets we agreed upon with them for a 
measure, a certain number of which was the value of 
a yard of white cotton ora particular kind of shirt. 
This was quite satisfactory to them; and a much larger 
quantity of corn was brought in than we were able to 
take. When we had nearly completed our purchases, 
Francisco, the Maricopa chief and interpreter, came in 
and again interfered; but the Pimos did not regard 
him, and manifested much pleasure when I ordered 
him out of the camp. They did not like his officious- 
ness, and said he always thrust himself forward when- 
ever a party of Americans or Mexicans came along, 
and managed to get whatever they had to give away 
or barter, much to their disadvantage. 
July 10th. Three Mexican traders arrived this 
morning from Tucson, opened their goods at one of 
the villages, and for a while drew most of the Indians 
from us. Towards evening they returned, and for the 
