TRAVELS IN THE CALIFORNIA S. 
379 
during the three months I was occupied in traversing their 
country. I have been rather minute, because I am not aware 
of any other correct account having been given of them. 
And although one is disgusted with their personal filth and 
mental degradation, yet his strongest sympathies must be ex¬ 
cited by this shocking degradation, which the character of the 
country that they inhabit promises to perpetuate. They were 
the innocent cause of a great deal of suffering to myself and 
two companions. Four New Mexicans attached to our party 
captured on the banks of the Colorado an adult male and 
female with one child, whom myself and two friends tried to 
induce them to liberate. But as the other Americans of our 
company would not aid our effort, the majority was found 
against the movement and it failed. Our humanity raised 
such prejudices against us, that dissensions arose which result¬ 
ed in a determination on the part of three of us to have no 
more connection with the party, and to prosecute our journey 
‘on our own hook.’ The other Americans, as desirous as 
ourselves for the liberation of the captives, but, as it proved, 
more discreet, remained wfith the Mexicans. So off w*e started 
by ourselves, three lone men, and travelled thirty-five or forty 
days, and endured the most excessive fatigue, and depriva¬ 
tions of food and wmter, much of which would have been 
avoided if we had smothered our objections to our companions’ 
conduct in this affair, and been guided by their greater expe¬ 
rience over those dreadful wastes. As it was, however, we 
travelled many successive days along the Colorado, over sandy 
deserts, subsisting on a daily allowance of a few 7 mouthsful of 
thin mush, and a little nauseous and bitter water wherewith 
to wet our mouths once in twenty-four or forty-eight hours. 
No druggist ever compounded a draught more disgusting than 
the green, slimy or brackish w T aters which we were compelled! 
to drink. Finally our little stock of provisions was consumed 
to the last grain; and starvation w 7 as staring us in the face; 
but relief was not denied us; the sight of the wooded moun¬ 
tains of Upper California inspired us with new strength and 
