CROSSING THE COLORADO RIVER. 
117 
nounced “ a-hot’-ka ” (good), he took a seat upon the blanket spread for him, and smoked with 
ns the pipe of peace. This done, we made the usual explanations of the object of the expedi¬ 
tion; the wishes of our great Captain, the President of the United States; and the benefits that 
would result to them from opening a highway for emigrants, or a railroad, and thus creating a 
market for the produce of their fertile valley. The chief replied by a long and vehement 
speech, in which he expressed his satisfaction at the prospect of establishing a system of trade 
with the whites, whereby their nakedness would he clothed and their comforts increased; and 
promised that, not only should our mules and other property he sacred in their sight, hut that 
they would afford us every assistance in their power to accomplish the objects of our mission. 
Then, after gifts of tobacco, blankets, and trinkets, had been presented, and by the chief dis¬ 
tributed to his people, the coimcil of state was turned into a general trading community. The 
Indians were decked in their most valued ornaments, and a furor possessed all of our party to 
obtain some trophy. Therefore trinkets and garments were bought and sold upon both sides; 
although civilization seemed at a discount, and the relics of barbarism vastly above par. Shell 
beads and necklaces would be sold, perhaps, for a blanket and shirt; while a fine bow and 
quiver of arrows would command several of them. The Indians were shrewd, and would part 
with no article without a really valuable compensation. Tobacco they would accept as a gift 
only, and then sell it to the soldiers. There is a species of wild tobacco which grows here, and 
is used by the natives. I presume they prefer it to the best Havana. Vermilion, oil-paints, 
glass and coral beads, we could scarcely give away. White cotton cloth, calico, blankets, and 
white porcelain beads, would have purchased probably a thousand pounds of flour, and hun¬ 
dreds of bushels of grain. 
Fortunately, this sudden accession of visitors did not impede the busy and difficult operation 
of crossing the river. We left the gondola, as it was called, bottom upwards; men beneath it, 
entangled among boxes, and struggling for life. The revolution of the boat had been so rapid, 
that most of the baggage was caught by the top of the wagon body, and there suspended. The 
men also were supported by the same. After a desperate struggle they disentangled them¬ 
selves. The boat was pulled ashore, unloaded, righted, and once more set to work. By using 
increased caution, we succeeded in passing to the island without further accident. To reach the 
western bank we had a channel to cross still more rapid and deep, and were more unfortunate even 
than before—our loaded barge three times casting its contents into the river. Mr. White and 
a little Mexican boy were nearly drowned, before the exertions of Mr. Mollhausen succeeded in 
extricating them from beneath the boat. The Indians, who are capital swimmers, plunged in, 
and aided us in saving much of the property. Many of them had brought rafts to the spot, in 
Mojave Raft. 
the hope that they might be required. These were of simple construction, being merely bun¬ 
dles of rushes placed side by side, and securely bound together with willow twigs. But they 
were light and manageable, and their owners paddled them about with considerable dexterity. 
It was night when finally the great work was accomplished ; the crossing of the Colorado 
