112 
DISCOVERY OF RIO COLORADO BY ALARCON. 
big as horses, which, because they have horns and fine wool, they call them sheep; and they 
say that every horn of theirs weigheth fifty pounds weight. There are also great dogs, which 
will fight with a bull, and will carry fifty pound weight, in sacks, when they go on hunting, or 
when they remove from place to place with their flocks and herds.” 
THE RELATION OF THE NAVIGATION AND DISCOVERY OF RIO DE BUENA GUIA (RIO COLORADO) WHICH 
CAPTAIN FERNANDO ALARCON MADE BY ORDER OF RT. IION. LORD DON ANTONIO DE MENDOZA, VICE¬ 
ROY OF NEW SPAIN. 
On Sunday, 9th May, 1540, he set sail up the Gulf of California; and, after much difficulty 
from shoals and a narrow channel, “it pleased God that, after this sort,” they should “ come 
to the very bottom of the bay; where they found a mighty river, which ran with so great fury 
of a stream that they could hardly sail against it. So they entered two boats, which his men 
towed along with ropes from the shore. Meeting Indians, with great prudence he cultivated 
friendly relations with them, and they afterwards not only furnished him Avith food, but also 
assisted to draw his boats up the stream. He found Indians exceedingly numerous, haA T ing 
abundance of maize and peas and gourds. It appears that they painted their faces after various 
fashions; and some “carried visars before them of the same color, which had the shape of 
faces.”* They Avore on their heads a piece of deer-skin, like a helmet, ornamented with sticks 
and feathers. Their weapons Avere bows and arrows, and maces hardened in the fire. He 
says “ this is a mighty people, Avell featured, and without any grossness.” They had pendants 
from their ears and noses; and all Avore girdles of various colors, and in the middle Avas “a 
round bunch of feathers, hanging doAvn behind like a tail.” Their bodies were striped with 
black, their hair was cropped before, while behind it hung down to the waist. The Avomen 
AA r ere naked, excepting a girdle of feathers, and their hair was Avorn like the men. When 
Alarcon understood that they worshipped the sun, he told them, by signs, that he came from 
the sun. They wondered greatly, and afterwards treated him Avith distinguished kindness. 
Having passed various tribes without being able to communicate, except by signs, at length he 
reached a people who understood the language of an Indian he had brought with him from 
Mexico, f To them, by means of the Indian interpreter, he communicated more freely; stating 
that he came from the sun, and desired them to cease from wars. The chief complained of a 
certain people that lived behind a mountain and made war upon them. He also related a 
tradition, saying, “ Noav you see how, long ago, our ancestors told us that there were bearded 
and a white people in the Avorld, and Ave laughed them to scorn; I, Avhich am old, and the rest 
which are here, haA r e never seen any such people as these.” Afterwards, as he ascended the 
river, Alarcon found other Indians, whom his interpreter could not understand. But he Avas 
informed that further up the river he would again find a tribe speaking the language of his 
interpreter. He learned, also, that tAventy-three languages were spoken by the different nations 
bordering the river, and that above Avere other tribes unknown to his informers. 
The old chief described a warlike race of men Avho dwelt in a town near a mountain. 
They were apparelled in long robes cut with razors, and seAved with needles made of deer’s 
bones. They had great houses of stone, but, as their fields of maize Avere small, they came 
yearly to the river to traffic. He learned that, in consequence of the annual overflow of the 
river (Buena Guia), the people, after harvest time, removed to the foot of the mountains, 
where the winter Avas spent; that marriage ceremonies Avere celebrated Avith singing and 
dancing, but those of near kin Avere never united in marriage; that the dead Avere burned; and 
they had no definite notions of a future state. 
* Probably a bunting mask made from the skin of a deer’s head. 
| This agrees with a tradition which T have heard, that the Mojaves and Yumas were originally from the city of Mexico. 
