10 
TRAFFIC.—CHARACTER OF THE PIMOS INDIANS. 
in exchange. Major Swords, who had charge of the trading duty, pitched a temporary 
awning under which to conduct the business, which had scarcely commenced before this place 
formed a perfect menagerie, into which crowded, with eager eyes, Pimos, Maricopas, Mexicans, 
French, Dutch, English, and Americans. As I passed on to take a peep at the scene, naked arms, 
hands, and legs protruded from the awning. Inside there was no room for bodies, hut many 
heads had clustered into a very small space, filled with different tongues and nations. The 
trade went merrily on, and the conclusion of each bargain was announced by a grunt and a 
joke, sometimes at the expense of the quartermaster, but oftener at that of the Pimos. 
November 12.—We procured a sufficiency of corn, wheat, and beans from the Pimos, hut 
only two or three bullocks, and neither horses nor mules. They have but few cattle, which are 
used in tillage, and apparently all steers, procured from the Mexicans. Their horses and mules 
were not plenty, and those they possessed were prized extravagantly high. One dashing young 
fellow, with ivory teeth and flowing hair, was seen coming into our camp at full speed, on a 
wild, unruly horse, that flew from side to side as he approached, alarmed at the novel apparition 
of our people. The Maricopa—for he was of that tribe—was without saddle or stirrups, and 
balanced himself to the right and left with such ease and grace as to appear part of his horse. 
He succeeded in bringing his fiery nag into the heart of the camp. He was immediately offered 
a very advantageous trade by some young officer. He stretched himself on his horse’s neck, 
caressed it tenderly, at the same time shutting his eyes, meaning thereby that no offer could 
tempt him to part with his charger. 
The general gave a letter to Governor Llunas, stating that he was a good man, and directing 
all United States troops that might pass in his rear to respect his excellency, his people, and 
their property. Several broken-down mules were left with him to recruit, for the benefit of 
Cook’s battalion as it should pass along. 
To us it was a rare sight to be thrown into the midst of a large nation of what are termed 
wild Indians, surpassing many of the Christian nations in agriculture, little behind them in 
the useful arts, and immeasurably before them in honesty and virtue. During the whole of 
yesterday our camp was full of men women, and children, who sauntered amongst our packs 
unwatched, and not a single instance of theft was reported. 
I rode leisurely in the rear, through the thatched huts of the Pimos. Each abode consists of a 
dome-shaped wicker-work, about six feet high, and from twenty to fifty feet in diameter, 
thatched with straw or corn-stalks. In front is usually a large arbor, on top of which is piled 
the cotton in the pod for drying. 
In the houses were stowed watermelons, pumpkins, beans, corn, and wheat, the last three 
articles generally in large baskets; sometimes the corn was in baskets covered with earth, and 
placed on the tops of the domes. A few chickens and dogs were seen, but no other domestic 
animals except horses, mules, and oxen. Their implements of husbandry were the axe, (of 
steel,) wooden hoes, shovels, and harrows. The soil is so easily pulverized as to make the 
plough unnecessary. 
Several acquaintances, formed in our camp yesterday, were recognised, and they received me 
cordially, made signs to dismount, and when I did so, offered watermelons and pinole. Pinole 
is the heart of Indian corn, baked, ground up, and mixed with sugar. When dissolved in water, 
it affords a delicious beverage ; it quenches thirst, and is very nutritious. Their molasses, put 
up in large jars hermetically sealed, of which they had quantities, is expressed from the fruit of 
the pitahaya. 
A woman was seated on the ground under the shade of one of the cotton sheds. Her left leg 
was tucked under her seat, and her foot turned sole upwards; between her big toe and the next 
was a spindle about eighteen inches long, with a single fly of four or six inches. Ever and 
anon she gave it a twist in a dexterous manner, and at its end was drawn a coarse cotton thread. 
This was their spinning jenny. Led on by this primitive display, I asked for their loom by 
pointing to the thread and then to the blanket girded about the woman’s loins. A fellow 
