12 
MARICOPAS WOMEN. 
the appointment of the Mexican governor of California. The people have no choice in the 
selection. Both of these Indians are respectable-looking old men, and seem to he really worthy 
of the trust reposed in them. 
We had not been long in camp before a dense column of dust down the river announced the 
approach of the Maricopas, some on foot, hut most of them on horseback. They came into camp 
at full speed, unarmed, and in the most confident manner, bringing watermelons, meal, pinole, 
and salt for trade. The salt is taken from the plains ; wherever there are bottoms which have 
no natural drainage, the salt effloresces, and is skimmed from the surface of the earth. It was 
brought to us both in the crystallized form and in the form when first collected, mixed with 
earth. 
My camp was selected on the side towards the village, and the constant galloping of horses 
rendered it difficult for me to take satisfactory observations, which I was desirous of doing, as 
it is an important station. When I placed my horizon on the ground, I found that the gallop¬ 
ing of a horse five hundred yards off affected the mercury, and prevented a perfectly reflected 
image of the stars, and it Avas vain to hope for these restless Maricopas to keep quiet. News 
got about of my dealings with the stars, and my camp was crowded the whole time. 
The latitude of this camp, by such observations as the Maricopas would allow me to make, 
was 33° 09' 28". 
November 13 and 14.—With the morning came the Maricopas women, dressed like the Pimos. 
They are somewhat taller, and one peculiarity struck me forcibly—that while the men had 
aquiline noses, those of the women were retrousses. Finding the trade in meal had ceased, 
they collected in squads about the different fires, and made the air ring with their jokes and 
merry peals of laughter. Mr. Bestor’s spectacles were a great source of merriment. Some 
of them formed the idea, that with their aid he could see through their cotton blankets. They 
would shrink and hide behind each other at his approach. At length I placed the spectacles 
on the nose of an old woman, who became acquainted with their use, and explained it to the 
others. 
We were notified that a long journey was to be made without finding water, (to cut off an 
elbow in the river,) and the demand for gourds was much greater than the supply. One large 
gourd cost me four strings of glass beads, which was thought a high price. The interpreter 
who guided us to the Casa Montezuma, on the north side of the Gila, said that on the Salt 
river, about one and a half day’s journey, there was one of those buildings standing, complete in 
all respects except the floors and roof. He said it was very large, with beautiful glazed walls; 
that the footsteps of the men employed in building the house could yet be seen in.the adobe, 
and that the impression was that of a naked foot. Whenever a rain comes, the Indians resort 
to these old houses to look for trinkets of shells and a peculiar green stone, Avhich I think is 
nothing more than verde antique. 
At 12 o’clock, after giving our horses a last watering, we started off in a southwestern direc¬ 
tion to turn the southern foot of the range of hills pointing to the Salt river. Five miles 
brought us into a grove of the pitahaya, which had yielded a plentiful supply of fruit to the 
Indians. Our way was over a plain of granitic sand, ascending gradually and almost imper¬ 
ceptibly. After leaving the pitahaya, there was no growth except the larrea Mexicana, and occa¬ 
sionally, at long intervals, an acacia or inga. 
We travelled till long after dark, and dropped down in a dust-hole near two large, green- 
barked acacias. There was not a sprig of grass or a drop of water, and during the whole night 
the mules kept up a piteous cry for both. 
There was nothing but the offensive larrea, which even mules will not touch Avhen so hungry 
as to eat with avidity the dry twigs of all other shrubs and trees. As soon as the moon rose, 
at 3 a. m., the bugle sounded to horse, and we were up and pursuing our way. A little after 
sunrise we had passed the summit, and were descending towards the Gila. This summit was 
formed by a range of granite hills running southeast, and standing in pinnacles. 
