512 COMAKICOPAS AND PIMAS. Book III. 
sent a messenger to challenge the four tribes to war. They 
took the field, and, after a march of ten days, came upon 
their enemy. A battle, which lasted two days, ensued, 
in which they were the victors. The account appears 
true ; and one of our guides, who had been farther down 
the Colorado, stated that even now numerous skeletons 
remain at a place where the Indians once fought a great 
battle. 
An old Cocomaricopa, who we were told was one of their 
chiefs, came to our camp, asked for our leader, and made 
Mr. K. very politely a present of green maize. We gave 
in return some tobacco, upon which he asked for a shirt, 
and, having received one, came and sat down by us. 
There was a certain etiquette in the whole transaction, 
which probably we did not understand or sufficiently 
acknowledge. 
The Cocomaricopas appeared to me less amiable than 
the Pimas; neither could we praise their honesty, for 
several things were stolen from our camp. A young lad, 
with his face painted blue, took a loaf of bread, ran to 
the nearest water, where he washed himself, and then 
mixed with others of his tribe, convinced that we should not 
recognise him. Another very old man sat close by me the 
whole day, and smoked segars which I gave him. He 
then shared our meal ; but after it, when I asked him for 
some words of the Maricopa language, he at first pretended 
not to understand me, and then refused unless I gave 
him a shirt. " We are very poor," he said ; "if you 
want me to tell you something, you must give me some- 
thing for it." I had made an exchange with a young man 
for a flute, which was interesting to me not only as an 
instrument, but on account of the original carving with 
which it was adorned. Repenting his bargain, he brought 
