544 INDIAN GIKLS. Book III. 
Indians that broke out in this part of the country soon 
after the North Americans had conquered California. No- 
thing less had at that time been intended than an extermi- 
nation of all North Americans. Some Mexicans and a 
North American desperado — using the Indians as tools for 
other purposes — had helped giving the impulse. The re- 
volt was soon suppressed, and the ringleaders were taken 
prisoners and hanged at San Diego. The Indians at Agua 
Caliente, who had played a chief part in this affair, seemed 
to have retained a deep impression of its issue ; for several 
persons, with whom I spoke, referred again and again to 
the subject, and at every opportunity took care to express 
their disapproval of this revolt on the part of their 
brethren. 
I engaged two Indian girls, whom I met at the hot 
springs, to wash a bundle of linen for me, and the next day 
I rode back to Agua Caliente to fetch it ; but in vain I 
sought for the two girls, and at last heard that they lived 
a long way off in the mountains. I had no alternative but 
to go in search of them. This business led me to one 
of the most romantic spots I have ever seen. Small 
enclosed vineyards and fields of maize were interspersed 
among wild rocks of granite, covered with groups of 
evergreen oaks. I found the girls with their parents, who 
received me most hospitably ; entertained me with green 
ears of maize, roasted, and with baked roots of mezcal. I 
conversed with the old man on the change in their position 
from the transfer of their country to the North Americans. 
He was satisfied with the change, and observed that it was 
a good thing they were no longer obliged to work for any- 
one. He regretted one result of the change — that they 
were not allowed to drink spirits. The girls wore dresses 
of good cotton print, elegantly made in the Mexican 
