Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-09-02

peep the scene naked arms hands, and legs proruded
from the awning Inside there room for bodies, but
many heads had clustered into very small space filled with
different tongues and nations The trade went mery on
and the conclusion of each bargain announced by gun
and joke, sometimes the expense of the quartermaster
| but o.tener at that of the Pimos.
i Nopember l2-We procured suficency of corn, wheat
and beans from the Pmos but only two or three buoek and
neither horses mules. They have but few cattle, which
used in age, and apparently all steers, procured from
the Mexican Their horses and mules were not plenty and
those they possessed priced extrayaganty high One
dashng young fellow with ivory teeth and flowing hair, was
coming into our camp, full speed, wild unruly
horse that flew from side eide as he approached alarmed
at the novel appaon of people The Marcopa, for he
OF that tribe without saddle or stnups, and baanc
ed himself to the right and left with such and
appear part OF his horse He succeeded in bringing his fiery
nag into the heart of the camp He was Immediately offered
very advantageous trade by some young officer He stretch
ed himself his horses neck caressed endery at the
time shutting his eyes. meaning thereby that offer could
tempt him to part with his charger.
s'The General gave letter Governor Lunas, stating he
good man, and directing all United States troops that
might pass in his respect his exceency, his people,
and their properly Several broken down mules left
with him to recruit, for the benefit of Cookies battalion it
passed along.
"To it was rare sight to be thrown in the midst of
large nation of what is termed wild Indians surprising many
OF the christian nations in agriculture, little behind them
the useful arts, and UNNECESSARILY before them in honesty and
virtue During the whole Of yesterday camp full Of
UNMATCHED and single instance of theft reported
81 lode leisurey in the through the matched hus Of
the Pimos each abode consists Of domeshaped wicker
work. about six feet high and from twenty to fifty feet in d
amete matched with cornstaks. In front usual
large arbo top of which piled the cotton in the pod
| for drying.
In the houses slowed watermelons pumpkins BEANS
corn and wheat the three last articles generally in large bas-
kets sometimes the in baskets covered with EARTH
and placed the tops Of the domes few chickens and
dogs but other domestic animals, except horses
mules and oxen. Their implements of husbandry the
axe, (of STEEL wooden hoes, hovels and harrows The
soil easily pulyezed to make the plough
Severa acquanances formed in camp yesterday were
recognised and they received cordially made signs dis
mount, and when did Offered watermelons and pinole
Pnole is the heart of Indian corn baked ground up and
mixed with sugar When dissolved in affords de-
lcious beverage, quenches thirst, and is very nutritious
Their molasses put up in large jars Theoretically sealed of
which they had quantities. expressed from the fruit Of the
pitahaya
OF the cotton sheds Her left leg tucked under her
seat and her foo turned sole upwards between her big
and the next spindle about eighteen inches long, with
single fly of four six inches Ever and she gave
twist 10 dexeroas manne and at its end drawn
cotton thread This their spinning Jenny Led on by
this primitive display, asked for their loom by pointing
the thread and then 70 the blanket ged about the womans
olns fellow stretched in the dust summing himself up
eisueIy, and uned bundle which had supposed TO be
bow and This little package, with four stakes in the
ground the He stretched his CLOTH and
ed the process ofweaving.
"We Travelled fifteen and half miles, and encamped on
the dividing ground between the Pmos and Maricopas For
the whole distance passed through cultivated grounds
luxurianty rich SOIL The plain appeared to extend in
y direction fifteen or twenty miles, except in place about
i've miles before reaching camp where low chain Of hills
comes in from the southeast and terminates miles from
the river The bed of the Ga opposite the village said
to be dy the whole being drawn off by the zequas of
the Pimos for irgaon but their bitches larger than is
necessary for this purpose and the wafer which not used
turns to the bed Of the with little apparent dmnuon in
its volumes"
GA great deal of the land is cultivated but there is still
portion within the level Of the ella that yet be put
under lage. The population of the Pmos and Marcopas
together estimated vaousy at from three thousand
The first is evidently too low. -.
This peaceful and industrious in possession Of
beautiful and fertile BASIN Living remote from the civilized
world they seldom visited by whites and then only by those
in Distress whom they generously furnish horses and food
Aguardene brandy is known among their chief only
and the abuse Of this and the vices which entails yet
unknown. '."...."
They without other religion than belief in great
and ouor ruling spirit
Their peaceful disposition not the resuk of incapacty
for war; for they all times enabled and vanquish
the Apaches in battle and when passed they had Just
turned from expedition in the apache country, revenge
thefs and other ourages, with eleven scaps and th
teen prisoners. The prisoners sold slaves the
Mexcans.
"The Maricopas occupy that part of the basin lying be-
tween camp 81 and the mouth of the Salt river, and all that
has been said of the Pmos applicable TO them They live
in cordial amty and their habits agriculture, religion and
manufactures the In stature they taller their
aquilne, and they have much reader
Of speaking and acting noticed that most of the inter-
prefers of the Pimos Of this tribe, and also the
with in the spy-guard. Though fewer in number they
appear be superior in intelligence and personal appearance
Don Jose Messo is their governor and, like the governor
Of the Pmos holds his Office by the appointment Of the Mex
governor of California The people have choice in
the selection Both these Indians respectable looking
old men, and be really worthy of the reposed in
them"
Our extracts have already swelled beyond rea-
sonable limits: but, to give general notion of the
beauty of what should be called the " Great Polk
Purchase" and its practical value, whether with or
without the Wilmot alias Cass Proviso, one more
extract-Col. EMoRY's recaptuation of the physi-
cal characteristics of New Mexico and California
The country from the Arkansas to this point more than
1000 miles, in its adaptation agriculture has pecuiaies
which forever stamp itself upon the population which in
habits it. All Of North Mexico, embracing New Mexico
chihuahua Sonora and the Cafonias far north as the
Sacramento are far the best information goes the
in the physical character Of s surface and differ but little
in climate products.
In part Of this vast tract the rains from heaven be
relied upon TO any extent for the cultivation Of the soil
The earth is destitute Of trees and great part also Of any
vegetation whatever.
"a few feeble flow in different directions from the
great mountains, which in many places traverse this region
These separated sometimes by plains and
times by mountains, without water and without vegetation
and may be called deserts far they perform any useful
part in the sustenance Of animal fe