The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-08-01
tFor the Davenport Gszette.)
4 DAY WITH TIE TUMAS on TUE COL0RA DO
OF TIE WEST.
BY C. G. PARRY.


Az soon camp duties afforded the necessary
leisure started to return the friendly visits OF
Indian nsishbors passing the bare gravey hills
which mark singularly the junction ofthe Gia and
Colorado rivers we look down former bed OF the
Colorado: in this bottom still verdant with the fresh
green Of the waving willow, may he traced the cult-
yated fields ofthe Indians, patches of maize,
beans pumpkins aud melons. Descending the hill We
alight 1T rancho, and without parleying for
invitation selected the most favorable spotwe could
End for farther observation. The main house more
properly the she'd built upon upright posts sup
porting at good slopng height roof loosely thatch
ed with willow branches; under this, disposed in fan
ciful arrangements variety Of articles met the eye
including home spun bags-wa- plumes-a bow, with
its accompanying arrows-a blunt lance, and rusty
rife without lock. Various out houses set off the
ma lodge, some Of these sunk partly in the ground
and erched over with willow were chinked up with
cng grass seeming to be provision for colder wealth
er; in these the gran and beans, now find safe de-
posiiory. Perhaps full as lcng this description
seated at our observing post before seeming
to lie noticed by its industrious inhabitants; among
these wrinked old dame, occupied in making mud
baskets only seemed to ply her muddy task more Wig.
orousiy. young girl with long flowing hair, and
painted limbs, developing her fair proportions
over rough stone mill, which the double process
material being species of wild grass While
dusty young one rolled the ground the whites Of
their staring eyes seeming the only clean part about
them. All at once attention seemed TO be fairly arous
ed, the old woman torsook her task, and coming up
gesticulating with her muddy hands, helmed us
it'll torrent OF the pure native tongue-the mill Tor
got gfnd-and the fair m Her, assuming more ca
IS attitude threw back her disordered tresses, and
burst ou. laughing. How We should get along in our
dilemma did not appear. but sooa our host made his
appearance from the eid With basket OF melons, re-
cognizing camp acqua nance, he stretched out
his hand and placing the other conrteousy ON
his bare breast uttered in ot Spanish "amigo,'
ffriend) We were not slow TO reciprocate, keeping
our eye on the melons. It must be owned, our host
was OF long in taking the hin, and rolled zan
dlds g,ter msoa feet this put stop to farther
attempts at conversation and gave for time differ
ent direction to thoughts.
Not wishing 10 confue observations we finished
repst and bowing adfos, started our road,
led by a dusty trail through fields in which pumpkins
and melons were grouped conspcuonsly, producing
an ANA gamation, any thing but advantageous TO the
melon family. The beans were OF singular kind,
with yellow flowers, and apparently prolific fruit
the pumpkins and they would hardly compare
ih those of Iowa, need not be mentioned here The
soil composed of fine river sediment, was every way
calculated for the kind of cultivation to which it was
appropriated, being at the same time easily titled, and
toIerably productive.-suhject to overflow every
SPRING it ooses of its fertility, and from its warm
nature, is especially adapted for the kind Of produc-
tions required.
We next came on what may be termed the TOWN
HALL, where were assembled the medley characters
that max up the Pnebia. The Captains chief men,
the middlirg and lower classes, all engaged respec-
tis.ly in appropriate empioymenis The Captains in
the center OF the lodge seemed to be earnestly discus
sing the public welfare; boys at their games and wo-
men with tkeir usual accompaniment Of babies filled
out the group. which found for time outside
rea. Melons again took the rounds, again We stared
and were stared ~, AID mutual laugh, and uncompre'
henaed jes,s, passed on both sides. The Captain ot
the village invited us to visit his CASA and an III
ducemen nj held up OF his fingers to represent melons
fr our entertainments fain to accept the for
mer without its accompaniments, but 1t would not DO
to refuse so in single file wethreaded our way through
willow shaded paths, till opened on the fields Of
CAPTAIN Antonio, stodas mio - (al mine) said the Cap
tan as he stretched his hands With air Of pride over
narrow pumpkin patch; we could only say ''oueno"
good and made for the edficc In ssylethis cores
ponds with the we have described, with perhaps
Of an ofsplendor here introduced to the DO
mestc circle We we're invited to seat in the dust,
an invitation which previous habits made not inap-
propriate.
The Captain was as good as his word and went into
his patch select the melons, LEFT in the mean time
with the women, we will attempt hasty description
before the Captain comes in. The Yumas women seem
remarkable for nothing so much as general robust
ness TO their fully exposed busts the term pumpnes
though very polite. will convey the full idea these
set off with finely rounded limbs, and long coarse
black hair falling down behind, while in front lying
in strait band directly over the eye brows gives to
their painted faces aspect which may BE- especial
IL termed uncivilixedadd to this dress, whose pat
tern may be readily made out from its simple descrp
.ion Of coil rope passing round the ioins ON ~nien
! ~ hark reaching down 10 the