Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-02-19


; Elements. To-day we met two Pigmo In.
dams; they said they were out after
horses and mules TO exchange with the
American emlgranls. Encamped on the
river bank. Distance. 25 mi es.-l575.
y Thursday, July 26.--Dust and under.
brush annoyed US very much in our cours
down the valley. This afternoon we en-
tered Gen. Cooks wagon road, which
comes up from the east. This evening, a
pack mule company by Capt. Day. came
up by that route. They gave a very ia.
vorabe account OF the route which musl
be preferable to the one we have travelled
They had passed through a number oI
Mexican villages, and had an abundance
of iced for their animals. Capt. Day has
his wife with hun; she is a Spanish wo.
man, and the first female emgrant we
have seen on the route. She was noun
ted upon mule, riding along IN the train
covered with dust, holding an umbrella
over her head, and child in her arms.
Distance 25 mles.-l600.
Friday, July 27.-EarIy this mornlr g
we were visited by number of Pigmo
! (pemo Indians Of both sexes. We find
we are encamped within a league of their
( principal village. We have found a small
patch Of coarse grass, that has been re-
?ea,edly grazed off by the animals OF
companies in advance of US, but it is much
better than we have met with for many
days. The condition of our stock, and
the prospects Of obtaining supply Of pro-
visions, require US TO remain here a Gay
a, least. We have been on short allowance
for sometime. We have had no bacon for
two weeks; the last Of it had melted
away until there was but little left but the
skins. Our supply Of coffee is beginning to
fail. We are obliged to drink it very
weak, without sugar. which with a scanty
allowance of Mexican flour, has constituted
our entire fare for sometime. The flour
was ground by hand power, and contains
all the bran. Could our empty provision
sacks be repIemished with sack of flour,
and few pounds Of bacon, we would feel
as happy aud contented US lords. nor envy
the epicure enjoying his choicest uxuries
This is pretty fix to be in, wanting the
bare necessares Of life; but we have no rea-
son TO complain, Providence has favored Us
thus far, and we are once more where we can
obtain something TO sustain life. Could
mules travel the Gia river route and carry
heavy burdens, We might have reproached
ourselves for leaving Santa Fe with so
snail supply, but that is impossible; we
have seen no emigrants on the route who
Jared better than ourselves, and many far
worse.
We were no, long in commencing a
barter with !hc Pigmos, who showed a
very friendly disposition. They brought
US small quantities of wheat flour, very
coarse, some green corn,and wa'ermelons,
for which We gave them shirts and other
articles in exchange. We could not pro.
cure meat Of them, il being the article we
most needed. Being an agricultural peo
pie, they require what few animals they
have, for that purpose. We had hoped TO
exchange some of our weary mules for
fresh stock, but were disappointed, and
will have to perform the balance OF our
Journey, with our broken down animals,
as best we can. The Pigmos resemble
most other Indian tribes we nave met, but
are not so finely formed, athletic, and Dig
n.lied as The Apaches, of whom they are
in great dread. Twas amused upon offer
ing them "A par Of buckskin leggings,
which had purchased of :he Apaches
they instantly recognized them by the or
namenis, and appeared actually afraid TO
touch them, exclaiming, Apache's.
Apache's malo mui malo ~ They are
disposed TO be peaceful. The more saw.
age tribes sometimes steal their stock which
is very unfortunate for them. They have /
some animals left by Gen. kearney, Major
Graham and Cook. The dress of these
Indians is very simple. and many wear
but the simple breech cloth. A shirt is the
height Of their ambition in the dress line
The climate is so mild the year round, !
that much clothing would be superfluous. !
At presen., the heat is very oppressive
our thermometers stand at 1862 above .
zero in The shade. These Indians appear
10 be perfectly honest. The old Chief or
Governor visited US to-day, and look din
ner with US. He wished to know how his
subjects behaved towards US, and said that
if we caught them pilfering or misbehave-
ing, we should inform him, and tha,
he would punish them accordingly.
Thus do this singular and simple
people live in peace and conten,men., en-.
joying the fruits of their labors. in This