Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-04-02
From tie National fnteaigeneer.
Scenes in the Desert.
Extracts from pirate letters Of members OF the
. Nerican Boundary Commission:

Mr. Bartlett and party we're lost tor se'et''
days in the desert mountains, and lived on mus
oueto beans, tree peculiar to the country
through which we had passed. although We had
found it in Texas Finally, one OF them found
his way back to our camp, and we gave hlm pro-
visions for the party, although we were on short
allowance ourselves. They finally reached Santa
Cruz. but Mr.. Bartetts drafts being useless there
and having ma noncl with him was unab!" t"
procure psovisons. Mr. Gray, becoming alarm
ed at Mr.. BIS proracted absence, started for the
towns. He raised a small amount of money
among the laborers, and with it some Mexican
unbolted -four was purchased.
"We left the river San Pedro on the Goth
September, and struck the Gila very nearly at
the point where Our work was to commence, on
the 9th of October, after tramp over an ard
sandy country, sometimes being for two days
without sufficient water to relieve thirst. What
refreshing sight it was when we first saw the
line of cottonwood trees, which always indicate
the presence of water.
awe struck the Gila in an open valley below
the pass indicated in Emory's report as the
sDevirs Turnpike The river at this place was
from thirty to forty feet in width, and perhaps
eighteen inches Deep but it was clear, spark
hing, swift, merry little stream as ever looked
upon. We found large quantities of jasper, OBJ
sidian, milky quartz, agates, and many other
stones which Emory describes We finally strt1ck
pass in the mountains which Emory describes
as impossible for wagons or pack mules. 1t was
truly an ugly looking place. On both both sides
of the pass masses Of solid gloomy focks arose
from the water, while the stream, dark and
swift, rolled rapidly between these huge walls,
not an inch of ground on either side to plant
ones foot. One of the men dashed into the RI
yer, and the wagons followed. 1t was an excl
ting scene the men shouting and sometimes
swimming, while the poor mules strained every
rerve and struggled for their lives. They finally
got through safe and then such shout went up
Here we first saw the cereus giganteus. 1t isa
lofty green column, with its exterior huted, and
large thorns all over it. The top is of an oval
shape, and it has large arms extending upward
from its sides.
"Our road was exceedingly rough after enter
Ing this mountain pass We were obliged to let
our wagons down the mountains with ropes very
frequently, and occasionally some unfortunate
mule would lose his footing and away he'd 60,
rolling over and over down the mountain and at
first was certain the animal was dead, but, on
being relieved of his pack, he jumped up, shook
himself, and, being relieved of his pack, jumped
up, and being re-packed plodded up the mountain
as if nothing had happened. 1t was very hard
work for our surveying party here, as We were
wet through all day, and frequently did not get
into camp until late at night. In few days
from this time the mountains became so precp-
itous that we were obliged to abandon the
gons. 1t seemed as if we were parting from old
friends as we took parting look at them. We
had seen few Indians short time before, but
a day or two after we abandoned the wagons
we were very much troubled by them, night and
day We passed through several different tribes,
but We did not remain long enough among any
one tribe to learn much of their habits. The
men are large and finely formed, with muscular
invariably noticed that their arms are small
owing to their exemption from all labor
the women performing it all amongst other
drudgery, having to carry large loads Of wood
in huge baskets made of the leaf of a species Of
cactus. These indians are the Pinon LIanos, or
Females, the Apaches the Tontos, and Coyote
ros. They are all very fine horsemen. The wo
man ride we'll, also and have the same position
on the animal as the men. 1t world rather Us
tonish you to see them dashing down noun
tain at full speed, while they seem quite uncon
scious of doing anything unusual.
"About this time we had nothing to eat ex
cept beef and that without salt We had no
-four, no coffee, no sugar, no beans, no bread, no
rice. You may we'll imagine how glad we were
when we were enabled to buy some friiolcS,
pumpkins, and salt from the Indians. Just i'm
agine young gentleman who used to sport a
jimmy hat, blue coat grey pants standing collar,
and patent feathers on Pennsylvania avenue, sit
ting down on the ground to an elegant collation.
of cold beef-and nothing else-dressed in rag
ged pants, still more ragged coat, a pair Of
boots which seem tn have been made on the
principle Of letting water run ont as soon as it
gotin; and, to cap the climax, shocking bad
hat with the addition of a large pistol and
bowie knife stuck in his belt and a large Missis-
sipi rifle lying across his knees, and you will have
an idea Of your humble servant, and what may
be truly styled a hard looking case
"The men and women of these tribes wear
their hair short. Their arms are the bow and
arrow and the lance. These are the Indians
whom Major Emory mentions as being very
treacherous. They were very friendly to us,
however; but the reason of it was that they sup
posed we were the Indian commissioners, whom
they expect to treat with them and make them
presents. 1t was very lucky thing for us that
the Indians were under this delusion regarding
us, for they had some beautiful chances of Civ