The Georgetown news., 1856-05-01

every respect as his own children. Two
blankets were given to them for covering;
food was divided with them; they were not
obliged to labor, but did pretty much as
they pleased. Lands were allotted to them,
and they were furnished with seeds, and
raised their own corn, melons and beans as
the InGians did.
There IS little Or no rain on the Colorado
and the Mohaves depend upon the overflow
Of the river for til irrigation necessary to
germinate and ripen their harvests. Some
times there is no ovefow of the river, and
much suffering follows. The Indians are
too indolent to plant more than will suffice
for their actual necessities Three years
ago there was no overflow, ard famine
was the consequence, in which many per-
ished. 1t was in this famine thai Olive suf-
fered her greatest grief. Her little sister,
Mary Ann, Lad endured ali her captivity
with her. They supposed that they were
alone of their family; they had suffered to-
gether tie cruelties of the savages; but they
had not been separated. They could SYM
pathise ard cheer each other in their drear-
mess, and sometimes they would whisper to-
gether faint hope Of redemption But
now came the trial. The child wasted
away by degrees-she knew that she was to
die, and talked calmly Of death to Olive
She had no disease, but there was no food
and size wasted miserahly in the famine
that desolated the tribe. Olive herself was
near periShing, but the strength of her con-
stitutiOn saved her life. She speaks of the
Chiefs wife in terms of warmest gratitude.
A mother could not have expressed more
kind hearted sympathy toan did this good
woman, whose gentle treatment saved her
life. This woman had laid up seed corn to
plant, and which even the dying sroanS OF
her own people could lot make her bring
out. When sic saw Olives distress, she
ground this corn between stones, made q
cruel and fed it to her. not reserving any
even to herself
The Mohaye5 always TOLD her she could
90 to the white settlements when she
pleased, but they dared not 90 with her,
fearing they might be punished for having
kept a white woman so long among them,
nor did they dare to let it be known that
she was among them. She could not 90
alone: for she did not know the way, and
she despaired of ever again seeing her
friends. Hope almost did within her.
Tor three long years she mourned her cap
tiyity-though well treated she was re-
strained, for She knew not how to cxtricate
herself. What were her sensations, during
OIL this time, must be imagined; for she is
not, as yet, able to express her thoughts in
language.
Before tie arrival of the Indian roessen-
ger char ged to release her, she beard OF his
departure from the Fort, by an Indian run
ner. Her joy vas very great, but she forced
herself to appear Indifferent, lest the Indi-
ans should still RESTRAIN her. She had little
confidence in their sincerity, when they
gave her permission to leave them, because
they refused to go With her, and the knew
she could not go alone.
At length, Francisco, the Yuma, arri ed
with the requisition from Col Burke eor Ler
delivery. The packet was exanlined by the
Indians, but no one understood it. It was
put into her hands to explain. 1t was writ
ten in bold, round hand, the letters being
third OF an inch long. It was the first
word Of English she had seen for five long
weary years and lhe could not ru.train her
emotion. The cold chill of Indian reserve
seemed to melt away, and she saw before
her mind the OLD home scenes; and happy
voices seemed to welcome her return. She
readily decirhered the meaning Of that re-
script, and communicated it to the assem-
bled Indians Accompanying it were six
pounds OF white beads, four blanket, and
some other trinkets, to be gisen in exchange
These were accepted, aud the Chic. told her
she was at liberty 10 depart for her friends
Mary Of the Indians, however; objected to
her going, fearing they ould be punished
as her captors. The Chiefs wife, the kind
woman who saved hel lie in the famine
cried d9y and night as if she were los
ing her own child, and then gave her up
With the guide she started for the Fort
with d light heart, on foot, as usual She
was ten days on the road, travelling with
greater speed than ever before. This time
TIE days were short to her, and 50 great was
h9r mental excitement, that she knew neith-
er WEAKNESS nor hunger. The trail vas
tortuous and rough, leading through noun
talns and gorge, and several times she was
compelled to swim the Colorado. This
time, too, her feet were protected from the
SHARP. stones by sandals, such as were worn
by the Indians.
During all her captivity she does rot re
member to have seen wild flower or shrub
Ii there We're any, her mind was So absorb
ed with her own misery, that she did moi
observe them. Among the Mohaves there
IS no food except what is raised-that is
corn, wheat, melons and beans. A lew fisl
are caught from the river; small bulb, re
sembllng brodeia, is taken from the ground
which IS boiled or roasted. This bulb is
almost tasteless, and is found in such small
quantities that whole day is required t6
gather enough for meal There are nc
berries nor fruit trees of any kind.
The Yumas and Mohaves are friends
Their manners, customs and dress are the
same, and their lodges are built npon the