The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-07


HaD INDIANS ON THE RoUTE-sINGULAR CASE OF
BoNEsTY-DKsCRIPrIoNo OF THE Mob vEs-BRAUTY
or THE wOMEN-CROssNG THE COLORAD0--A
BoRRID FKAsT-INTEREsTINd ACCOUNT OF THE
eAMELs, ETC., ETC.
The survey of the Pacific wagon road on the 35th
parallel OF latitude is completed. We started from
San Antonio Texas, on the 25th of June, 1857, and
an advance party arrived at Los Angeles the 18th
of November; making the entire trip in four and
half months. The survey was ordered to be made
nom Fort Defiance to the Colorado river, but the
party did not 60 to the post. The work was begun
ut the Pueblo of Zun and terminated at the Colora-
do. We did not meet any Indians, or even see any,
until we were within few days travel Of the river,
when an event occurred which interrupted the mo-
notcny of our hitherto uneventful journey. We had
eamped for the day at the base of some tall and
ragged hills, and our geologist thought he would
take stroll and examine the huge boulders which
were lying around. Meeting with some curious spe-
eimens be laid down his double barrel gun to look
~ them and went few PAGES further in his search
for others Imagine his CONSERVATION on looking up
70 find his weapon in the possession of three Indians
who but moment before had been as remote from
his thoughts as the east is from the west Mr..
Biologist had often spoken of seeing Indians that
no one else saw, and of deliberately scrutinizing
them; but alas that cool selfpossesson forsook him
on this OCCASION and making straight coat tail, he
came into camp as if all the furies were after him.
his coantenance pale as ashes and his eyes glazing
wildly He had not once thought of recourse to the
sixehooter at his side. .|..... ..
We had seen the tracks of Indians for several
days, and Lieutenant Beale, who knew their value
as guides, had that morning expressed a desire to
make of them prisoner; and, singular to say, be-
fore the day closed we caught two of them-an old
man and boy. They were terribly frightened at
first, but after clothing and feeding them they
seemed to be very well satisfied That night we let
the boy go, but the man remained with us three
days, and served the expedition greatly by guiding
~ 20 water
The next morning while we were eating break
Ast, we heard a loud "halloa" by strange voice.
and what was our establishment to seen an Indian
coming towards US with our biologists gun in his
hand
He came into camp alone and restored it to
Lieutenant Beale, talking rapidly all the while,
pointing to the sky and ground, and swaying his
body necessarily to and fro The Superintendent
made him a few trfing presents and sent him away
highly pleased Such restoration of a gun, the
dearest Of all things to an Indian is, perhaps with
cat parallel.
We reached the Colorado river on the evening of
the 18th of October, and camped on its margin, in
a beautiful grove OF cottonwood trees Here we
found swarms of the Mohaves, and finer looking
set OF men never saw, nearly all OF them standing
six feet in height, and many even taller They
wore nothing but cloth grit about their lons and
exhibit the very perfection of manly strength and
symmetrical beauty-straight rs the pine and
active the deer. Their faces are intelligent and
handsome, the cheek bone being but little more
prominent in them than in the white race. The wo-
men wear skirts made of the inside of the bark of
trees, and show some taste in making them. They
are very lively and kept up an ncessant chatter,
seeming to be quite happy and not at all the degrad
ed creatures they have been represented to be-
Obesity seems to be mark Of beauty among them,
for they are the largest women ever saw. They
seem to like white men, and when tied fancy Co
lored handkerchief around the neck of of them,
she commenced laughing mmoderately, and
thought she would have embraced me.
The Colorado river is a beautiful stream. II is
about 800 Yards wide where we cross it, and has
from twelve to fifteen feet of water in the channel.
This was perhaps 10 miles from ts mouth Further
down of course il is much broader and deeper. The
next morning we began the work Of crossing it. This
occupied us two days, and was most tiresome job.
All our baggage was taken over in an India rubber
boat which the foresight Of the Superintendent had
provided, and which answered its purpose admirably.
Our force at this time divided II being necessary
10 put guard over baggage, it was deposited
on the western side, to keep the meddlesome natives
81 who swarmed around 1t; and portion on the
eastern side TO watch the wagons and to direct the
work; and do assure you have been much more
pleasantly situated and have had far more agreeable
neghbors than those swarms Of gigantic savages
who were anxious TO inspect everything. and who
sften broke into loud cries and fierce gesticuations
seemingly bent on q fight.
The nsdus operandi Of getting our wagons over
was 70 put air beds under them, and stretching
rope entirely across the river which was made fast
20 the wagons, we pulled them over by main
strength and IL required no little effort after they
had gotten into shoa water TO get them TO the shore
Then the Indians were made useful. Selling bold
Of the long rope they pulled with hearty good WILL
and seemed to consider il great sport
Having gotten our baggage over, then came the
sames. IL Ia asserted In natural history that they
In1
intense interest, as their loss would have been q
great, perhaps fatal disaster 70 the expedition.
First only one Of the males was led down To the
river, q rope was then fastened TO his head and
thrown to 4 man in the boat. In order 70 keep his
nose above the surface in the event Of his really
being unable 90 SWIM but the precaution was needless
AT first the animal refused 70 enter the WAFER, bht
once In he breasted it bravey and though carried
distance down the stream by the rapid current he
reached the opposite shore in safety, amidst the
plan,s Of the entire multitude both Of Indians and
white men, and to our unspeakablc satisfaction.
The rest were sent over five and six at time, with
out any difficulty.
We were not as fortunate with our mules. Worn
out by incessant labor, and weakened by want of
food some Of them unable TO resist the strong
current, and were swept down and drowned. Then
commenced a sckenng scene. Scarcely bad the
breath left their bodies when they were dragged
out of the water by the Indians, and tom
limb from limb TO crafty their savage appetites.
Throwing huge pieces Of the rceking flesh on the
fires winch they had hastily kindled they allowed
then h bum for a few moments, and then, no long
able 70 refrain from their horrid feast they tore It
with their teeth like hungry dogs, while their faces
and hands were besmearcd with gore. Having sue
ceeded in getting over the river without any serious
ACCIDENT, the next morning, little after sunrise we
bate adieu 10 the place and its inhabitants, and
moved on towards the setting sun.
On the 5th of November we reached the Mohave
river, very small stream, scarcely more than q
brook, and our mules greatly In need of rest
and our provisions were nearly out, Lieut. Beale
left party in charge Of the wagons and teams and
taking all the camels twenty four In number,) and
about twenty men, went down the Mormon road,
which was distant only fifteen miles from our camp,
towards San Bernardino for fresh supplies Finding
q ranch within Eve miles Of the town, we made the
necessary purchases, and detatching a sufficient
number Of men ~ take the loaded caniels back to the
relief Of our friends on the Mohave we turned our
faces towards Los Angeles, which we reached in two
more days travel The rest Of the party went 10
Fort Tejon and arrived there about the 10Th Of No
vemher.
The road Is good one. Some portions Of II run