Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-04-07
The Colorado Exploring Expedition.

iHS 'ho past year mas explored tne river Coi-
orado OF the West, and wide range of coun-
Try to the east of it, has been published, and
furnishes variety of information concerning
region of which little has hitherto been known.
The Colorado forms part of the boundary line
between California and New Mexico. 1t is
formed by the union of number of streams
which rise in the Rocky Mountains, and it
empties into the Gulf of California at its north
ern extremity. Lieut.. Ives followed up the
river, in boats, five hundred miles, to the mouth
of the Rio Virgin, when further navigation be-
coming impossible; he landed and commenced
exploring the country to. the eastward along the
10Th and Both parallels, until he reached Albu-
querque, having performed II land exploration of
nearly nine hundred miles.
The region at the mouth of the Colorado is
fiat expanse of mud, and consequently the lines
of the shore and the channels of the river are
continually changing. The navigation for thirty
miles above is rendered dangerously the strength
and magnitude of the spring tides, which have
a rise and fall of twenty-five to thirty feet, and
a flow of extraordinary velocity. The flood is
preceded by huge tide wave from four to seven
feet high, which in certain narrow bends is ex-
ceedingly powerful. Neap tides have a rise
and fall of only ten feet, and moderate vcloci.
ty. Between tde-water and Fort Yuma, one
hundred and sixty miles from the mouth Of the
river. eand bars greatly obstruct navigation,
while a tortuous and ever changing channel adds
to this difficulty yet company engaged in
transporting government stores to Fort Yuma
have overcome these difficulties SO far as to per-
form their trips regularly For one hundred
and eighty miles above this fort the navigation
is of similar character. In the succeeding
one hundred and fifty miles, the bars become
worse being formed Of gravel, but the channel
is better At this point navigation practically
ends on account of the number antt extent of
the rapids. A point on the emigrant road to
Utah, showed that wagon road might be
opened between the trail and the head of nav-
cation.
Near the gulf the country on either side is
perfectly unbroken, but further north broad
valleys alternate with wild rugged mountain
ranges of volcanic origin, which cross the river
in almost parallel southwesta and northeast lines.
The canons formed by the passage of the river
through the mountains, are exceedingly grand
and beautiful. At Black Canon, where navga-
ton ends, the current flows between massive
Wallis that rise sheer from the water oypr a
thousand feet. Above the canon, in the vicinity
of the mouth of the Rio Virgin is remarkably
rugged and sterile region. Barren piles of
rock, heaped together in chaotic disorder, and
exhibiting no trace of vegetation extend for
miles in almost every direction Beyond, to
the north and east, vast table land, hundreds
of miles in extent, stretches away into Utah.
To the extreme limit Of vision immense plateaus
rise, one above the other, in successive steps,
the most elevated being seven thousand to eight
thousand feet above the sea level. The Colorado
and it's tributaries have, by ages Of wear and
abrasion, cut their way through this huge form
alton, making canons that are in some places
more than mile in length These avenues
form maze of yawning abysses which are gen.
orally inaccessible. Twice only, and with great
difficulty, did Lieut.. Ives and party make their
way to the banks of streams down these preci-
pices. In some portions Of this singular region
the plateaus are cut up into narrow walls,
isolated ridges, and spires so slender that they
seem to totter upon their bases, shooting up to
an enormous height.
The region east Of the Colorado, along the
35th and Both parallels, is almost unnhabited.
Inconsiderable bands of Apachcs wander over
portions of it. They are diminutive, wretched
race Their rude huts Of boughs and stones are
perched in crevices in the sides off cliffs, where
alone they can obtain supplies Of water. Fish
from the river, u scanty store of corn wrung
from some sunny spot in their dismal ravines,
and what little game they can secure, enables
them to keep life in their bodies. Their isolation
and mouotonous life seem to have deadened
every faculty and emotion, and they manifested
not the least curiosity or surprise at the appear
ance of the exploring party, who were doubt
less the first white men they had ever seen.
The first large tribe seen after leaving the
Colorado was the MoQuis, which numbers about
three thousand souls. They occupy sever towns
located on the tops of isolated and precipitou:
hills, and situated within few miles of each
other. The towns are inclosed by walls of stone
anu arc tolerably well constructed, The houses
are built around an open court, and are entered
by ladders that conduct to a small platform
upon the top of the exterior wall, upon which
the doors and windows Of the habitations open
Springs near the SUBMITS of the hills furnish
a supply of water, and to provide against
drouths, there are large stone reservoirs, exceed
ingly well made, placed in the hollows along
the faces of the bluffs. These Indians produce
cotton, corn, pumpkins, melons and peaches
under great disadvantages of soil, climate ant
agricultural outfit, and exhibit degree of in
dustry remarkable in their race Both sexe
labor in the field. They have considerable
number of sheep and some poultry. They ar
shambling, ill-inade race, peaceablc and inot
fensive. They manufacture cotton fabric ant
blankets, which are in great request among tn
Indians of New Mexico and Utah.
Some of the lands traversed by Lieut.. I've
exhibited evidences of high fertility, but til
, drawbacks were also great The valley inhabit
cd by the Mojave Indians, along the Colorado
on the 35th parallel, was the finest met with
When visited, during the month of February
the air was indescribably balmy and delicious
: and groves of verdant trees, fields of whea
7 corn, beans, pumkins and melons, promising
a. L. L.