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J. W. Powell - Canyons of the Colorado
Two or three miles farther down, in turning a short bend of the river, we come upon another camp. So
near are we before they can see us that I can shout to them, and, being able to speak a little of their
language, I tell them we are friends; but they all flee to the rocks, except a man, a woman, and two
children. We land and talk with them. They are without lodges, but have built little shelters of boughs,
under which' they wallow in the sand. The man is dressed in a hat; the woman, in a string of beads only.
At first they are evidently much terrified; but when I talk to them in their own language and tell them we
are friends, and inquire after people in the Mormon towns, they are soon reassured and beg for tobacco.
Of this precious article we have none to spare. Sumner looks around in the boat for something to give
them, and finds a little piece of colored soap, which they receive as a valuable present, - rather as a thing
of beauty than as a useful commodity, however. They are either unwilling or unable to tell us anything
about the Indians or white people, and so we push off, for we must lose no time.
We camp at noon under the right bank. And now as we push out we are in great expectancy, for we hope
every minute to discover the mouth of the Rio Virgen. Soon one of the men exclaims: "Yonder's an
Indian in the river." Looking for a few minutes, we certainly do see two or three persons. The men bend
to their oars and pull toward them. Approaching, we see that there are three white men and an Indian
hauling a seine, and then we discover that it is just at the mouth of the long-sought river.
As we come near, the men seem far less surprised to see us than we do to see them. They evidently know
who we are, and on talking with them they tell us that we have been reported lost long ago, and that some
weeks before a messenger had been sent from Salt Lake City with instructions for them to watch for any
fragments or relics of our party that might drift down the stream.
Our new-found friends, Mr. Asa and his two sons, tell us that they are pioneers of a town that is to be
built on the bank. Eighteen or twenty miles up the valley of the Rio Virgen there are two Mormon towns,
St. Joseph and St. Thomas. To-night we dispatch an Indian to the last-mentioned place to bring any
letters that may be there for us.
Our arrival here is very opportune. When we look over our store of supplies, we find about 10 pounds of
flour, 15 pounds of dried apples, but 70 or 80 pounds of coffee.
August 81. - This afternoon the Indian returns with a letter informing us that Bishop Leithhead of
St. Thomas and two or three other Mormons are coming down with a wagon, bringing us supplies. They
arrive about sundown. Mr. Asa treats us with great kindness to the extent of his ability; but Bishop
Leithhead brings in his wagon two or three dozen melons and many other little luxuries, and we are
comfortable once more.
September 1. - This morning Sumner, Bradley, Hawkins, and Hall, taking on a small supply of
rations, start down the Colorado with the boats. It is their intention to go to Fort Mojave, and perhaps
from there overland to Los Angeles.
Captain Powell and myself return with Bishop Leithhead to St. Thomas. From St. Thomas we go to Salt
Lake City.
CHAPTER XII. THE RIO VIRGEN AND THE UINKARET MOUNTAINS.
A year has passed, and we have determined to resume the exploration of the canyons of the Colorado.
Our last trip was so hurried, owing to the loss of rations, and the scientific instruments were so badly
injured, that we are not satisfied with the results obtained; so we shall once more attempt to pass through
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