CHAPTER X.
Fort Yuma.—The Yuma Indians.—Desperate Situation.—Dr. Webb's Bluntness.—Caballo en Pelo.—Method of Camping.—Yuma Chiefs our Prisoners.—The Launch.—Crossing the Colorado.—March into the Desert.—Release of the Yumas.——Sandstorm in the Desert.—Final Escape from the Yumas.—Sufferings on the Desert.—Carisso Creek.—Vallecito.—Hospitality of Army Officers.—Col. Heintzleman.—Yumas Reduced to Subjection.
The foregoing digression is excusable, on the ground that it exposes, to some extent, the character of the American people who first made the intimate acquaintance of the Indian tribes occupying the country on the direct route of migration between the Atlantic and Pacific States, and, in a measure, accounts for their hostile advances. The Pimos and Maricopas must, however, be excepted from this category, as they never, on any occasion, no matter how much goaded, exhibited any vengeful or adverse spirit toward Americans. In like manner, these remarks cannot apply to the Apaches, who never, at any time, ceased their active hostility and treacherous attacks.
Soon after Caballo en Pelo, or the "Naked Horse," entered our camp, he made a signal to his associates, and we soon had an accession of fourteen more, embracing several of the principal men in the Yuma tribe. They were all unarmed, and each one expressed his desire to maintain friendly relations with our people. Dr. Webb, with his usual blunt honesty of character, and total neglect of policy, abruptly asked them—"If you mean as you profess, why did you drive away the
