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Show DEGEADED STATE OF THE INDIANS. 223 they were friendly, and also hungry. We gave them supper. I procured from one of them a bow, made of a single horn of the big horn sheep, covered on the outside with deer-sinew, which they chew until it forms the consistency of thick glue ; they then cover the back of the bow with it to increase its strength. I also procured from them a quiver full of steel and obsedian pointed arrows, in exchange for some articles of clothing. 26th.-We left camp this morning at eight o'clock; our road lay through a complete forest of bushes about three feet high, covered with an orange-colored berry. The Indians, who followed our camp, said they were good to eat. Nearly all of the party partook of them, as they tasted well. A short time after eating them I fell sick, and they affected me in the same manner as if I had taken an emetic. All the camp were affected in the same manner. No other unpleasant consequences followed our imprudence. The scenery around is uninteresting. We camped at noon, for luncheon, after having crossed the river five times to-day. The sun is very hot, and riding exposed to its influence is not very pleasant. After resting our animals and satisfying the inner man, we resumed our journey, and camped on the river, having crossed and recrossed it fifteen times. The high bluffs iminedately over our camp, are covered with Indians, all armed. 1 hardly think they will have the temerity to attack us. We travelled to-day twenty miles. The most degraded and lowest in the scale of human beings are the Digger, or Piede Indians, of the Rio Virgin and Santa Clara Rivers. Our camps were fre- |
