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Show The First Intruders: Explorers, Traders, and Slavers 23 At Coal Creek, north of Cedar City, Utah, the first contact between the expedition and the Nuwuvi occurred. About twenty Nuwuvi women were harvesting grass seed on the plain. Upon seeing the mounted and armed expedition, the women tried to flee but some were caught and "forcibly detained." These women, through the expedition's Ute interpreter, Joaquin, told Escalante that many of their people lived in the vicinity. They also helped the party determine its location with respect to the Rio Grande (Colorado River) by telling Escalante about a people wearing blue clothes and living south of the Colorado River, and by estimating its distance. Escalante decided that these people wearing blue clothes were the Havasupai. He also remarked that he "knew that the Payuchis traded only for red clothes." 2 After asking the women to notify their people that they came in peace, the Spanish released them. Because the men of the expedition didn't know exactly where they were, they were anxious to obtain a "Payuchis" guide. Arriving at Ash Creek, they sighted and pursued a group of Nuwuvi, one of whom they captured.3 The captured Nuwuvi man carried "a large net very well made of hemp," 4 which he told the Spanish he had obtained from other Indians living down the Rio Grande. The Nuwuvi themselves also made such nets. He also informed Escalante that the Nuwuvi obtained colored shells from the same Indians. From this information Escalante assumed that the Nuwuvi were trading with the Coeomaricopa on the Gila River. The Hopi or Havasupai probably acted as middlemen.3 Escalante also learned that some colored woolen threads which the Nuwuvi man possessed were "purchased this summer from two of those who wear blue clothing and who crossed the river."' Although Escalante believed the traders wearing blue clothing were Havasupai, "It is probable that the traders were in fact Hopi and were wearing native, indigo-dyed, apparel." 7 The Nuwuvi had a lively trade with the Hopi, Havasupai, and Mohave. Extensive trade between the Nuwuvi and the Hopi villages was the predecessor to Hopi-Navaho trade.8 This trade between Nuwuvi and Hopi was undoubtedly an age-old pattern. Trade, even at the time Escalante noted it, involved both groups crossing the Colorado to meet one another. The Nuwuvi were trading actively with other nations, so |