OCR Text |
Show 46 Nuwuvi: A Southern Paiute History above their camp. After displays of friendship were made, one old Nuwuvi man came down, and was joined by about 12 others. The Nuwuvi indicated their hunger and were fed dried beef by Carson's men. Brewerton's account shows that the Nuwuvi were unable to procure sufficient food. Brewerton noticed that they carried digging sticks, bows and poisonous arrows. As Carson's party left their encampment, they saw smoke rising from the hills. These smokes were repeated at various points along the route, showing that the Nuwuvi were telling of the intruders in their country. "During the following day, parties of these Indians showed themselves occasionally upon the crests of inaccessible hills, but seemed unwilling to come within gun-shot. . . ." 41 But after two days travel from the camp, a group of Nuwuvi came to visit, "and when they did so, the actions of the party were so suspicious that Kit concluded to retain one of their number (a young warrior about eighteen years of age) as a sort of hostage for their good behavior during the night." 42 Brewerton was amazed at the conduct of the young Nuwuvi who showed no signs of fear and made himself at home. He talked freely with Carson in his own language. When he went to prepare his bed, "he asked for his bow and arrows . . . these he placed carefully beneath the blanket by his side, explaining to me, by signs, that the damp might impair their efficacy by relaxing the bowstring, which was composed of twisted sinews." 43 The young boy apparently was more courageous than his captors, who nervously stood watch over him all night. The party saw no more Nuwuvi until they reached the Virgin River. At this point they again saw a display of Nuwuvi bravery. Camping at the point where Fremont lost Tabeau in 1844, one of the party reported finding Indian tracks near their horses,44 With the intention to shoot to kill, Carson, Brewerton and two others followed the tracks. After sighting a lone Nuwuvi, Brewerton recorded that "The fellow bounded like a deer, swinging himself from side to side, so as to furnish a very uncertain mark for our rifles." The whites reacted to this as if they were at a shooting match. Three of them took shots at the Nuwuvi but missed. Finally a fourth shot and hit the man in his shoulder. Despite this wound, he managed to elude his attackers and escaped by using his greater |