CHAPTER X.

On the Gila River--Pima Indian Village--Welcome Gifts from the Pimas--Among the Maricopa Indians--Asleep on the Trail--Visit from a Bear--Loss of Provisions Through an Attempt to Float a Quantity Down the Gila--Hard Traveling--Crossing the Colorado River--Gloom In the Camp--Lower and Upper California--Terrible March over the Tierra Caliente, or Hot Lands--Digging Wells for Brackish Water--Advance Guard Reach a Mountain Spring--Water Carried back to Revive the Fainting Troops--Last Spoonful of Flour Used--Dividing the Rations--In the Canyons of the Sierra Nevada--Hewing Roads through Rocks and Brush--Feeding on Live Acorns and Green Mustard--News of Victories by United states Troops in California--Preparing to Engage the Retiring Mexican Army--First House Seen in California--Beef Without Salt--Trade for Acorn Mush--Heavy Storm and Flood In Camp--a Few Pounds of Flour Secured--Dancing in Mud and Water--Receive Orders to go to Los Angeles--Discover a Body of Troops in Line of Battle--Advance to the Attack--Supposed Foe Proves to be Friendly Indians--Presence of the Mormon Battalion prevents an Intended Attempt by Mexicans to Retake California, also an Uprising of Californians Against the United States--On a Battlefield where General Kearney had Fought--Relics of the Encounter--Prophecy of President Brigham Young and its Fulfillment--Source of His Inspiration.