many years the best known of any place beyond the mountains. The
routes of trappers and prospectors frequently followed aid native
trails, which crossed and recrossed the country in every direction,
except where the canyons of the Green and Colorado were approached,
when few lines of traverse were open across, and none along the
course of the water.

On the headwaters of Green River lived the Crows, who called it the
Seedskedee Agie or Prairie Hen River. The Snakes and Utes living
farther down called it the Bitter-root. Fremont called it the Rio
Verde of the Spaniards, but apparently without good authority. It was
also spoken of as Spanish River, from the report that Spaniards
occupied its lower valleys. Colorado was also one of its names, and
this is what it should have remained. The commonest appellation was
Green, supposed to have been derived from a trapper of that name.
Just when the term "Colorado" was first applied to the lower river is
not now known. It bore several names, but finally Colorado took first
place because of its appropriateness. Both the walls and the water
are usually red, though the name is undoubtedly derived from the
colour of the water. Green River is frequently as red as any river
could be. After a storm in the headwaters of Vermilion Creek I have
seen the Green a positively bright vermilion.

The Arapahos were said to range into Brown's Park; the Utes were all
along the Wonsits Valley and below it on both sides of the river.
Then came the Navajos, ranging up to the San Juan and above.* On the
north side, below the San Juan, were the various bands of Pai Utes,
while on the south were the Puebloan tribes, with the Apaches,
Suppais, Wallapais, etc., while still below came the Mohaves,
Cocopas, and Yumas, with, on the Gila, the Pimas, Papagos, and