Ewing Young in Far Southwest 23 member of the party, says that it was composed of "Americans, Canadians, and Frenchmen," but, aside from that of Young, he gives the names of only two members — James Lawrence, who was shot by James Higgins. The names of three others, Francois Turcote, Jean Vail- lant, and Anastase Carier, appear in the California archives as deserters of the main company seeking pass- ports to return to New Mexico. 15 The company left Taos in August, 1829. In order to make it appear that they were setting out for the United States and thus throw the Mexicans off their trail, they traveled northward some fifty miles through the San Luis Valley and then turned southwest through the Navajo country to Zuni. From Zuni they directed their course to the head of Salt River, down which they trapped to Rio Verde, or San Francisco River as it was then called, and from there up that stream to its head. Here the party was divided, about half of it being sent back to Taos with the furs thus far taken, and the rest, eighteen in number, set out for California. Of the portion of the company bound for New Mexico we have no further in- formation. Kit Carson happened to be in the division bound for California and has left us an account of that portion of the trip. From the head waters of the Rio Verde, the trappers took a more or less direct route to the Colorado, which they struck "below the great Canon. " This part of the journey had been over barren country practically destitute of water, and had required two forced marches of four days each to cross it. About fifteen miles north- east from Truxton is a watering place indicated on the early maps of Arizona as Young Spring. This is prob- ably the place where Young's men quenched their thirst after the first of these four-day forced marches. At the Colorado, they met a band of Mojave Indians, from whom 15 Manuel Jiraeno Casarin, July 31, 1830 (Departmental State Papers, Benicia. Custom House II, 4-5. Ms. in Bancroft Library).
