Note 31 — Chapter V · THROUGH ARIZONA TO SAN DIEGO

Audubon returned to the Gila at the point of its junction with the Colorado. The usual emigrant road either kept to the south of the Gila or crossed the river at the bend and recrossed it sometime before coming to the Colorado. Audubon must either have kept to the north of the river or omitted to mention the recrossing. The crossing of the Colorado was just below the mouth of the Gila. Lieut. Whipple was making observations at this point at this time. Fort Yuma was established here in 1852, opposite the present town of Yuma.