One of the most interesting characters associated with Quartzsite, AZ is ‘Hi Jolly’, or Hadji Ali, who died here in 1902. He came to the U.S. from somewhere in the middle east in 1856 as a camel driver for the US Army’s experimental Camel Corps. When the experiment was abandoned during the Civil War, he stayed and eventually became a U.S. citizen, taking the name (or perhaps reclaiming his real name) Philip Tedrow. He is buried in the Quartzsite cemetery and is honored with a large pyramid shaped monument.

The monument is of native stone and dominates the small cemetery.

The plaque on the monument.

On our walks we frequently follow washes in order to get out of the wind and explore the fantastic wind and water shaped land contours and flora. The mesquites or ironwood trees are numerous around here and great for campfires, if you don’t have to saw it!

The mesquites must stand a long time after death and weather to rock hardness!

This burl is massive!