The Mojave Indians lived in the desert region east of the Cahuilla Indians near the Colorado River, where few plants grew and animals were scarce due to the hot, dry climate. They built shelters adapted to the extreme heat, such as flat-topped structures in summer and log-and-reed walls in winter. For food, they relied on seeds, cactus fruits, mesquite beans, and small animals because the desert environment lacked trees and water.