98 Audubon's Western Journal 



intended watering at the place, taking a short rest, 

 then going seven leagues farther to La Zarca. Two 

 hours after we started the moon rose behind us, and 

 truly we presented a most picturesque appearance. 

 Some in coats, some in blankets Mexican fashion, 

 others in shooting jackets; we grew very tired and 

 longed for sleep, but it was not to be taken except 

 on horseback. Morning came and we stopped for 

 an hour to graze our horses and mules, and rode 

 past the deserted rancho without stopping to water, 

 and came on to La Zarca, having had our poor 

 animals under the saddle for twenty hours, during 

 which we made sixty-four miles, ourselves only 

 having to eat what we had expected for one meal. 

 As we came up the mountains that overlooked this 

 plain, we saw the first antelopes, and I was at one 

 time within two hundred yards of three, but I did 

 not shoot, and was never so near again. Many 

 black-tailed hare have been seen and shot, and their 

 variety of pelage would make twenty species. 



June 1 2th. Today, Sunday, we are resting men 

 and animals, and tranquillity is all about us. These 

 long journeys are very injurious to our horses; one 

 such long trip leaves them much more jaded and 

 impoverished than two shorter ones, even though, 

 as now, we always take a day's rest. 



La Zarca is beautiful to look at, the centre of 

 attraction being a fine clump of cotton-woods, 

 letting the white walls of the hacienda shine 



