Through Arizona to San Diego 149 



or three hundred yards wide, were frequently 

 crossed, and other strips looking like dried 

 parched-up white clay; the mountains are very 

 irregularly formed, and of a blackish stone, look- 

 ing in the distance almost purple. I tried to take 

 some sketches, but could not make time. 



On September 19th I procured two specimens of 

 the Dipodomys PhiUippsii'^ the red tail and marsh 

 hawks are abundant, and ravens are seen, as well 

 as buzzards from time to time. We find many 

 mounds of the Dipodomys Phillippsii, and prairie 

 dog or some other marmot, but they are so shy 

 that we have not killed one yet. We picked up 

 yesterday horns of the Rocky Mountain sheep, 

 and the Papagos tell us they are found in plenty in 

 the mountains around us. 



September 2lst. The last village we passed of 

 these Indians was situated on a large prairie of 

 miserably poor soil, sandy and dry, covered with 

 a peculiar small-leaved plant, containing a great 

 deal of astringent, gummy sap ; we find this only 

 on the poorest of soils full of gravel and sand, and 

 always hail it with dislike, though its taste, a little 

 of it, is pleasant, being slightly aromatic, and yet 

 in some way reminding one of baked apple. Why 

 it is that these Indians settle in such country, I 



^ The Dipodomys Phillippsii is a species of mouse provided 

 with a pouch and is popularly called the pocket or kangaroo 



mouse. 



10 



