226 Audubon s Western Journal 



bright sand bleaching in the sun, their waters dried 

 up or only a tiny trickle. As we descended from 

 one table land to another the rich vegetation 

 became broken by spots of barrenness, and at times 

 whole plains of weeds, not strong and rank showing 

 fertile land, but coarse, noxious, ungainly with 

 disgusting smell, extended for three or four miles 

 and we followed the dusty road almost feeling 

 that we were again on our terrible journey through 

 Mexico last summer. 



All these valleys along the river look more fer- 

 tile in winter than at this season, as the wet and 

 moisture gives the appearance of richness, which 

 is now completely dissipated by the already 

 parched-up efifect of the land. 



To give you some little idea of the changes 

 occurring in this country: the ferry we crossed last 

 winter (and could only be taken over after great 

 bargaining for a dollar each), we crossed today, 

 all three of us, and our mule for the same sum of 

 one dollar. So at the mines, the same change has 

 taken place; last year an ounce was considered the 

 average of the produce of good working men per 

 diem; this year half an ounce is considered the 

 average, by equally good and better skilled work- 

 men. The people at home will not believe that 

 the roads are travelled by a continuous line of 

 miners; some on foot, some with packs, mules, 

 wagons, in search of "better luck." 



