ACROSS THE DESERT 103 



the trail one has magnificent views of the arid 

 desert with its rolling sand hills and buttes, 

 bounded on the southwest by the high and rug- 

 ged peaks of the San Francisco mountains. 



At midforenoon the following day we crossed 

 the Moen Copie, the water resembling in smell 

 and appearance that of a city sewer. The 

 stream was turbulent, and a few feet below the 

 fording point tumbled over a fall with a roar. 

 I was riding Shorty, and he objected strongly 

 to entering the water, but finally, after some 

 plunging and rearing, answered to the spurs. 

 On the opposite side we mounted a bank and 

 had our first view of the green cornfields at 

 the foot of the mesa below Tuba, and one hour 

 later dismounted at the government farmer's 

 station, to enjoy the first drink of cool, clear 

 water we had had for several days. 



This station is maintained by the govern- 

 ment, and is in charge of scientific farmers, who 

 are employed to instruct the Indians in agricul- 

 ture and irrigation. For ten miles below and 

 sixty miles above Tuba, springs gush out of the 

 cliffs on the north side of the Moen Copie 

 Canon, w T hich, near Tuba for a short distance, 

 widens out into a basin varying from a quarter 

 to a half mile in width, and farming is made 

 possible in the limited area at the mouth of the 



