LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 181 



confusion attendant upon driving so large a number of animals 

 over a country vi^ithout trail or track of any description, was suf- 

 ficient to prevent speedy traveling ; and the mountaineers, de- 

 sirous of improving the pace, resolved to pursue a course more 

 easterly, and to endeavor to strike the great Spanish Trail, 

 which is the route followed by the New Mexicans in their jour- 

 neys to and from the towns of Puebla de los Angeles and Santa 

 Fe. This road, however, crosses a long stretch of desert country, 

 destitute alike of grass and water, save at a few points, the regular 

 halting-places of the caravans ; and as but little pasture is to be 

 found at these places at any time, there was great reason to doubt, 

 if the Santa Fe traders had passed this season, that there Avould 

 not be sufficient grass to support the numerous cavallada, after 

 the herbage had been laid under contribution by the traders' 

 animals. However, a great saving of time would be effected by 

 taking this trail, although it wound a considerable distance out 

 of the way to avoid the impassable chain of the Sierra Nevada — 

 the gap in those mountains through which the Americans had 

 come being far to the southward, and at this late season probably 

 obstructed by the snow. 



Urged by threats and bribes, one of the Indians agreed to guide 

 the cavallada to the trail, which he declared was not more than 

 five days distant. As they advanced, the country became wilder 

 and more sterile — the valleys, through which several small streams 

 coursed, alone being capable of supporting so large a number of 

 animals. No time was lost in hunting for game ; the poorest of 

 the mules and horses were killed for provisions, and the diet was 

 improved by a little venison when a deer casually presented itself 

 near the camping ground. Of Indians they had seen not one ; 

 but they now approached the country of the Diggers, who infest 

 the district through which the Spanish trail passes, laying con- 

 tributions on the caravans of traders, and who hav^ been, not 

 maptly, termed the " Arabs of the American desert." The Call- 



