3o6 EIvDORADO 



threw away their baggage to lighten their loads ; blan- 

 kets, shirts and every disposable thing. Some were 

 so impudent as to dump their rice on the ground, 

 which others, more provided, or more destitute, picked 

 up. Their route could be traced by the articles they 

 had thrown away. Their disappointment was great 

 on reaching the bottom of the canyon to find the water 

 brackish and unfit to drink. Here another consulta- 

 tion was held and another unburdening took place, as 

 they found climbing over high hills and down into 

 deep ravines, with nothing to encumber them as diffi- 

 cult a task as they could accomplish. In leaving ar- 

 ticles to lighten their loads the^-^ hesitated before throw- 

 ing away two things, "Mother's Bible and daguerro- 

 type." 



Their course continued up the ravine, for some 

 miles, when some of the party started on ahead, and 

 before the day closed, discovered the tracks of mules 

 in the sand, which, further on, seemed to increase in 

 number. Hopes were raised, as these were taken as 

 signs that some habitation or settlement was near. 

 Some Were of opinion they were tracks of wild ani- 

 mals. Others thought perhaps they were near some 

 Indian village. The day's march had been over much 

 marshy ground. Some rattle snakes were killed and 

 eaten. In the morning they made an early start, and 

 followed the trail up the ravine. 



Their task was now a hard one. They were nearly 

 bare footed and many were becoming ill from exposure 

 and lack of both food and water. Of their provisions, 

 some were quite gone. One of a party of four man- 

 aged to shoot a small bird that was made into soup. 

 This was all thev had for twentv-four hours. The 



