190 THE DESERT AND THE ROSE 



filled with the melting snows of the Rocky moun- 

 tains." 



The same old undependable Fierce River which, 

 ere the building of the Dam might fail us in our 

 hour of need, leaving only its bed across which a 

 man could walk dryshod, or rising might suddenly 

 engulf him before he had time to cry Peccavi! Or 

 almost as suddenly it might wash away part 

 of El Paso and leagues of railroad, leaving hun- 

 dreds of persons homeless and ourselves cut off from 

 communication with the outside world. Still do this 

 old river's exasperating ways remain an enigma to 

 the stranger (unless he consult the Oldest Inhabi- 

 tant, which he is not like to do), piling up sand 

 where least expected and obliterating the labor of 

 months. 



But Humboldt's enthusiasm was unmarred, and 

 he proceeds: 



"The environs of El Paso are delicious, and re- 

 semble the finest parts of Andalusia. The fields 

 are cultivated with maize and wheat, and the vine- 

 yards produce such excellent, sweet wines that they 

 are even preferred to the wines of Parras in New 

 Biscay." 



The "excellent sweet wines" were the outcome 

 of Franciscan Friars' energy and skill, when they 

 introduced the luscious Mission grape, now like 

 the wines sadly deteriorated in quality. 



"The gardens contain in abundance all the fruits 

 of Europe — figs, peaches, apples and pears. As 



