erties 
388 
side’ is as dry as before dada. The sandy pipins terminate 
in steep hills, in some places capped with basalt (345° N). 
ps leaving the Del Norte, for the west, they mounted the table 
“some 200 feet above the valley, and found the country 
vil evel, except where indented by water-courses. The table 
land Bfatched off far to the south.” Pebbles of chalcedony 
common in the plains and in the dry valleys. Near the 
headwaters of the Mimbres, near 108° , there was a dome- 
shaped mountain, and amyg oialoidal rocks and volcanic glass were 
observed. ‘There were also some deserted copper mines in the 
region, from which specimens _ native copper, sulphuret of cop- 
per, and a silver ore, were obtained. 'T'wenty miles beyond they 
found a blue limestone, and amelie iron ore. The Gila, a rapid 
river, was soon after reached. Granite, sandstone and volcanic 
rocks were observed along its course. Near lo ongitude 111° W., 
ores of copper and iron were met with. About the mouth of the 
Gila, where it enters the Colorado, the mountains were of gray- 
ish granite, traversed by seams of white quartz; they rose ab- 
ruptly from the plains. 
Reviewing the region passéd over since leaving the Arkansas, 
a distance of about 1200, miles, the author observes, that there 1s 
a general uniformity of physical character and climate, “In no 
part of this vast tract can the rains be relied on, to any extent, 
for the cultivation of the soil. The earth is destitute of trees, 
and. 1 in great part also, of any vegetation whatever. A few fee- 
heed California. 
lan 
of land within the level of the waters of. the stream; and wher- 
ever practiced in a community with any success, or to any eX- 
tent, it involves a degree of subordination and absolute obedience 
to a chief, repugnant to the habits of our people. The chief 
who directs the time and the quantity of the precious irrigating 
wate, must pi Acca obeyed by the whole community. 
#98): «No who has ever visited this country, and a is 
acquainted a Fa ae character and value of slave labor in the Uni- 
ted States, would ever think of bringing his own slaves here with 
any view to profit, much less would he purchase slaves for such 
a purpose. ‘Their labor here, if they could be retained as slaves, 
among peons nearly of their own color, would never repay t e 
cost of transportation, much less the additional purchase money. é 
99. 
—(p. 
After eae the Colorado, the party entered a dreary desert, 
90 miles found no freshwater, except a little hostigeaias 
1e | = was loose sand, with only two patches 0! f grass. 
salt in "was passed, about half a mile in length. On Ee 
