26) | | 44 
o the wagon. ‘or Paseo leiit me some additional mules, anid fe rward 
ee moved again. In the meanwhile dark night had come on, tuiiinatel 
only by lightning, that showed us for awhile the most a: deren mes 
scene—our wagons moving along as slow and solemn as a funeral proc 
sion; ghastly riders on horseback, wrapped in blankets or denies some 
tired travellers stretched out on. the sand, others walking ahead, and tra- 
cing the road with the fire of their cigarritos; a and the deepest silence inter- 
—— only by the yelling exclamations of the drivers, and the rolling of 
istant thunder. The scene was impressive enough to be remembered by 
thes but ‘ saad a vow the same night, that whenever I should undertake 
The mountains are timbered with afew scanty cedars, and some pine trees; 
the geological formation is aye and porphyritic. The grass becomes 
oe day better, and looks as fresh as in spring. ‘The so-called gramma 
ss, which grows here tiiey ee is ee liked by 0 our rr Ad 
Ts 
In the afternoon we travelled 15 miles more and <anee again in the 
prairie, with plenty of rain-water. About five miles ss we weit to 
‘camp, I made an excursion to a cave to the left of our toa The aye 
was in a small isolated- mountain, composed of ainyadaloidal basalt and 
pea rg rocks. It was towards sunset when I approaches it, and the 
with the” grotto, looked quite mysterious. Two ravens, sitting 
before st. a ‘hich palmmillas, seemed to guard the entrance, and an owl 
screaming over my head as soon as I dared to enter it. Inside 
found : a small lake of pure fresh water, with sediments of limestone, but it 
was pied too dark for further examination. 
August 18.—Made in the morning 15 miles, and cary ay again in the 
prairie, on a water pool. In the forenoon we passed Ojo Lucero (Venus 
| and bee de Patos, (lake of geese.) The first is a fine spring, 
ar to the left of our road. The water comes out of a 
n the prairie, but with considerable force; it is clear 
soft of ties, thet temperature of the spring was 77.5°. Fah h., whil ile the 
e on nthe shade was St° Fah. A little ek, free by it, crossed 
and spread to the rig! Jae a smal reeyes ome m eo 
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