FROM MOUTH OF DEYIl's RIVER TO EL PASO DEL NORTE 



79 



every saline ingredient ; its banks are like those of the Kio Grande for some distance ahove its 

 mouth, and then become low and flat. As we continue to float down stream, we find the 

 country below the junction undergoes some very considerable changes ; these become still more 

 apparent on reaching the San Pedro or Devil's river, whose waters iPorm a dividing line between 

 two distinct portions of country. The banks of the Eio Grande here present an entirely new 

 appearance — they become low, and prairie land, covered with mezquite, extends as far as the eye 

 can see ; numerous well timbered and beautiful streams unite their waters with the river along 

 this portion. Within a few hours of each other, both the party in charge of the train and the 

 boat party reached Fort Duncan, near Eagle Pass, 110 miles by the river below the mouth of 

 the Pecos. 



View of Fort Duncan, near Eagle Pass. 



To add to the interest of the expedition, a constant excitement was experienced in the descent 

 of numerous falls. Ignorant of what unforeseen dangers awaited us, our frail boats were dashed 

 blindly ahead hj the force of a swift current' over rocks and rapids, hemmed in on both sides 

 by insurmountable walls which seemed mountain high, and at times not a spot upon which to 

 rest a foot ■ there was but little chance of escape from destruction, letting alone the immediate 

 peril of drowning in case of any accidents to the boats. Nor were these dangers imaginary 

 a serious accident, and one almost fatal to the success of the expedition and to the lives of most 

 of the party, occurred the very first day after taking to the boats ; notwithstanding every pre- 

 caution had been taken, we were unable to avoid it, and our minds were most forcibly impressed 

 witli the truth that real dangers did exist. After having descended the river for a few miles 

 an immense rapid presented itself to our view. The river here narrowed from nearly three 

 hundred feet to the width of twenty-five ; both shores could be touched with the ends of the 

 oars • an immense bowlder divided the main into two smaller channels, leaving but a narrow 

 chtite for the boats to descend. The bottom was covered with large rocks, and over these the 



