84 



FROM MOUTH OF DEVIL S RIVER TO EL PASO DEL NORTE. 



adjoining hills. Two days were necessary to overcome tlie ol)striictions of the passage through 

 this cafioUj from the top of which we thought we saw a comparatively smooth country extending 

 nearly to the Sierra Carmelj the highest range of mountains seen on the Mexican side of the 



river. 



On a high liiesa of gravel, some sixty feet above the level of the river bottom, is 



San 



military posts that marked 



r 



Spanish rule in this country, -long since abandoned ; ^ the .adobe walls are crumbling to decay, 

 and scarcely a stick of timber remains in the whole enclosure/ except in that part devoted to 

 the chapel. The line of surVey was conn:Gcted with this place at a point distinguished by a 



Se 



Salazar, of the Mexican Commission. 



Yincente 



distance seemed to be a smooth and opien country was really rough and broken. 

 ■ It proved to be a country cut up with deep arroyos, presenting to the survey almost insurmount- 



able obstacles, 

 the river, rrec 



Passing these arroyos, a wild valley, nearly at right angles with the course of 



approach to the canon of Sierra Carmel 



rocky dun- 



geons in which the Kio Grande is for a time imprisoned. 



No description can give an idea of 



Uw"^' 



Caaon below Sierra dc Carmel. 



the grandeur of the scenery through these mountains. There is no verdure to soften the bare 

 and rugged view; no overhanging trees or 



from 



desolation. Eocks are here piled one above another, over -whicli it was with the greatest labor 

 that we could work our way. The long detours necessarily made to c^ain but a short distance 

 for the pack-train on the river were rapidly exhausting the strength of the animals, and the 

 spirit of the whole party began to flag. The loss of the boats, with provisions and clothing, 

 had reduced the men to the shortest rations, and their scanty wardrobes scarcely afforded 



g tor d^pency 



had cut the shoes from 



