DEAD MAN’S LAKE AND SPRING. 73 
by the circuitous channel of the Rio del Norte. 
The craggy cliffs which project from these 
mountains render the eastern bank of the 
river altogether impassable. As the direct 
route over the plain is entirely destitute of 
water, we took the precaution to fill all our 
kegs at Fray Cristobal, and late in the after- 
noon we finally set out. We generally find 
a great advantage in travelling through these 
arid tracts of land in the freshness of the even- 
ing, as the mules suffer less from thirst, and 
move on in better spirits—particularly in the 
season of warm weather. 
Early the next morning we found ourselves 
at the Laguna del Muerto, or ‘Dead Man’s 
Lake,’ where there was not even a vestige of 
water. This ake is but a sink in the plain of 
a few rods in diameter, and only filled with 
water during the rainy season. The marshes, 
which are said by some historians to be in 
this vicinity, are nowhere to be found: no- 
thing but the firmest and driest table land is 
to be seen in every direction. To procure 
water for our thirsty animals, it is often ne- 
cessary to make a halt here, and drive them 
to the Ojo del Muerto (Dead Man’s Spring), 
five or six miles to the westward, in the very 
heart of the mountain ridge that lay between 
us and the river. This region is one of the 
favorite resorts of the Apaches, where many 
arriero has met with an untimely end. 
The route Which leads to the spring winds for 
two or three miles down a narrow cafion or 
gorge, overhung on either side by abrupt pre- 
VOL. Il. 7 - 
