SHUMARD—GHOL. OF N. MEXICO. 8438 
tains upon the western side of the “Jornada” an avera 
thickness of about six hundred feet, it is probable that water 
could not be obtained at a less distance beneath the surface 
than a thousand or fifteen hundred feet. 
As the gag ee besides its lateral slopes, presents 
general o m N.N.W. to 8.S.E., the most favorable sivode 
tion for the experiment would probably be along the central 
marking the synclinal axis of the strata, taking 
care to avoid, on the one hand, the igneous protrusions, of 
which the Dofia Ana Mountains form a portion, and on 
the other, the chain of volcanic hills near the, it “a ates 
‘extremity of the plain 
_ Agreeably to instructions, I started from Dofia Ana, 
on the afiernoon of the 11th of December, accompanied by 
Mr. 8. Homans, Topographer, Mr. Thompson, guide, six 
laborers and Mexican packers, and a mounted escort of nine 
= Baking a course in the direction of the north-western ex- 
oy where t >" 
t of e bun 
