Ex. Doc. No. 41. 



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We followed its course, and encamped under ^ high range of 

 syuiraetrically formed hills overhanging the river. Our camp resem- 

 bled very much the centre of a yard of huge stacks. 



We heard the fish playing in the water, and soon those who were 

 disenoratred were after them. At first it was supposed they were 



the mountain trout, but, being comparatively fresh from the hills of 

 Maine, I soon saw the difference. The shape, general appearance, 

 and the color are the same; at a little distance, you will imagine 

 the fish covered with delicate scales, but on a closer examination 

 you will find that they are only the impression of scales. The meat 

 is soft, something between the trout and the cat-fish^ but more like 

 the latter* They are in great abundance. 



We saw here also, in great numbers, the blue quail. The bottom 

 of the river is narrow, covered with large round pebbles. The 

 growth of trees and weeds was very luxuriant; the trees chiefly 

 cotton-wood, a new sycamore, mezquite, pala^ (the tallow tree of 

 our^hunters,) a few cedars, and one or two larch. There were some 

 grape and hop vines. 



16 circum-meridian observations beta aquarii, and 9 of polariS; 



give the latitude of this camp 32" 50' 08". Its approximate longi- 

 tude is 108^ 45' 00". 



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Octoher 21. — After going a few miles, crossing and recrossing 

 the river a dozen times, it was necessary to leave its bed to avoid 

 a canon. This led us over a very broken country, traversed by 

 huge dykes of trap and walls of basalt. The ground was literally 

 covered with the angular fragments of these hard rocks. 



From one of these peaks we had an extended view of the country 

 in all directions. The mountains run from northwest to southeast, 

 and rise abruptly from the plains in long narrow ridges, resembling 

 trap dykes on a great scale. These chains seem to terminate at a 

 ■ certain distance to the south, leaving a level road, from the Del 

 Norte about the 32d parallel of latitude, westward to the Gih- 

 These observations, though not conclusive, agree with the reports 

 of the guides, who say Colonel Cooke will have no difficulty with 

 his wagons. 



The mountains were of volcanic rock of various colors, feld- 

 spathic granite, and red sand stone, with a dip to the northwest; 

 huge hills of a conglomerate of angular and rounded frao-ments of 

 quartz, basalt, and trap cemented by a substance that agrees well 

 with the description I have read of the puzzolana of R 



ome. 



The earth in the river bed, where it was not paved with the frag- 

 ments of rocks, was loose, resembling volcanic dust, makin^ it 

 unsafe to rule out of the beaten track. A mule would sometimes 

 sink to his knee; but the .soil was easily packed, and three or four 

 mules m advance made a good firm trail. 



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This was a hard day on the animals,, the steep ascents 'and 

 escents shifting the packs, and cutting them dreadfully 



The howitzers did not reach camp at all 



A few pounds of powder would blast the projections of roct 

 from the canon and make it passable for packs, and possibly for 

 wagons also. The route upon which the wagons are to follow is, 



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