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u : 



Ex, Doc. No. 41. 103 



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the same spur noted on tLe 22d as running southeast and northwest. 

 It is chiefly covered with floating sand, the surface of which in 

 various places, is white with diminutive spinelas, and every where 

 over the whole surface is found the large and soft muscle shell. 



I have noted the only two patches of grass found during the 



Jornada." There were scattered, at wide intervals, the palafoxia 

 linearis, atriplex, encelia farinosa, daleas, euphorbias, and a simsia, 

 described by Dr. Torrey as a new species without rays. 



The southern termination of this desert is bounded by the Tecate 

 chain of mountains and the Colorado; but its northern and eastern 

 boundaries are undefined, and I should suppose from the accounts 

 of trappers, and others, who have attempted the passage from Cali- 

 fornia to the Gila by a mbre northern route, that it extends many- 

 days' travel beyond the chain of barren mountains which bound 

 the horizon in that direction. 



The portal to the mountains through which we passed, was formed 

 by immense buttes of yellow clay and sand, with large flakes of 

 ciica and seams of gypsum. Nothing could be more forlorn and 

 oesolate in appearance. The gypsum had given some consistency 

 to the sand buttes which were washed into fantastic figures. One 

 ndge formed apparently a complete circle, giving it the appear- 

 ance of a crater; and although some miles to the left, I should 

 have gone to vi^sit it, supposing it to be a crater, but my mule was 

 sinking with thirst, and water was yet at some distance. Many 

 animals were left on the road to die of thirst and hunger, in spite 

 of the generous eff'orts of the men to bring them to the spring. 

 More than one was brought up, by one man tugging at the halter and , 

 another pushing up the brute, by placing his shoulder against its 

 uttocks. Our most serious loss, perhaps, was that of one or two 

 lat mares and colts brought with us for food; for before leaving 

 camp. Major Swords found in a concealed place one of the best 

 ^^^'v^iu^es slaughtered, and the choice bits cut from his shoulders 

 and flanks, stealthily done by some mess less provident than others. 



A observed at night for time and latitude; for longitude by meas- 

 uring 18 distances between the <[ and aldebaran, and the ([ and 

 fomalhaut. ^ 



Latitude 32° 52' 33". Longitude 116° 06' 09". 

 ^ovemher 29. — The grass at the spring was anything but desir- 



le for our horses, and there was scarcely a ration left for the 



en. This last consideration would not prevent' our giving the 

 th^^,^^ * day's rest wherever grass could be found. We followed 



e dry sandy bed of the Cariso nearly all day, at a snail's pace, 

 na at length reached the "little pools" where the grass was lux- 

 uriant but very salt. The water strongly resembled that at the 

 ^^ad of the Cariso creek, and the earth, which was very tremulous 



L?^.^"y acres about the pools 



■^nis valley is at no noint n 



_ J-_ 



was covered with salt. 



, y is at no point more than half a toile wide, and oa 



^ side are mountains of s^rey granite and pure quartz, rising 



I3OOO to 3,000 feet above it. 



Ill 



^ tew miles from the spring called Ojo Grande, at the head of 

 ^ creek, severalscattered objects were seen projected against the 



