416 



Ex, Doc. No. 41. 



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On the map \^hich I made, and which is in your bureau, is 

 marked a route considerably to the north of Guadaloupe pass, 

 which, some of my guides believed, would avoid that broken de- 

 scent, and be fouud to be nearly level throughout to San Pedro, at 

 the point where I turned off from that beautiful little river. The 

 most sensible and experiencedof these men, Laroux, who lives in Taos, 



I?ew Mexico^ and w^ho had trapped on the Gila and passed in a 

 different direction over that country, was decidedly of this opinion, 

 but his knowledge, on the other hand, was sufficient to forbid to 

 explore it, in my situation, on account of scarcity of water. 



The Rio Grande bottoms for a hundred miles above, and at the 

 point where I left, are well timbered; there is no timber on the 

 table land, save upon the small mountains which are everywhere 

 to be seen; this is cedar and pine, but of small growth. Rock is 



' everywhere to be had, secondary rocks of almost every kind; but 

 by this wonderfully level route, the continent may be passed with 

 scarcely a view of granite, ^s far as Tueson the gramma grass is 



• abundant; it will fatten cattle while working, and in winter. The 

 route from Tueson passes through a country abounding in exceed 



ingly rich gold mines. 



. I am, very. respectfully, sir, your obedient servant. 



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To Col. J. J, Abert, 



'Topographical Engineers. 



P. ST. GEO. COOKE, 



Major 2d Dragoons 



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