r 



436 Ex. Doc. No. 41. 



to the Raton pass. It looks like a huge^ rectangular block, 

 "whose longest sides are parallel with the horizonj and is situated on 

 a high bluflf. ^ 



September 13, — We started this morning with the intention 

 of camping at some pools, at the head of an affluent of the ^'Rio 

 Purgatorio," called ^*hole in the prairie;" but, on reaching the de- 

 sired locality, we found not one drop of water; the bottoms of the 

 t dry pools were deeply indented with the tracks of oxen,. 



- so closely crowded together as to encroach upon each other; show- 

 ing how*eagerly the poor beasts had crowded here. The earth was 



''baked hard; not one sign of moisture to be seen. We had already 



inarched 15 miles, but must now proceed 12 miles further to the 



"^ Rio Purgatorio, where we were certain of finding an abundance of 



- water and plenty of wood. On the road we met an ox, walking 

 Jeisurely in the direction of the United States, It had doubtless 



failed of its strength, on this long stretch, for want of water. 



W 



Al- 



though we found bushes and vines in abundance, the fruit had all 

 gone. We here saw several flickers, with red lined wings vnd 



tails, (picus Mexicanus.) . Also the common flicker, and large 

 flocks of the yellow headed black bird, or troopial. 



As our animals showed great signs of weariness, I concluded to 

 remain here to-morrow. It was evident that our mules could not 

 support the fatigues of such marches as we made to-day, over a 

 country so destitute of ^rass, and affording sucli meagre'pasturagej 

 for I'r.e grass was parched by the excessive drought that has pre- 

 Taiiea ihis summer. The water at " holes in the prairie," is gen- 

 erally considered unfailing. While hunting for water in the neigh- 

 borhood of these holes, we found in the bluffs, which were of 

 slaty structure, fragments of large fossil shells, resembling the in- 

 noceramus; the fractures showing innumerable' fibres .perpendicular 

 to the surfaces of the shells. Scattered around on the tops of little 

 mounds, we found beautiful romboidal pieces of semi-transparent 

 carbonate of lime. 



Frono this place on, we noticed the abundance of the artemisias, 

 the oMone canescens, and " Freraontia vermicularis," and a beau- 

 tiful yellow compositacoous plant, " senecio filifolusj'.' cacti of 

 several species, covered the plains. As we approached the river, 

 we began to feel quite disheartened at the number of hills that 

 seemed to spring up in order to separate us from the wished for 

 oal. Our mouths were parched with long endured thirstj no one 

 bad had a drop of water since morning, for we were disappointed at 

 " boles in the prairie." At length, however, we reached a high 

 ridge, and when the top was attained, a splendid scene suddenly 

 burst upon us. On the right, rose the cloud-capped summits of 

 the Spanish peaks; in front, the gates of the Raton pass, from 

 which issued the much wished for " Rio Purgatorio " This stream, 

 turning to the left, held its course onward, parallel with the front 

 of a high rocky escarpment, its valley marked by dark groves of 

 timber. A misty vapor seemed to proceed from both rock and 

 river, increasing in softness, veiling both river and escarpment, and 



