Ex. Doc No 41. 46T 



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a mile from water, and the approach to them on one side was steep 



and difficult; on the other side impassable, on account of the rocks 

 breaking off with a perpendicular face 180 feet high. These rocks 

 are composed of sandstone, containing shark's teethj shells, and 

 bones of fish, many of which we collected. We returned, re- 

 crossed the stream, determined to camp here, and to-morrow to 

 follow a little valley that led off to the westward, through which 

 we noticed a faint path. Although the banks of the stream are 

 here 30 feet in height, we yet were so fortunate as to f^^d a place 

 to cross, when we encamped, having found several little pools of" 

 water. On the east side of the stream, opposite our camp, we 

 •visited a collection of stone rmns; they had been arranged so as 

 to form a square enclosure, w^hose sides wer« 200 yards long. Near 

 the town we noticed places of rich black earth, from 2 to 3 feet 

 in dep*b, that marked the spot where the *^corrals" once stood* 



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to all our other questions, w^ith regard to this ancient town, we re- 

 ceived the usual Mexican reply of ^' quien sabe.'' 



October 18. — We arose very early, not knowing but that we 

 should have to march far before we should obtain water. We 

 were at a loss to conceive who could be the owners of the conical 

 but, and of the cornfields where w^e staid last night. 



Continuing our march westward, w^e followed the bed of a valley^ 

 on each side of which sandstone rocks were piled up, in some 

 places near 600 feet high. /These rocks had an anticlinal dip, 

 with reference to the axis of the valley. Our route was strewed 

 with carbonate of lime, in various forms; sometimes beautifully 

 crystalized, at others in amorphous fragments of a waxen ap- 

 pearance. We found, also, fragments of large ammonites, ani 

 pieces of inoceramus, and the little knolls around glittered with 

 plates of selenite. This last mineral is very a4)undant, and we 

 could see it glistening all the day in the sides of the distant moun- 

 tains. Towards the latter part of the day we entered a volcanic 

 country, our road abounding with fragments of a very hard dark 

 purple and vesicular rock; and to tlie north of our course, we saw 

 "three peaks, or rather columns, of volcanic rock, that seemed to 

 range in a northeasterly direction. They looked so picturesque 

 that I dismounted and made a sketch of them. ^ . 



We had now been travelling all day, and at length night begaa 

 to draw on apace; we had not yet found any water, and at last, 

 jnst as our plight seemed most hopeless, we caught sight of some 

 distant mountains; that, from their course, we concluded must 

 bound a large valley that, without doubt, contained a stream. 

 Soon, too, we caught sight of several columns of smoke ascending 

 vertically; and tracks of cattle, of sheep, and of men, appeare 

 numerous on all sides of us. We now pressed forward, eager to 

 reach a resting place; but suddenly night cande upon us, and it wasr 

 indeed a dark night; we endeavored to follow the path but were 

 constantly getting off the course; all dismounted and marche^ 

 along, searching ?ut as well as we could for the path. At last we 

 reached an impassable " arroyo,- the banks of which were perpea-- 



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