148 NOTES TAKEN. 
hunting employed us for a short time, and many choice ones 
were found. ~ 
The stream—which we kept in sight of as much as pos- 
sible—was still very crooked, and crossing and recrossing it 
very often during our march we found some land good enough 
to grow trees of a considerable size, but the most part was 
a barren waste covered with gypsum, with here and there the 
low stunted white cedar and patches of very thin coarse grass, 
In the fertile spots grew the China tree, the live oak and the 
mesquite, but all bearing marks of very insufficient nourish- 
ment from the soil, The same danger and difficulty from 
quicksands attended every crossing of the stream, and the 
bed—where dry—was invariably covered with a thick powder 
of gypsum mingled with salt. 
Heat and exhaustion—thermometer one hundred and six 
degrees—compelled us to stop at noon and remain until next 
day. 
We bivouaced upon a branch of the river, where was a 
spring icy cold, but intensely bitter. Not being able to find 
any other, we made a virtue of necessity and drank as little 
as possible, except in coffee, when the taste is somewhat dis- 
guised.* The Doctor made some lemonade with citric acid 
and oil of lemon, which refreshed us somewhat, but the 
_ medicine was too powerful to be mastered by ordinary means. 
* It is well to remark, that our water-bags were filled and carried with us in 
case we should be unable to find any water at all, either sweet or bitter— 
which we had every reason to expect, and the supply of course cssapeenets 
fearfal that such a contingency w would arise. 
