CHAPTER V. 
From Rocky Dell Creek to Anton Chico. 
Cave at Rocky Dell.—Pueblo Indian traders.—Violent storm.—Halt creek.—Antelope. —Staked Plain.—Fossil creek.—Tucumcari 
creek.—Plaza Larga.—Laguna Colorada.—Arroyo de Pajarito. —"Arroyo Cuerbito.—Digging for prairie dogs.—Hurrah creek.— 
Rio de Gallinas.—Sheep spring.—Anton Chico. 
September 18—Camp 46.— Beneath a cliff which overhangs the stream of Rocky Dell is a sort 
of cave, which the Indians have converted into a gallery of fine arts. The rocks forming the 
floor are elaborately carved, and the walls covered with paintings. Remaining at this place 
to-day to rest our animals, we have amused ourselves by copying some of the inscriptions. The 
immense number of carvings, etchings, and paintings—the newer often encroaching upon and 
sometimes covering the more ancient—has produced apparent confusion. But frequently one 
group can be distinguished from another which intermingles with it. 
As we were making the nightly astronomical observations, the herders ran into camp saying 
that we were surrounded by Indians. Seizing arms, every one rushed for the mulada, the 
great source of anxiety, on account of the ease with which a few Indians may create a stampede. 
But, unmindful of the warlike demonstrations, our visitors came down from the hills, and 
walked boldly into camp. They proved to be traders from the pueblos of New Mexico, in 
search of Comanches, whom they expect to find at this season upon the Canadian. 
September 19—Camp 47.—Leaving Rocky Dell creek, we travelled several miles beneath the 
bluff which forms the northern limit of the Llano, to a pool of water among the rocks. After 
proceeding some distance farther, we encamped at Cañada de Truxillo, near Halt creek ; hav- 
ing accomplished twenty-three miles. We passed water at a pond three miles, and at Emigrant 
creek—called by the Mexicans Rincon de las Mujeres—nine miles west of camp; also at a 
branch one mile east of this place. The region traversed has been slightly undulating, and 
sometimes sandy. The Llano Estacado, upon our left, frequently jutted nearly to the road, 
then receding several miles. It is probable that most of these recessions contain ravines of 
water; which, sinking into the sandy soil, appears only in pools, at the crossing of the road. 
Wood has become scarce, there being hardly enough for camp-fires. Little has been seen 
except at Emigrant creek, where was a border of alamos. The day has been cooler than any 
preceding, rendered so by a dense mist that partially obscured the sun. Since night this has 
cleared away, and stars have presented themselves for the usual observations, though the wind 
has rendered the astronomical results somewhat uncertain. 
September 20—Camp 48.—At about two o’clock this morning, camp was disturbed by a vio- 
lent storm of wind and rain, which laid most of the tents prostrate. The rest were preserved 
only by the vigorous exertions of the occupants, regardless of bare feet and scanty attire. Such 
a sudden turning. out of sleepers into the driving tempest produced a scene that was laughable 
in spite of our misery. There was no more sleep. At daybreak the storm subsided, and at 
sunrise ceased. The fall of rain was about an inch and a half. The wind shifted during the 
night from south to north, from which point it blew with violence. cue thermometer, how- 
ever, fell little below 50? Fahrenheit. 
It was nine o'clock before we could re-commence our journey. | The road traversed a region 
similar to that seen yesterday—sandy, and nearly level, dc 10 intersected by a ravine con- 
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