74 PETRIFIED FOREST.—VALLEY OF LITTLE COLORADO. 
country westward still looks rough. Near camp are found ruins of stone houses, and fragments 
of painted pottery. Half a jar curiously indented was shown to Savedra, who pronounced it 
more ancient than the rest. In one place the crumbling banks expose a well-built wall that 
must have been founded several feet below the present surface. Quite a forest of petrified trees 
was discovered to-day, prostrate and partly buried in deposits of red marl. "They are converted 
into beautiful specimens of variegated jasper. One trunk was measured ten feet in diameter, 
and more than one hundred feet in length. Some of the stumps appear as if they had been 
charred by fire before being converted to stone. The main portions of the trees have a dark 
brown color; the smaller branches are of a reddish hue. Fragments are strewn over the sur- 
face for miles. 
Petriñed tree near Lithodendron creek. 
Now the soil produces no timber; the scrub cedars even have disappeared. For the last three 
days dry twigs of chamisa have been the only fuel available for camp fires. 
December 3—Camp 77.—Having passed about three miles farther along the crest, the banks 
of Lithodendron creek afforded a passage into its wide sandy bed. For about half a mile we 
followed the stream, which flowed beneath a surface of wet quicksands, in which our wagons 
often sunk tothe hub. This was the most fatiguing part of the journey. Some distance 
below there were indications of a more favorable crossing. Should it be required to bridge the 
creek there are plenty of sandstone slabs, quarried as it were, and fit for use, Following the 
right bank for half a mile we emerged from the sandstone cafion, and found ourselves upon the 
edge of an immense valley—that of the Colorado Chiquito—extending towards the south and 
southwest apparently twenty or thirty miles. The soil appeared of dark loam, covered with 
grass. A few miles below was seen a line of alamos, indicating the junction of a stream from 
the northeast, which we supposed to be Rio Puerco of the west. Doubtless this should have 
been followed from the place where we crossed it, although Savedra says that it passes through 
a cañon. For a railroad it appears that, from this point eastward, the route should ascend the 
Puerco to near its head at Ojo del Oso; Sian turning the ERN of Sierra Madre by Camp- 
bell's pass, pursue Agua Azul to Rio flan. Tomb. "The country we have travelled is probably 
superior in richness of soil and abundance of water; but, as regards the grades, the other would 
be preferable. 
From the entrance to the wide valley referred to we turned westward, and eight miles beyond 
the crossing of Lithodendron creek, finding numerous lagunas of fresh water and good grama, 
we encamped. With water for irrigation, such as in this region artesian wells might afford, 
the soil would yield abundantly. This valley is at the same altitude as that of Rio Grande at 
Albuquerque. Hence there is probably less rain here than at Zuñi, aud crops would require 
artificial watering. The advantages of this country for grazing, however, cannot well be sur- 
passed. With two hundred mules, besides beef-cattle and sheep, we are able to camp where 
