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84 CONTINUATION OF RECONNAISSANCE.—NEW YEAR'S SPRING. 
for the whole distance. On the hill above us an extensive view is obtained; north-northwest, 
hills and plains are seen, destitute of snow. 
December 31.— We continued our march through the long prairie that we crossed yesterday. 
It is surrounded by pine forests, and nearly enclosed by volcanic hills. The snow being from 
three to eight inches in depth, and covered with a hard crust, our mules, for several hours, 
made slow progress. Afterwards we entered a forest of pines and dwarf oaks, with large cedar 
trees bearing sweet berries. The snow becoming soft and less deep, we progressed more rapidly, 
and at 24 p. m. bivouaced upon a hill-side, where abundance of bunch-grass, quite green, and 
cedars for shelter and for fuel, afforded a fit resting-place for the night. From the top of the 
hill we could distinguish the vicinity of Leroux's spring, lying due east at a distance estimated 
at twenty miles. The surface between is nearly level. Looking west and southwest appeared 
an open country, with imperfectly defined valleys, among a dense growth of cedars; but it was 
difficult to say in what direction was the slope. A blue mountain range some fifteen or twenty 
miles distant limited the view. From south to south-southwest, about ten miles from us,.was 
Bill Williams’ mountain, the highest in this vicinity. North and northwest were black vol- 
canic hills, and a high prairie devoid of snow, and nearly destitute of trees. Below the hill 
where we stood was a ravine, in which were indications of water. Men were sent to explore, 
and soon brought the agreeable news of having found a spring. This was of service to the 
mules, as snow does not satisfy their thirst. This last piece of good fortune determined us to 
send back to Lieut. Ives, desiring him to continue the survey, and bring the train to this 
place. The barometer places us about four hundred feet below Leroux's spring. We therefore 
seem to be truly on the slope towards Rio Colorado. 
January 1.—The morning was bright and clear. Upon leaving camp, we visited “New 
Year's spring," about a mile west. It was a pool ten or twelve feet in diameter, with water 
twenty inches deep, below a stratum of ice three inches thick. The amount of water was not 
perceptibly diminished by what the mules had drunk during the night. It therefore appeared 
to be a permanent spring. Proceeding southwest towards Bill Williams’ mountain, we over- 
took our pack-train, which had been watered from another pool said to be larger than the first, 
about half a mile from last night's bivouac. Five miles beyond were indications of other 
springs to the right, with many Indian trails leading in that direction. After travelling about 
twelve miles, we spread our blankets beneath a cedar tree three miles west of Bill Williams’ 
mountain. Good grass and timber are found here; but we have failed to reach the waters of 
Bill Williams' fork. From a hill west of camp, we saw a valley upon the right of our trail 
which looked like a favorable route, provided it should be necessary for the train to go down to 
the stream we are in search of; but the long range of mountains west, extending from north- 
west to southeast, still seems to de unbroken. 
We are now near the trail of Capt. Sitgreaves, who passed around the southern base of Bill 
Williams' mountain, and thence proceeded towards the west-northwest, in the direction of 
Yampais creek. Lieut. Tidball has taken a sketch showing the Sierra de la Laja and Picacho, 
some twenty-five miles distant, between which the trail crossed. A chain of blue hills appears 
in the distance, and extends towards the south-southeast; its crest evidently preserving nearly 
the same altitude; but the descent of the valley along its foot causes the southern portion, 
represented in the sketch, to appear a formidable range. The drainage of the ravines is towards 
the Picacho, through a Seen level country, containing prairies mingled with copses of piñons 
and cedars. The soil being of decomposed volcanic rock, is rich; and, judging from the vegeta- 
tion which covers it, must be well watered. Capt. Sitgreaves; stoording to Leroux, found this 
region to be a plain intersected by numerous and difficult ravines. The country beyond proved 
to be an elevated prairie, considerably broken, and nearly devoid of water and wood, forming @ 
dreary jornada. The grass, though nutritious and abundant, was parched, indicating a long 
drought. The soil was so light and porous, that there appeared little chance of finding water 
in pools. After a laborious and uncomfortable march of eighty miles, on the fourth day they - 
