92 AZTEC PASS.—ANCIENT RUINS. 
mining meanwhile to explore for a pass westward through the Aztec range. Pursuing the main 
fork, seven or eight miles, we encamped near the headwaters of the creek, where grass and 
wood were abundant. Before us was a sharp ridge that seemed to close the passage. Mr. 
Campbell and myself walked to the top, and found ourselves upon the summit dividing the 
waters flowing west from those of Pueblo creek. The western slope was not steep, but wide and 
smooth, descending to an open valley that appeared to extend far towards the west-northwest. 
Upon the right was the abrupt southern termination of the lofty granitic range, from whence 
came down the low spur, about a mile in length, upon which we were standing. The stream of 
Pueblo creek passed down a rocky glen, some 500 feet in a third of a mile, to camp; whence to 
the old pueblo the slope was gradual, probably eighty feet to the mile. But the course was 
nearly direct, due east; and to the ravine in which it flowed, there was a gradual slope from 
the foot of the northern mountains, which seemed to have been cut down by some convulsion of 
nature, in the formation of this passage. Upon that slope, it would not be difficult to select 
such a line for a railway as, proceeding from Val de China by a spur, could keep a favorable 
grade at a height that would enable it to pass the summit without a tunnel. The granitic 
mountain referred to was crowned by variegated red sandstone in horizontal layers; and below 
it, in the perpendicular cliffs, was seen an immense vein of gold-bearing quartz, fragments of 
which were scattered through the valley. No gold has been discovered in any of these, but one 
piece was found to contain a metal which resembled silver. 
Turkeys and deer have been plenty since leaving Picacho. We have followed to-day a fresh 
Indian trail. It passes over the summit westward. 
January 19.—We found this morning that three inches of snow had fallen during the night. 
Crossing the ridge described yesterday, we travelled about four miles down a valley of gentle 
inclination, and stopped to graze the mules and look around us. The ravine which came from 
the pass here contained pools of water. For some distance back, it had threaded a wooded 
valley, with indications of fertility. Beyond, towards the west and northwest, it seemed to 
pass into a wide prairie of considerable extent. Having now provisions but for one day, it was 
necessary to retrace our steps towards the train, and returning to our bivouac of last night, we 
again encamped. North of us comes down a narrow ravine from the mountain, separating the 
dividing ridge we have passed from the long slope previously described as forming the northern 
boundary of Pueblo creek. 
January 20.—' The morning was bright, but cold and windy. Continuing down the creek 
for a mile and a half, we came to an affluent not before referred to. It was from the southwest, 
and nearly the size of the main stream. Above, as well as below this junction, the valley we 
traversed was rocky, and in one place too much so to admit of the passage of wagons without 
ascending some distance upon the mountain slope. Having continued the descent to the pueblo, . 
we encamped to await the train. A person was sent to make signal-smokes from a high point 
of the ridge, which here bounds the valley, and found upon the summit. the dilapidated walls 
of a tower. "The ground-plan was an ellipse, with axes twenty-five and fifteen feet, partitions 
dividing it into three apartments. The walls must have been large, as they yet remained five 
feet in height, and six feet wide. The hill is two hundred and fifty feet above the river. This 
has been the coldest day we have had, the thermometer at noon reading 21° Fahrenheit. The 
barometer indicated a descent along the bed of the creek of about eighty feet to the mile. 
These streams seem to be fed by many springs at a higher temperature than that of the atmo- 
sphere, inasmuch as no ice has formed upon the surface, even as low down as the pueblo. 
ry 21.—The rear party not having yet arrived, two Mexicans were despatched on 
et it, and conduct it tous. They were instructed to proceed east of the direct line, 
where the sloping spurs from the mountains appeared to afford a more favorable passage. 
few hours after their departure, Lieutenant Ives, with the train, arrived. He had left Picacho ` 
on Thursday, having seen our signal-smoke upon the evening previous. During the storm of 
that day he crossed the great valley to the entrance among the cedars, where the men we had 
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WO ERS o el 
