88 DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY. 
the sea, and the descent from the pass is 3,450 feet. The distance in nearly a straight line is 
37.4 miles, and the grade, if uniform, as the appearance of the country seems to indicate, 
would be 92.4 feet per mile. The sketch No. 3, taken from the right bank of Rio Colorado, 
looking east, gives a view of the country here described. 
The region which includes the Cactus and Aquarius mountains is well supplied with cedar 
trees. Westward the sharp-crested ridges appear naked, and the plains nearly destitute of 
foliage. Wood is scarce, even for fuel. The two Indian springs, already referred to as existing 
upon this route, probably indicate points where, by digging, a sufficiency of water would be 
found. 
From White Cliff creek to the Mojave crossing of Rio Colorado, our wagon trail followed Big 
Sandy creek, Williams’ river, and the valley of the Colorado. For a description of the topo- 
graphy upon this part of the route I would refer to the Itinerary. Although meagre in its 
details, it may suffice to give a general idea of the character of those streams. 
