32: RETURN OF MR. SMITH— REUNION OF PARTIES. 
rising from two to six feet above the surrounding gravelly plain. I regretted very much that I 
could not stop to examine and ascend it; but, as it was, I was fearful our mules would give out 
before reaching camp. From its peculiarly symmetrical appearance, from the volcanic nature 
of the rocks, and from its singularly isolated position, every one must be struck with its similarity 
in appearance to a volcanic crater. 
The next morning I moved up the river to a point I had selected, from which I intended to 
go out into the Basin towards the Tejon, to connect with the partial line before described. The 
only point in the Mohave bottom from which the Tejon mountains can be seen is about 25 miles 
below Depot camp. This is due to the terraces and low hills on the river's bank. From here 
I went to a low point of hills, about 10 miles towards the Tejon, and finding the nature of the 
Basin to be of the same character as heretofore described, and being perfectly satisfied of its 
practicability for a railroad route, I retraced my steps, and finally returned to Depot camp on 
the 1st of November. 
Lieutenant Parke returned from his examination up the river on the same day. He reported 
that he explored the headwaters of the river, and found the mountains near its source to be 
exceedingly high and rugged. The precipitous ravines and side-slopes were of such a nature 
as to render travelling on muleback very difficult and often impossible. This reconnaissance 
demonstrated the impracticability of crossing the mountains east of the Coast range, and near 
the headwaters of the Mohave, and at the same time it furnished much useful topographical 
information. 
The result of these preliminary examinations seemed. to force the following conclusions, viz: 
Ist. That it was positively impracticable to reach the mouth of the Gila by ascending the 
Mohave, and crossing the mountains east of the Coast range. 2d. That for 60 miles at least 
below the Depot camp there were ranges of hills and mountains south and southeast of the 
river, which presented an impassable barrier to progress in a direct course towards that point. 
The evident deduction was that a circuit must be made either to the west or to the east to turn 
these mountains. 
Under these circumstances it was determined to divide the party into two parts. Lieutenant 
Purke, with the wagon train, was to cross the Coast range at the Cajon Pass, and recross it at 
the Pass of San Gorgonio, thus turning the headwaters of the Mohave river and the high 
mountain of San Bernardino, in which it has its source. Being thus once more east of the 
Coast range, he was to follow along its eastern base till he came to Warner's Pass, where he 
was to select a camp and commence the survey of that pass. In the meantime the second 
party, with pack-mules only, would descend the Mohave river to its supposed junction with the 
Colorado, and thence down that river to the mouth of the Gila. This latter party would be 
accompanied by the whole of the escort, as we knew the Indians on the Colorado to be 
numerous. 
While waiting for the return of Mr. Smith and his party, preparations were being made to 
follow out this plan, and numerous observations were taken to establish. astronomically the 
position of this, one of our most important camps. 
Mr. Smith returned on the 6th of November, after a successful expedition, the resulte of 
which will be detailed hereafter. Early on the morning: of the 8th the wagon train started, 
and shortly after the packs. were ready, and we were on the trail down the river. On the 
evening of the 10th we made our camp at the lowest point I had reached on the river during 
my preliminary examination. From here we followed the broad river-bed for 15 miles, having 
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