56 APPENDIX A.—DIARY OF THE EXPEDITION. 
and turned out to graze; they were afterwards (at sunset) driven in, fed with corn, and tied to 
the wagons until daybreak, when they were turned out to graze until 9 o'clock a. m., when they 
were well watered. As we did not anticipate reaching water the next day's march, the kegs 
were filled, for the use of the command, from the holes already mentioned. Observations for 
the time were made during the day. As the Ojo del Cuerbo is considered a dangerous camping- 
ground, all were upon the qui vive; and, as a precaution against a stampede, the mules were 
tied during the night to the wagons. A strong guard posted. General direction, north 82? 
east; miles, 17/5. 
Camp No. llÀ—Monday, February 27, 1854.—Left last camp at half-past 9 o'clock a. m. 
Our course for this day was, for about seven miles, through deep and heavy sand, along the base 
of a range of low and very white sand-hills; the remainder of the march was over a good grav- 
elly road. From many of the heights in the road we could see the Salt valley stretching away 
to the southward, as far as the eye could reach. The left side of the road, for some distance 
from camp, was dotted with small sand-hills of dazzling whiteness. Reached our encampment 
on the prairie at ten minutes to 3 o'clock p. m. "The animals were immediately hobbled and 
turned out to graze until sundown, when they were driven in, fed with corn, and grazed until 
sunrise. No water, nor wood; brush sufficient for cooking purposes. Grama-grass good and 
abundant. As we approach nearer to the Guadalupe mountains, (supposed to be the most 
dangerous part of the road,) our vigilance is redoubled. General direction, south 60° east ; 
miles, 12,4. 
Camp No. 12—Tuesday, February 28, 1854.—Left last camp at half-past 7 o'clock a. m., and 
moved for the pass of the Guadalupe mountains. Our road to-day was bad and rocky. We 
had to pass over some steep hills of the same character. Our course lay south fifty degrees 
east for about seven miles, then turned north sixty-eight degrees east for upwards of three 
miles, then for about one mile north forty-eight degrees east. Before entering the cañon we 
avoided a steep and difficult hill, by making a detour to the left of the road, striking at a short 
distance the beaten track. We now entered the cañon, and encamped about half way up it, on 
a small and rocky plateau, at twenty minutes after 4 o'clock p. m. The passage through the 
caiion is along the dry bed of a stream, which has its source near the high peak of the Guada- 
lupe mountains, and is very rough and difficult to travel. One wagon broke down here, which 
we abandoned, having no means of repairing it. Springs are found at the head of the ravine 
under the highest peak, and about five hundred yards from the point at which the road ascends 
the face of the bluff. We found plenty of wood (mezquite and brush) to answer all purposes. 
The south peak rises in a bold outline, towering to the enormous height of two thousand feet; 
it is composed of gray sandstone. "The animals were watered, fed with corn, and turned out to 
graze during the night. Grama-grass poor, and very scanty. Observations for the time were 
made during the day, and also at night for the latitude: the latter were not very satisfactory, 
as the northern stars clouded up. Miles, 18,8,. . 
Camp No. 13— Wednesday, March 1, 1854.—Left camp at 81 a. m. We moved up the cañon, 
breasting a steep and rocky ascent; there is an abrupt turn to the right, which we were obliged 
to take, which led us up a continuation of this hill for about a quarter of a mile before we 
reached the summit. This task consumed considerable time, but it was accomplished without 
doubling teams, or any accident occurring. From the summit the view over the surrounding 
country was at once grand and picturesque—the southern peak of the Guadalupe towering 
majestically above all. 
Our march, until we reached the ‘‘Pinery,’’ (our camp,) was over a good gravelly road. We 
arrived here at half-past 11 o'clock a. m. There is an abundance of everything requisite for 
camping at this place. The water (springs) is situated at the distance of five hundred yards 
from the road, at the base of the mountain; timber and good grama-grass are plenty. We 
were fortunate in obtaining a fine specimen of the ‘‘maguey’’ plant, the first we had yet seen; 
it was earthed in a box and carried along. This encampment is by far the best we have yet 
