APPENDIX A.—DIARY OF THE EXPEDITION. 59 
on the Delaware creek. There is much difficulty in watering animals at this stream, the 
greatest care being required to prevent them from miring. The water flows through a deep 
basin about six hundred yards from camp, which is deeply strewed over with gypsum. 
The day was remarkably warm, sultry, and cloudy, giving some indications of rain. At 
night it rained heavily for a short time, with flashes of very vivid lightning, accompanied by 
loud thunder, which could be heard reverberating through the mountains we had left behind us. 
The grama-grass is good; wood, consisting of mezquite, cedar, and brush, is plenty. The 
animals were brought in from grazing and fed with corn; then turned out to graze for the 
night. Reached camp at 3 o'clock p. m.; general direction, north 38? east; miles, 1245. 
Camp No. 17—Tuesday, March 17, 1854.—Left last camp at twenty minutes after 9 o'clock 
a.m. Ata short distance from camp we met the wagonmaster and party, who reported, ‘‘that 
by following the creek on its left bank we would have a good road to the Pecos.’’ Reached the 
“crossing of the Delaware creek” at 2 o'clock p. m., where we halted; the animals were 
watered and allowed to graze.for a short time. We did not cross the creek, but continued down 
the left bank; in this we did not experience any difficulty. The country is an open and nearly 
level prairie, having a slight descent (nearly the whole way) towards the Pecos. We have now 
to make our own road. At about ten miles from last camp, the nature of the soil changes; the 
gypsum disappears. From this point to the river the soil is light sand mixed with gravel, 
producing an abundance of excellent grama-grass. From the crossing of the Delaware to the 
Pecos there is no growth of wood of any description whatever; we found,.hgwever, along our 
line of march, plenty of mezquite root, dry and good. 
About a mile from our halting-place, (the crossing,) and on the opposite or right bank of the 
creek, there is a valley of about eight hundred acres of good soil, which could be irrigated from 
the creek at no very great cost of labor or money. The want of timber, and the difficulty of 
irrigating the land, will no doubt prevent this section of country from being cultivated to any 
great extent. The last obstacle might be surmounted, but the former appears irremediable. 
Along our road to-day we discovered several caves. On examination they proved to be highly 
interesting, their interior being composed of gypsum, the roofs and sides highly polished, and 
of the purest white: they well repay the trouble (no easy matter) of entering them. 
We reached our camp at half-past three o'clock p. m., situated on the creek. Here there is 
an abundance of good grama-grass. The mezquite wood is plenty, and can be obtained without 
much labor. We killed a rattle-snake (the first we have yet seen) on a hill near camp. It was 
put in spirits and carried along. 
The wagonmaster, on his return, (as above mentioned,) reports that at the Pecos he discov- 
ered a fire—still burning—at which some Indians had been cooking. From their tracks they 
were on foot, and appeared to have crossed the river. This was near the mouth of the Dela- 
ware creek, our proposed camp for to-morrow night. There is a plenty of wild ducks and hens 
on the creek. On arriving at camp the animals were turned out to graze, hobbled as usual; 
brought in at sunset, and fed with corn; then turned out to graze during the night under a 
strong guard. No observations made. General direction, north 50? east; miles, 1345. 
Cuapter II.—Z'rom the Valley of the Pecos to the Sulphur Springs of the Rio Colorado of Texas. 
Camp No. 18— Falls of the Rio Pecos, mouth of Delaware creek, Wednesday, March 8, 1854.— 
Left last camp at twenty minutes after 7 o'clock a. m. Our road to-day was through an open 
and nearly level prairie, similar to that we travelled yesterday. The soil is good; gravel and 
sand. In all directions on our line of march there is an abundance of mezquite root, but, as 
before mentioned, no growth of wood. We reached our camp, Falls of the Rio Pecos, mouth 
of Delaware creek, at five minutes to 10 o'clock a. m. We were fortunate enough at this point 
to discover an excellent crossing, about one hundred yards from the mouth of the Delaware 
