78 APPENDIX A.—DIARY OF THE EXPEDITION. 
Same Camp—Monday, April 3, 1854.—The following is a topographical outline of the 
country from the Mustang Springs to the present camp. For about eight miles after leaving 
the Mustang Springs, we continued to travel a road of the same character as we had previously ; 
at this distance we descended a bluff of fifty feet, to a level valley about seven miles across, 
The valley, at its northwest extremity, contains a chain of salt lakes, which have a course a 
little south of east, their outlet passing only a mile and a half east of the Big Springs of the 
Colorado, which are tributary to it. At the northern extremity of this valley, also, the outlet 
to the Sulphur Springs of the Colorado joins this chain of salt lakes. 
The Big Springs of the Colorado issue from a ravine on the northeast slope of a range of 
hills, 200 or 250 feet high, whose general direction is south 45° east; at a distance of one and 
a half mile the outlet of the springs joins the valley of the salt lakes, and becomes, at this 
point, dry. Many of these lakes contain water, the beds, when we passed, being moist, the 
water totally unfit for use. ; 
An Indian trail leads from the Sulphur Springs of the Colorado, in a southwest direction, to 
the Mustang Springs, and from them to the Horse Head crossing of the Pecos, It also extends 
in a northeast direction from this point to the head of the Brazos. This trail isa very broad 
and deep one, and is evidently in constant use by the Indians in their forays into Mexico. It 
leads, undoubtedly, along the eastern base of the Llano Estacado, and connects the extreme west- 
ern permanent watering-places. From the position of this trail, and the character of the 
country to the northwest of the Sulphur Springs, there can be no question that this is the nearest 
water to the Pecos in the direction of Delaware creek. "The Kioways whom we met, as already 
mentioned, came by a trail from the Horse Head crossing to the Mustang Springs, and continued 
their journey homeward to the Arkansas by the same trail, passing the Sulphur Springs. 
The Sulphur Springs of the Colorado, five in number, issue from one side of a ravine, the 
water of one spring tinged slightly with sulphur ; the remainder contain pure and fresh water, 
which holds a small portion of lime in solution. Below the springs there is a large pond, where 
animals ean be watered with much ease. The east side of this ravine is composed of layers of 
limestone, which is found to be mixed (in a decomposed state) with the surrounding soil. The 
grass is young and good ; it is eaten with much avidity by the animals. Our wood (mezquite- 
root) is obtained in abundance by sending wagons a couple of miles from camp for it. 
Our animals are out grazing all the time—loose during the day, but hobbled at night. Two 
horses and two mules are held in hand all day, so as to be in readiness in the event of a stam- 
pede, or other emergency requiring their use. There is a strong guard placed over them day 
and night; they are constantly moved about to fresh grass. 
Rattlesnakes are abundant; we have killed several, some of them of a monstrous size. 
The soil is good clay, mixed with gravel. The country on all sides around us presents a 
nearly unbroken level, covered with a young growth of short and nutritious grass. 
No observations taken during the day or at night. 
Same Camp—Tuesday, April 4, 1854.—Lieutenant Garrard left camp this morning at 6 
o'clock to survey and take the levels of the Llano Estacado from the falls of the Pecos (our 
former camping-place) to this point. His party consists of three mounted men and an ambu- - 
lance driver, one ambulance with four mules, three riding and six pack-mules, supplied with 
nine days’ rations, and two sacks of corn; the six mules were packed with two kegs of water 
each. 
The lieutenant was accompanied as far as his first camp, thirty-five miles from this place, by 
three men, and six mules packed with two kegs of water each; six of these kegs were used at 
the point last mentioned, in watering the mules destined to cross the jornada, and six left there 
to be used (for the same purpose) on their return from the Pecos. This last party are to start 
for this camp on the morning of the 5th. It was not deemed judicious to send a large party 
across, the difficulty of providing a sufficiency of water for a larger number being very great. 
It is hoped that this arrangement will prevent much suffering to either men or animals. 
