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Far off to th 
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grout, between the peaks of two Migh mountains, 
stretched the ta 
le land contiguous to the valley of the Del Norte. 
all the world, like a fore and-aft-schooner.» As I was itt 
this my mule came to a halt at the edge of a steep precipice. 
Below were green trees and luxuriant foliage, the sure indication 
black walnut, with fruit’ about half the size of ours. The oak was 
covered with round red balls, the size and color of apricots—the ef- 
fects of disease or the stinz of an insect. © 
Fourmiles further brought us to another creek of clear water, 
running sluggishly, and like the last the size of a man’s waist. In 
its valley werg many large trees, uprooted, presenting the appear- 
ance of new ground. , : 
On the plains and in the dry valleys were many rare specimens 
of chalcedony. The only living thing seen was a small rattle- 
snake, the first since we left Vegas, of the- size and mark. of the 
be prairie snake, but of reddish hue, like that of the ground it 
inhabited, 
Observed to-night for latitude and longitude; our height was (ap- 
‘proximately ) 4,810 feet above the sea. 
October -16.—We commenced the approach to the Mimbres 
Mountains over a beautiful rolling country, traversed by small 
Streams of pure water, fringed with a stunted growth of walnut, li 
ath a 
Oak an best 
a differing from the large grama. Nothing but rain is required 
e this part of the country inhabitable. There were several 
rn 
Rew and beautiful varieties of cactus and the entamario (tessaica 
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for 
borealis) diotis lanata in great luxuriance; one a’ miniature tree, 
with the stalk six inches in diameter, a new species of dieteria like 
an aster, with fine purple flowers; aster hebecladus and three-leayed 
barberry (berberis trifoliolata. “i ‘ 
This must one day become a great grazing country, particularly 
pitch Stone; the sides and bank covered with a thick growth of 
Stunted live oak. In full view, nearly the whole time of our de- 
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