oT. ae ae 
en Stinidey an not before existing. In the States oret is scartély 
a night where the moisture will not collect on the glass exposed to 
the air, sufficient in two or three minutes to prevent the peste: 
transmission of light 
JVovember 9.— The ofan of last? night’s dampness was felt in 
the morning, oe although the thermometer was only 37°, the cold 
was more sensible than in the dry regions at 25°. 
We started in advance of the command to explore the lower belt 
. of mountains by which we were encompassed. The first thing we 
noticed in the gorge was a promontory of pitch-stone, against which 
the river impinged with fearful force, for it was now descending at 
a rapid rate. Mounting to the top of the rock, on a beautiful table, 
* found sunk six cr eight perfectly symmetrical and well-turned 
holes, about ten inches deep and six or eight wide at top; near 
: one, in a remote place, was a pitch-stone well turned and fashioned 
: ] 
E 
 likea pestle. These could be nothing else than the corn-mills of 
long extinct races. Above this bed of pitch- stone, a butte of cal- 
areous sand-stone shot up to a great height, in the seams of which 
ere imbedded beautiful crystals of quartz. Turning the sharp 
angle of the promontory, we discovered a high perpendicular cliff 
calcareous spar and baked argillaceous rock, against which the 
er also abutted, seamed so as to. represent distinctly the flames of 
oe A sketch was made of it, and is presented with these. 
1otes. On the side of the river opposite the igneous rocks, the’ od 
utte rose in perpendicular and confused masses, 
This chain continued, not parallel, as I supposed, to the first dea | 
ribed barrier, . but « reled round to the east, and united with it. — 
also united on the north side, forming a basin three or four miles _ 
ne in whichiwe encamped last night. Except a few eae? Is 
‘rea Mexicana, these hills were bare of vegetation. Away off 
‘the deuth and bordering on the banks of the river, covering the 
of the ground for one or two feet, was an incrustration of 
ular lava or basalt, like. that Need about the Raton. 
jore 7 wanted to give the idéa.of an immense extinct 
ugh the centre of the neaiee the Gila now pursues 
int, elagced sai ita Enoihtsin barrier, flows 
ate of three miles an hour into a wi n 
end: almost as far as the eye can reach. Upon on this 
uite, chamiza, the green acacia, ‘etic pis. artemisia, 
scens, and petahaya, were the only vegetation. In one 
e found a few bunches of grass; € 
plain were destitute of vegetation; t, a light brown 
see earth, ¥ —-= Gontaines 801 AeMcivan” a4 
ae: °; 
: ey Ss ¥. : ies a ee 
was, submi ge eaegitio ng ~ who says: “Itisalight _ 
y e in rat 8 lati : 
4 eo & “carbonate of lime, — a ee snali-portten coe faa 
in it t L 5 its want fertility mo: 7 : trib. 
in organic matters.” s re — a 
Ss 
% 
s 
es 5 &- 
