which had tasted water in forty 
cordingly tried to reach it; about 3, p. m., we disengaged ou 
n 
sand, which here terminates in a bluff 40 feet high, making the are 
of a great circle convexing to the north. 
Descending this bluff, we found in what had been the channel of 
_a stream, now overgrown with a few ill-conditioned mezquite, a 
large hole where persons had evidently dug for water. was ne- 
cessary to halt to rest our animals, and the time was occupied in 
deepening this hole, which after a long struggle, showed signs of 
water. An old champagne basket, used by one of the officers as a 
pannier, was lowered in the hole, to prevent the crumbling of the 
sand. After many. efforts to keep out the caving sand, a basket- 
work of willow twigs effected the object, and much to the joy of 
all, the brisket, which was now 15 or 20 feet below the surface, 
filled with water. The order was now given for each mess to draw 
a camp-kettle of water; and Captain Turner was placed in charge 
i nk. The poor brutes, none of 
eight hours, and some not for the 
last sixty, clustered round the well 2 
At 12 o’clock I had wateredall my animals, thirty-seven in num- 
ber, and turned on the well to Captain Moore 
i I 
he animals still had an aching void to fill, and all night was, 
heard the munching of sticks, and their piteous cries for more con- 
genial food. ° | & 
~ November 27 and 28.—To-day we started a few minutes after sun- 
tise. Our course was a winding one, to avoid the sand-drifts. 
The Mexicans had informed us that the waters of the salt lake, 
some thirty or forty miles distant, were too salt to use, but other 
information led us to think the intelligence was wrong. We ac- 
( rselyes 
en 
imm se 
we approached the lake, the stench of dead animals confirmed the ~ 
reports of the Mexicans, and put to flight all hopes of our being | 
able to use the water. ee a oa ee ee 
_ The basin of the lake, as well as I could judge at night, is about _ 
* 
ae 
101 . [7 if 
ee 
ft ee ie “ aie FN Si ibe ele deaatr aa lie he 
