- % e: 
i formation here consists of fine yellow sandstone, — 
ing wien a coarse conglomerate, in which’the: stones are from the s e of 
inary gravel to)six or eight inches in diameter, | This is the formation 
which tenders the surface of the and gi 
alternately of loose heavy sands: — rolled: stones, which cripple the au 
mals in,a most extraordinary man 
On the following morning we left. shie Rio de los ngeléggend ‘continued 
our way through the same desolate: and “revolting country, where lizards 
were the only: animal, and the tracks of the lizard eaters the cers = 
human, beings, After twenty miles’? march through a wit oe 
heavy sands, we reached the most dreary river I have ever online beep 
rapid’ stream, almost a torrent; passing swiftly by, and roaring against ob- 
‘structions, The banks were wooded: with willow, acacia, and’ a frequent 
plant of I proses: already mentioned, ( Save elliptica,) growing " 
thickets, ng willow, and bearing a small pink flower. Crossing’ 
n Pole os ‘the left bank, where we found a very: little: grass. he 
three. remaining steers, being entirely: given out, were killed here: ‘By the 
boiling point, the elevation of the river here is 4,060 feet; and latitude, by 
observation, 36°.41' 33’. The stream was running towards the southwest, 
and appeared to come from a snowy mountain in the north. It proved: to 
bethe Rio. Virgen—a-tributary to the Colorado. Indians appeared in bands 
on the hills, but did not-come into camp. For several days w e continued 
oo” jourmey up the river, the bottoms of which were ‘thickly o 
various:kinds of brush; and the sandy soil was absolutely covered 
mith; the tracks: of Diggers, who followed us’ stealthily, like a band of 
volves; and we had no opportunity to leave behind, even for a few hours, 
he tired animals, in: node that ‘they might be brought into camp after-a 
repose. A horse or mule, left behind, was taken off in a moment. 
nthe evening of the ia, having travelled 28 miles: up the river from ‘our 
irst eneampment on it, we care av atia little grass plat, where a spring 
of cool water issued from the bluff.. On the opposite side wasa grove of 
cottonwoods at the mouth of a) which here enters the river. On 
either side the valley is bounded’ by ranges of tains, every where high, 
rocky, and broken. The caravan road was lost and scattered in the’ sandy 
country, and we had:been following an: en trail up the river. The 
s the next day were sent out to reconnoitre, and in t an time 
we moved about a mile farther up, where we foun, a good little pateh ‘of 
grass.. There being re sufficient: grass for the night, the horses were 
é * 
heya A 
ig melas, 
in arranging p and, fatigued with the besiset 
iia bhve: coat di vee ak until. sundown? 
that Tab in the 
| struc, aod tl them 10 be 00 
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