SAN FRANCISCO FOREST TO MOQUIS—ENCOUNTER WITH MOQUIS INDIANS. 119 
foot of the réck was an artificial basin nine or ten feet in’ diameter; which was filled. with clear 
and sweet water. The, mules slaked their thirst, the kegs were filled, and we proceeded on 
the.way, but not with the same ease as the day before. The rain had softened ,the path and 
made it hard to travel. Eight: miles from the spring. half of the animals, having been without 
food for | nearly two days, broke completely down, and “camp was. made at the base-of a hill 
where a clump of cedars furnished a‘ supply of. fire-wood, © " 
was again. necessary,to rest for a day, and, not. knowing ‘how far ahead. i eivht be to the 
next. water, in the early morning we sent the’ mules. back to the spring to drink and graze. 
The-men reported, when they returned with’ the. herd: this evening, that the spring had filled 
the basin so slowly as only to furnish water to one or two of. the animals, and they must start 
thirsty on their journey to-morrow. The failure’ of the spring is a source of anxiety. We 
aré forty miles from the river. Another day’s journey without water would minke it impossible 
to return, and at any risk it would be necessary ‘to keep on. — 
The supposed position of the Moquis towns turns out to have been erroneous. - We should 
already, according to the maps, be in sight of them; but a view from the. top’ of the hill, by 
whi ch we. are encamped, discloses no signs of habitations. The Blue Peaks.in the direction 
of the: trail are nearly. passed, and the country: northward looks arid and unpromising, 
Camp 92, Limestone spring, May 10 —It was resolved to make a long march should ‘no water 
be reached, and we started at an- early, hour. Thrée miles from camp, while passing through 
some hills that exhibited every indication of utter dryness and sterility, we found, at the bot- 
tom of a ravine, a. growth of young willows surrounding some: springs, and a patch of fresh, 
green. grass. The: packs were removed. A trench was dug AoroRS the ravine, which filled 
slowly, but.in aifew hours had enabled all: the mules- to. drink. 
eat up the grass, and an hour before noon the packs were r and the 
The path had again become hard, and thirteen miles were accomplished without trouble. This 
brought us : to a rough ravine that led through a limestone ridge to the edge of a broad — 
Somie*tolerable grass and a little spring of water offered sufficient inducement to camp. 
As: the sun went down, and. the confused owe and pee Pete gel I discovered with a 
7: two of the. Mog uis towns 
ig 
