210 FORT YUMA 
mezquit and larrea Mexicana, with an occasional palo 
verde in the arroyos. 
Towards midnight, the pack-mules passed me; for 
up to this time [had beenin advance. [had observed 
_ before, that in long marches, when the wagon-mules 
became fatigued, those with packs would quicken their 
pace. My wagon-mules, unwilling to be left, increased 
their pace, and I allowed them to keep just far enough 
behind the packs to avoid the dust. As there was no 
stopping the pack-mules without relieving them of 
their burdens, Mr. Leroux said it would be far better 
to push on until we reached the water and grass; and 
I determined with my little wagon to keep with him. 
It was-now about two o'clock, and the soldiers as well 
as the horsemen were so much fatigued, that the 
wagons were stopped, and all threw themselves dowa 
just as they were to get alittle rest on the bare desert, 
hitching their mules to their waists by their long 
lariats. I left them,’ and hastened forward with Mr. 
Leroux and the packs. | 
June 30th. At daylight we passed the south end of 
a range of mountains which extend to the Gila, term 
nating near the mouth of the Salinas River; and at half 
‘past six we reached some water-holes, about a mile from 
the first Coco-Maricopa village, thus making the journey 
of forty-five miles in thirteen hours. This may be co” 
sidered slow in the age of locomotives and steamers, 
or even with stage-coaches; but with a train of emact 
ated pack-mules, each carrying on his back two hun- 
dred and fifty pounds weight, and going the whole » 
distance without a particle of food or water, it is some 
thing of a feat. 
