316 ; SANTA CRUZ TO 
duty that we all felt severely, and each dreaded the 
night when his turncame. Last night was a very bad 
one, in fact, the worst we had experienced during our 
journey (the march across the Tucson desert always 
excepted), as it was exceedingly dark, and the rain 
came down in torrents. I kept a light burning in my 
tent the whole night, and made my rounds with a lan- 
tern. The strict watch kept by us during the march, 
no doubt saved us from robbery; and, if there had 
been nothing to fear from the Indians, it was a safe- 
guard against the Mexicans, who are as great thieves 
as the Apaches. We had suffered much from theft in 
our last visit to Santa Cruz, and took good care that 
this pilfering should not be repeated. 
In the afternoon I called on Padre Pacheco with 
Dr. Webb, to make inquiries about Inez Gonzales. The 
result was very unsatisfactory. He manifested an in- 
terest in the welfare of the poor child, but said that he 
had no control over her or her family, and that his in- 
fluence or exertions would avail nothing against the 
plans or the doings of the military officers. Their 
power was supreme, particularly in an outpost like 
this. From all the information I could gather from 
the Padre, it was evident that unfair means had been 
resorted to by Captain Gomez; first, in getting her 
away. from her home under some pretence, and secondly, 
in depriving her of her liberty, and preventing her 
return with her mother to Santa Cruz. I have not 
before observed that the mother overtook us the day 
after leaving Tubac, and accompanied our train to her 
now desolate home. 
_ Believing that Governor Cubillas of Sonora, a ge2 
CR Se en ee a ee ee ae ‘i 
: 
