THE PRESIDIO OF JANOS. S21 
pity for the poor creatures, I told several that they 
might accompany the train, if they would furnish their 
own provisions and transportation. Four of them fol- 
lowed us on foot; and I afterwards found that the 
Mexican arrieros, and the cooks, kept them at work 
when in camp in bringing wood and water, as well as 
in herding the mules, and gave them their food for s 
doing. 
* Hearing from the emigrants who arrived last even- 
ing, that the road taken by them from the San Pedro 
river was very bad for loaded wagons, I determined 
to avoid it by following a path little known, which was 
Some ten miles further. Instead, therefore, of passing 
directly over the hills on leaving the valley, we kept 
on three miles to the termination of these hills, and 
then took an easterly, though very tortuous course, 
keeping most of the way in valleys, and avoiding the 
mountains altogether. As we passed out of the valley, 
T observed a long train of wagons winding over the 
hills on the other road, accompanied by many horse- 
men. This was an emigrating party, which we had 
been told we should meet; but we were not near 
enough to speak with them. 
After winding through these valleys for four miles, — 
We ascended to the plateau, to which we kept for six 
or eight miles over a smooth gravelly plain, without a 
tree ora bush. The valleys below were studded with 
small oaks, and covered with luxuriant grass; in fact, 
T'was told at Santa Cruz, that in former years large 
herds of cattle were raised here. The country seems 
admirably adapted for the purpose, and in other hands, 
or when the Apache robbers are exterminated, will 
VOL. 11—2] 
