TO EL PASO. : 367 
I first went to Mr. Flotte’s mine. I presented my 
letter of introduction to the superintendent, a native 
Castilian, and was received by him with the politeness 
that characterizes his countrymen. After sitting a 
short time in his house near the entrance, we were 
each provided with torches; whereupon we descended 
the mine, following the footsteps of our guide, the super- 
intendent himself It was quite muddy, owing to the 
late rains. The shaft was between six and seven feet 
high, branching off in various directions. We traced 
it to its bottom, which was eighty varas, or about 240 
feet, from the entrance. The principal vein of ore is 
about five inches in thickness; there is also another 
of one inch. Both have a dip of about 45 degrees. 
The entire length of the various shafts is 300 varas, or 
820 feet. On returning to the house of our attentive 
guide, he presented us with fine specimens of the ore. 
We did not go further than the entrance of the other 
mine ; as it was late, and the mine did not materially 
differ from the one we had examined. “ 
August 12th. Our journey to-day was twenty-five 
miles. After leaving camp, our road wound for a cou- 
ple of miles through the hills, and then emerged into 
a broad plain, interspersed at intervals of two or three 
miles with conical hills, from one to three hundred 
feet in height. Some of these were capped with a ridge 
or mass of stone, of areddish color, resembling a work of 
art. Five miles further brought us to Walnut Creek, 
asmall run of water, which is dry except at this sea- 
Son, and even then contains but little water. Half a: 
dozen walnut trees of a small size, grow upon its 
, Whence its name. After crossing this rivulet, 
* 
