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TO EL PASO. 371 
ing but unwholesome fruit, of which our men partook 
with some caution.* 
From the summit of this rocky hill, which is about 
three hundred feet high, we had a fine view of the vast 
plain around us, stretching in every direction as far as 
the eye could reach, and unlimited by any continuous 
range of mountains. Short isolated ridges rose up at 
intervals of from ten to twenty miles, and between 
them the conical hills before referred to. Immediate- 
ly below, about a mile distant, was the Salado, or Salt 
Lake, from two to four miles across; although after 
rains it is doubtless much larger. Some ten or fifteen 
miles to the north-west, I noticed what appeared to be 
another small lake, which may have been the Laguna 
de Santa Maria. Although from its whitish appear- 
ance, it may have been but the salt bed of a dry lake.t 
I took asketch of the country here, with a curious cone- 
shaped hill in the foreground, on the summit of which 
is a mass of rocks resembling a tower. Similarly crown- 
ed hills were seen during the day’s march. 
We made a noon halt at some pools of fresh water 
hear the Salado; as it was my intention to go as far as 
possible to-day, so as to shorten the march of to-mor- 
tow, in which we did not expect to meet with any 
* It is said that too much of this fruit will cause fever and ague. 
Whether this be true or not, I cannot say; although I do know, that 
on several occasions, illness was produced by a too free use of it. 
t In my former journeys, we frequently saw these playas, or dry 
lakes ; and even when within a quarter of a mile, it was utterly impos- 
sible to say, whether they contained water or not. On these = 
the party would be equally divided in opinion, nor could all be satisfied 
Until we really touched them. . 
