TO EL PASO. 373 
team, occupying the whole of two nights and one day 
to accomplish the passage, although but six miles across. 
Owing to the intense heat and glare of the sun on the 
white sand, the crossing was never attempted except 
at night. “We were now favored by the rain; and it 
was thought best, notwithstanding our day’s march, to, 
make the passage of the hills this night; the weather 
would be cooler and the sand more compact from the . 
rain. : ie 
The place where we stopped was about two miles 
from the sand hills. We accordingly dined, and let 
the animals feed, and at 7 o'clock, p. m., resumed our 
march. Upon consultation, it was thought best for 
Leroux to leave a couple of hours in advance of the 
wagons with the train of pack-mules, and go as far as 
Samalayuca, a spring two miles beyond the hills, in 
case he could not find water nearer. He was then to 
discharge his loads and return to the wagons, to give 
us such aid as might be necessary. ' 
The first three miles were not very bad ; for though 
the sand was loose, it was not deep; still it was a 
‘Steady pull up a gradual ascent. As we proceeded, 
the sand grew deeper, and the vegetation less, until 
nothing but a few half-buried mezquit bushes were to 
€ seen. An aromatic shrub was also noticed here. — 
At a great depth there is probably some moisture 
Which sustaing these plants; but even with this, it is 
remarkable how they can survive in the midst of such 
an intense and dry heat, in a spot where, for more than 
nine months in the year, there is no rain. Every thing 
‘round us had a strange wintry aspect, the white sand 
tesembling banks of snow, from which the tops of the 
