406 EL PASO 
yet we made fifteen miles, and encamped at Cantarecto, 
where there is a spring of good water. : 
- October 13th. Our course was to-day south-west 
towards the direct route from El Paso to Chihuahua ; 
and with the exception of a few places, the road was 
good. Mezquit grass occurred at intervals sufficient 
for grazing. No trees were seen, and scarcely any 
shrubbery; so that our cooks with difficulty procured 
enough to prepare our food. We made twenty-five 
miles (at least so it was called by the Mexicans), and 
encamped at Charco de Grado. The Mexican mode of 
measurement is very uncertain, unless practised by 
engineers. The water here is found in small pools, 
supplied by springs; but so meagre is the supply, that 
I doubt whether it can be depended.upon in the dry 
season. , 
_ October 14th. Our course continued the same as 
yesterday, over a broad plain, unlimited by mountains, 
which showed themselves only at intervals of from ten 
to twenty miles in short ridges, their summits present- 
ing a jagged and fantastic appearance. Turrets and 
cupolas, huge towers and castles, alternately were seen. 
These mountains appeared to be destitute of vegetation, 
except the grama grass, which grows on the debris 
from the base to the point where the bare rocks arise. 
Fifteen miles brought us to the Qjo de Lucero 
(Venus’s Spring), which furnishes but a small supply of 
water. We did not stop here, but pushed on to the 
Laguna de los Patos (Duck Lake), six miles further, 
and encamped near a spot where a stream of clear 
and delicious water crosses the road. This rivulet 
comes from a spring near by, and empties into a small 
