408 . EL Paso 
October 15th. On leaving this morning, we struck 
at once into the plain, which, as far as the eye could 
reach, was covered with water, appearing like a vast 
lake. We could trace the road by the tall grass and 
bushes, on which the water was from fifteen to eight- 
een inches deep. The ground being soft, our wagons 
sank deeply into it; and it was with the greatest 
difficulty that our animals could drag them through. 
A space of a few hundred yards would have been bad 
enough through such a depth of mire and water; but 
a steady tug of three or four miles was a very serious 
matter. Now and then the wagons would plunge into 
a deep hole, from which it was difficult to extricate 
them. In one of these the Doctor's carretella sank so 
suddenly, and to such a depth, that the king-bolt 
broke, and the fore wheels separated from it. For- 
tunately a small portion remained, which was kept in 
its place by straps. This was almost as bad as the 
deep sand, and we were obliged to make frequent 
stops to let the animals rest. : 
We at length reached dry ground, and the wagons 
succeeded in getting out, except one, the heavy “ ark,” 
which mired so deeply that the six mules could not 
extricate it. We doubled the team; but the mules 
being unmanageable in the mire and water, the tongue 
was snapped off. An hour or more was spent in splicing 
the tongue, when the twelve mules were again hitched 
on. When all was in readiness for another effort, men 
were placed with whips at each span of mules : at a 
given signal, the whips were simultaneously laid on; 
whoops and yells, mingled with a shower of oaths, 
followed, and the frightened animals made a united 
