TO CHIHUAHUA. 417 
and went to the lake. On tasting the water, to my 
surprise I found it perfectly sweet, in fact better than 
that in the spring. It is therefore probable that after 
the rainy season the lake so fills up that its brackish- 
ness is overcome. Its shores, as well as the adjoining 
plain, are covered with what the Mexicans call teques- 
quite, or alkaline salt in a state of efflorescence. Brant, 
ducks, and plover abound in its waters, some few of 
which we shot. 
Soon after we encamped, a stray ox was discov- 
ered among the mezquit bushes which skirted the 
base of the hills. We did not hesitate to drive him to’ 
camp for the benefit of the party ; for we had been 
living on very poor goat’s meat since leaving Guada- 
lupe. This fine beef proved a valuable accession to 
our stock of provisions; as many could not stomach 
the meat of a poor goat, after he had been driven 
twenty or thirty miles. 
October 20th. We continued along the shores of 
the lake for fourteen or fifteen miles, through a plain 
covered with grass. This plain was ten- or twelve 
miles wide, bounded on the east by a range of hills, 
and on the west by rugged mountains. On the op- 
posite side of the lake appeared a hacienda amid a 
Stove of cotton-woods—a beautiful spot, which might 
compare with the highly cultivated grounds of a Kuro- 
pean nobleman ; but the mark of ruin was upon it—the 
Apaches had driven away its occupants, and it was 
fast crumbling to decay. 
Twenty miles brought us to Hl Penol,a lange haci- 
enda, near which a herd of cattle was grazing. There 
did not appear to be any land under cultivation here: 
VOL. 1L—27 
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