TO THE RIO FLORIDO. ss 
was scant, the plain being of a desert-like character, 
covered with low mezquit bushes, various kinds of 
cacti, yucca, and the fouquiera; forming as formidable 
a collection of thorny plants as one need wish to 
make his way through. No better indication of the 
desert character of a country is required than the fou- 
quiera, which thrives only in the most barren and arid 
spots. 
Ten miles from Bachimba the road divides, one 
branch leading south-east to San Pablo, which is the 
most direct, and the other to Santa Cruz, ten miles 
distant. We took the latter, in order to obtain a sup- 
ply of flour there for our journey. This town stands 
near the San Pedro Creek, a tributary of the Conchos 
River, and extends for nearly a mile along the valley. 
Parts of it are compactly built; yet I did not observe 
a good-looking house in it. Men, women, and chil- 
dren crowded to the doors as we passed, attracted by 
the cracking of the whips and yells of the teamsters, 
and seemed to eye us with as much curiosity as though 
they had never seen a train before. It is said to con- 
tain four or five thousand inhabitants. We passed 
_ directly through without stopping, and crossed the 
creek, a fine stream of clear water, which rises in the 
mountains about one hundred miles to the west, when 
We were suddenly brought toa stand by a dilapidated ~ 
bridge, across an acequia. Such was the condition of 
this bridge, that even the riding animals would not 
cross it. We had, therefore, to cut branches from 
the cotton-wood trees, lay them on the bridge, and 
cover the whole with earth, before we could make it 
Passable. Such a bridge on the great highway from 
