TO PARRAS. 467 
grass and mezquit bushes at intervals. In the lowest 
depressions where a little moisture had accumulated, 
the mezquit appeared in thick groves to the height of 
fifteen feet. At 4 p.m, we reached Cerro Gordo, 
twenty-six miles from our last camp. 
This is a miserable old decaying town, containing 
less than six hundred souls; although when Lieut. 
Hardy passed here in 1828, he says there was a popu- 
lation of three thousand. From the present extent of 
the town, including its crumbling and unoccupied 
houses, it is evident that it has been much more popu- 
lous than at present. It contains a modern built church 
without any pictures; there is no other object in the 
place worthy of notice. A small stream passes through 
it, and there is a very little arable land near. It was 
originally established as a military post, and is still 
maintained as such. 
; As we had now entered the State of Durango, it 
was necessary to surrender the escort given me at Chi- 
huahua. I accordingly presented my letter from Gen- 
eral Trias to the Comandante, and requested him to 
furnish me another escort through this State. He told 
me that the soldiers were at my service, but expressed 
his regrets that he had not the means of furnishing 
them with their subsistence even for the short ‘march re- 
quired, and that for nearly a month he had not been able 
to give them money enough to purchase their daily food. 
As their pay was but two and a half reals (31 cents) 
aday, and as this was the only difficulty, I at once 
offered to allow them this amount each, while they 
were with us, and the same for returning. The Co- 
mandante, a very polite and gentlemanly man; made’ 
