110 HORSE-HEAD CROSSING 
hills and across deep ravines. At one place we stop- 
ped to look at some limestone sinks near the road. The 
earth and stone had caved in, or sunk, in spots varying 
from ten to thirty feet in diameter. The ground for 
some distance around appeared hollow and cavernous. 
The. country since leaving the river was well covered 
with grass, but entirely destitute of trees or shrubs. 
- At 4 o'clock reached Delaware or Sabine Creek, sixteen 
miles from the Pecos, and pitched our tents on a spot 
where there appeared to have been a very large 
encampment a few months before. Besides the frag- 
ments, there was one large Pennsylvania wagon nearly 
complete, numerous ox-yokes, boxes, barrels, etc., ete. 
These were collected and carried to our camp for fire- 
wood ; and very acceptable they proved, for the banks 
of the creek did not furnish a bit of wood as large as 
one’s finger. As the grass was abundant here and of 
the best description, with excellent water, I determined 
to halt to recruit the animals, and gave orders accord- 
ingly. The poor creatures were much in need of rest, 
for several had already given out and had to be removed 
from the wagons. Two colonies of prairie dogs weré 
seen to-day after leaving the Pecos, the first we had 
noticed since leaving the great jornada beyond Castle 
Mountain. | 
November 6th. . Was aroused in the night by the 
whistling of the wind. Feeling a great change in the 
temperature, I looked out of my carriage window, 42 
to my surprise found the ground covered with snow. 
There was no sleep after this; and as soon as morning 
dawned, I got up to inspect the condition of the party 
and the animals, and to see what could be done for 
