218 EL PASO 
changing its bed, where great bends occur. The 
laguna is now supplied by overflows from the river. 
There were many wild fowl in it; but its banks were 
so open, that we could not approach the game. 
April 29. Hearing that there were traces of an 
ancient Indian settlement about half a mile distant, 
Dr. Webb went over to examine it, while we were 
getting ready to move. He found a good deal of 
broken pottery, all of a fine texture. Some of it bore 
traces of red, black, and brown colors. He also found 
a stone mortar about eight inches in diameter. I have 
since understood that this was the seat of one of the 
earliest Spanish missions; but it was abandoned more 
than a century ago, and no traces remain but a few 
heaps of crumbling adobes, which mark the site of its 
dwellings. 
Our course on leaving camp, was south of west. 
After following the valley a couple of miles, we began 
to ascend arange of high hills, over and through which, 
the road wound for about twelve miles, before we 
reached the highest level. In descending, the road 
was hard and smooth as a turnpike, and so continued 
until we reached our camping ground, at the foot of 
the hills. To the south, at some fifty or sixty miles 
distant, rose a high mountain, the intervening plain 
presenting the most beautiful mirage I ever witnessed. 
It seemed like the surface of a broad lake, the mountain 
peaks standing detached, like so many islands rising 
from the bed of its placid waters. If I had not known 
that the region before me was a barren desert, | would 
certainly have been deceived. | 
Reached Mule Spring at one o'clock. Estimated 
snl a tal 
