TO THE COPPER MINES. 228 
hills, the defiles, and the thick groves along the river 
bottom, that game was to be found; and there, too, 
was the most picturesque landscape scenery, and the 
best field for the exercise of my pencil. 
I first walked down the stream about two miles to 
a thick grove of large cotton-woods. The bottom was 
much contracted here; nevertheless, it was thickly 
wooded and forest-like. Ash and oaks were inter- 
spersed among the cotton-woods. Saw many signs of 
turkeys, but shot none myself. Some of the party 
were more fortunate and brought in several. About 
five miles north of our camp the river enters the hills, 
and a little further up, is closely hemmed in by lofty 
mountains. Noticed wild roses in great profusion, 
also wild hops, and the Missouri currant. These, in 
some portions of the valley, were so closely entangled 
together that it was impossible for one to work his way 
through. Found several old Indian encampments, 
with their wigwams standing, and about them frag- 
ments of pottery. Many well-marked Indian trails 
followed the river on both sides, showing that it had 
been, and probably is now, a great thoroughfare and 
place of resort for the Apaches. 
_ In the afternoon, Mr. Bausman, one of our most 
indefatigable sportsmen, came in from a hunt, and 
reported that he had seen some remarkable rocks about 
five miles up the river, to the north of our camp, which 
Were worth visiting. I immediately had my mule 
saddled, buckled on ‘my pistols, attached my rifle to 
the pummel of the saddle, and taking my sketch book, 
accompanied him to the place referred to, which was 
about half a mile from the river on the western side. 
