264 AGUA PRIETA TO 
care in passing them. The tongues and hounds are 
liable to snap off; and nothing so completely disables 
a wagon as an accident of this kind. As we pro- 
ceeded, the valley became more picturesque, being 
_ covered at intervals with mezquit trees, larger than 
any we had seen. In the afternoon we were again 
_ brought to a stand, and on turning to ascertain the 
cause, found that one of the tires of Colonel Craig’s 
wagon had fallen off. This was repaired in half an 
hour by lashing it on with halter chains. As we 
approached the mountain, we found ourselves in a 
valley still more luxuriant, having a beautiful stream 
winding through it, everhifhgy with walnut, ash, and 
cotton-wood trees. Finding it imposible after our 
delay to reach Fronteras to-day, we stopped at five 
o'clock near a fine grove, on the banks of the stream, 
where there was excellent water and an abundance of 
grass, and there puiched our tents for the night. 
May 24th. At six o’ clock we were off, keeping in 
the valley and following the stream which led around 
the western extremity of the mountain called Covayan. 
Our course still continuing south, we struck across an 
elevation, and entered the valley beyond, here covered 
with large cotton-wood trees. The road now continued 
level ; and after a ride of four hours, we reached Fron- 
teras. As we approached, men, women, and children 
came out to meet us, ours being the first American 
wagons that had ever been seen in the place. General 
Carrasco met me as I alighted from my carriage, and 
took me to his quarters. 
Fronteras was formerly a town of considerable im- 
portance. It was established about eighty years ago 
