298 _ FROM ARISPE BACK TO 
should be taken in consequence of the continued ab- 
sence of Colonel Graham, without whom, or his assist- 
ants, I could not send another astronomical party into 
the field, I determined to visit the camp of Lieutenant 
Whipple, who I had been informed had reached the 
Mimbres with his advanced parties, to consult with 
him as to future operations. I accordingly left this 
morning, accompanied by Lieutenant Green, and 
Messrs. Cremony, White, and Jones. Reaching the 
Mimbres, we followed it down about twenty-eight 
miles below the Copper Mines, when at evening we 
arrived at the camp of General Condé and the Mexican 
Commission. There I learned that Lieutenant Whip- 
ple was encamped on the plain near Cooke’s Spring, 
eighteen miles distant ; so I concluded to go no further, 
but send for him to join us at General Condé’s camp. 
June 21st. Lieutenant Green and Mr. Cremony set 
off this morning after Lieutenant Whipple. I remained 
in camp under a bower of bushes, keeping as quiet as 
possible during the day, as the heat was too intense to 
admit of stirring about. The general and his party had 
found these bowers so much more comfortable than 
their tents, that they had constructed several, in which 
they remained during the day, resorting to their tents 
only at night, or at meal times. The river near where 
the party was encamped was entirely dry, and water 
could be procured only by digging in its bed. little 
pool remained, where the animals were watered. In 
the evening Lieutenant Whipple, accompanied by Mr. 
Salazar, the Mexican chief astronomer and survey0r, 
Lieut. Green, and Mr. Cremony, arrived. 
_ June 22d. We held a consultation to-day relative 
