TO RIO SAN PEDRO. 375 
in all directions. On the whole, we had not before 
been encamped in so miserable a place. The General 
had been led here by the report of the existence of a — 
large lake, which turned out to be the dry bed I have 
mentioned. Finding it impossible to stop there, his 
men in searching further discovered the pools near 
_which we were now encamped. . 
General Condé gave us all a warm reception, and 
invited the officers to his tent, where refreshments 
were served to us. Mr. Salazar, the Chief Astronomer. 
of the Mexican Commission, arrived here to-day, 
having finished running the line of the southern boun- 
dary of New Mexico through its entire length of three 
degrees, as agreed upon by the Joint Commission. 
September 6th. We were all glad to have a day 
of rest after our fatiguing journey, even in so desolate 
a spot. The weather was quite warm, and we felt the 
heat more than when moving. Our cooks had the 
greatest cause for complaints; as no fuel could be 
found but dried grass and stalks of the yucca. These 
would answer for nothing but to boil a pot; to bake 
bread was impossible. 
General Condé had with him the whole Mexican 
Commission, consisting of seventy men, besides his 
Officers. This included his military escort, who per- 
formed the duty of laborers, and assisted the engineers 
in the field. He informed us that he had been 
attacked by the Apaches when encamped at the 
Sugar Loaf Mountain. They approached, unperceiv- 
ed, within a quarter of a mile of his tent, and drove 
off his saddle-horses. Another party on the opposite 
side made a dash at his mule herd, which they 
