390 RIO SAN PEDRO 
covered that we should not reach there as soon as 
anticipated I cut down the daily allowance of flour 
one half. Our meat being fresh, was soon exhausted ; 
so that by this time our supply of every thing was 
very scanty. Several of us set out in search of game ; 
but although deer were seen, we were not fortunate 
enough to kill any. I perceived the traces of turkeys 
among the cotton-wood, and watched for hours beneath 
them; but they came not. Mr. Pratt rigged up a fish- 
ing line to try what he could find in the brook. His 
labors were attended with success; and our dinner 
table was served with a plentiful supply of trout, 
which, though small, were a welcome addition to our 
bill of fare. We also found near the camp an abun- 
dance of purslain (portulacca). This was collected and 
boiled, and formed our chief food. In the absence of 
vegetables, which we had not tasted for a long time, 
we all relished it very much. 
September 15th. Colonel Graham and his party 
joined us this morning. He came a few hours in 
advance, with Messrs. Wright and Clarke, in conse- 
quence of the sad tale brought back by Guadalupe, 
who told him we were “half starved and living on 
roots.” The Colonel brought us his haversack filled 
with bread and meat, and a bottle of wine. He him-- 
self was quite short of provisions, though much better 
off than we were; and having killed a bear in his — 
journey, he had had an abundant supply of fresh meat. 
This kind of meat, however, will not keep, and is not 
good after the second day, except in cold weather. 
I took my rifle and went out again in search of 
game, following a _ ravine far up towards the 
