- 100 NEW TRACKS IN NORTH AMERICA. 
subject to considerable variation ; but it never succeeds im 
reaching the Rio Gila on the surface, although I believe it flows 
over the bed-rock and under the drift which covers it for the 
remaining one hundred miles from Tucson to the Maricopa 
Wells, where a large spring—the waters of the Rio Santa 
Cruz, as is believed—comes to the surface and flows into the 
Gila. Wherever water can be obtained, the valley is exceed- 
ingly fertile, and might, under cultivation, be made ve 
productive. South of Tucson, fine pasturage clothes the 
high lands on either side. : 
Four miles from Roade’s Ranche, on the following morning; 
we left the valley and the main road, and, on reaching Cam 
bore to the westward along a tributary strea 
until we reached, about mid-day, the next 
inhabited ranche, called ‘ Sopori,” distant eleven miles from 
our last halting-place. . 
This ranche was built on a rock, and still further strengthene 
against attack by a wall of stones, which completely surrounde d 
it. On climbing up the rock, and getting over the othe 
defences, we found in the house five girls and one little boy: 
The girls were all grown up, ranging in age from seventeen 
to about twenty-five. They met us as if we were 
curiosities, and invited us to partake of their meal. Pe 
people! it was bad enough, for it consisted of sun ied 
Mexican mutton fried in grease, and very badly-made torti 
They told us that they were a family of Southerners ; 
as we uns could not live with you Yanks, father thought ? : 
best to clear out in time.” The father and eldest brothe 
were out in the Santa Cruz Mountains, cutting pine for 
miners there; but as they had seen nothing of them for th 
Dec. 3. 
* Flat cakes made of dough without yeast. 
