SEVENTY-MILE DESERT. 115 



« caclie" of such things as they could not carry. But it had been 

 constructed in such a bungling manner, that it had easily been dis- 

 covered and robbed : twelve ox-yokes remained in a heap on the 

 ground. After travelling until noon, we came to a low ridge of 

 hills running nearly north and south. We sheltered ourselves be- 

 hind it, and finding plenty of artemisia, kindled a fire, and boiled 

 our coSgq, which, with a piece of bread and cold bacon, constituted 

 our first and only meal for the day. 



Our poor animals looked wretchedly, and two of them giving out 

 before reaching the ridge, were with great difficulty driven up. As 

 they had been without water for twenty-four hours, except the 

 cupful which had been served out to them last night, after filling a 

 few canteens for our own use, the remainder of our little stock was 

 divided among them. 



The ridge was composed of porous trap. The hills were higher 

 toward the north, where they were connected with a range which 

 seemed to form a spur from the mountains east of us. They gradu- 

 ally diminished to the south, not extending more than a mile or 

 two in that direction. 



Before us, distant about twelve miles, was a high mountain-range, 

 on the eastern side of which, the guide informed me, there was a 

 spring with plenty of water. I had hoped to be able to cross it to- 

 day, but the state of our animals was such that it proved impractica- 

 ble, since it was dark before we reached its western base. I the less 

 regretted this, as in the course of the afternoon we had found 

 several little pools of rain-water, from which the mules drank with 

 great avidity and to repletion. The ascent to the range was gen- 

 tle, and we encamped at the mouth of a narrow, winding pass 

 through it, amid plenty of large cedar-trees and very large arte- 

 misia — a welcome sight, as the day had been cold and blustering, 

 and there was every prospect of a heavy storm. Large fires were soon 

 blazing, and every one was tired enough at once to seek his blanket, 

 without going to the trouble of preparing the evening meal. Indeed, 

 there was little or nothing to prepare ; our bread was all gone, 

 and there was not water enough either to make bread or cofiee, and 

 none could be sought for in the dark. The two mules that had 

 failed in the morning, again gave out before reaching the moun- 

 tain, and had finally to be abandoned. 



Sunday, November 4. — Ther. 33°. Upon rising we found it 

 snowing hard, and the ground covered to the depth of two inches. 

 It soon ceased, however, and before night had melted in the plain. 



