Herman CHanpier Orcurr, 33 
other plants also were collected, including a new Spice bush 
(Ptelea aptera). 
In February Dr. and Mrs. Parry, Miss Smith, with my father 
and brother, with his wife, visited ‘Table mountain, south of San 
Diego, the trip resulting in the discovery of ‘Tetracoccus—a new 
Euphorbiaceous shrub. 
May 28th we journeyed to the Guadalupe valley, collecting 
seed of Lathyrus splendens, and finding Hchinocactus Orcuttii in 
Valle de los Palmas. About a month later, H. C. Orcutt and 
family started on a camping trip to the falls of San Diego river, 
where a delightful time was spent. Another month found my 
father and me again in the mountains of Lower California. The 
following extracts from my diary will perhaps prove of interest 
in connection with this brief narrative of my father’s life. 
July 25, 1883. ‘[hursday. A slight shower at 4:30 A. M.; 
one team and a horseman-pass our camp; father kills a young 
rattle-snake and a curious cotton-tail rabbit; pass Adam’s ranch 
TieremUMeweWere) Making » «cheese Mat 16c. and 35c. per ib.; 
Quercus pungens [fide Engelmann] 20 ft. high and over a foot in 
diameter; get water at Japa in the morning; find water again at 
Ii A.M.; reach ‘‘Campo Seco’’ (dry camp), and from there ride 
in a heavy shower to Topo (dirt), where a deserted cabin gives 
us excellent quarters; thunder storm at dusk; visit an Indian 
camp in the evening; buy of them a couple of hats, zapatos or 
shoes, mescal rope and fiber. 
‘“The zapatos are made from mescal fiber, obtained by rot- 
ting the leaves of agaves. ‘They are merely rude sandals, fast- 
ened to the foot by thongs of the same material. One hat made 
of palm-leaf. A platter seems to be made of Juncus robustus, 
and had been in use as a meat platter. [’These articles now form 
part of the U. S. National Museum. | 
“We taste roasted mescal leaves and also of a cake made by 
the Indians by grinding the pods of the mesquite tree; nutritious, 
of a rather peppery, sickish sweet taste; Indians call themselves 
La Costa, or the coast Indians.’’ 
A few days later found us on the Catalina mountain, at 
Hanson ranch, where we found Lupinus Orcuttii, Astragalus 
Sonoree and a new Leeselia. On our return trip we stopped at 
Campo Seco, leaving our team in care of a Scotch miner, and 

