22 
INDIANOLA 
hook. The largest ones seemed fond of lying near the 
surface of the water, which enabled us to shoot them 
with a rifle. They proved excellent eating. 
The vegetation presents more interesting features 
as we proceed inland, — the river bottoms are well 
wooded with oaks, pecan, and huck-berry, — and the 
minor plants are more numerous. The peach and fig 
flourish well in the gardens near Victoria ; but the sea- 
son is so dry, that we have no vegetables except pump- 
kins, — even potatoes have disappeared. 
In our walk Mr. Thurber gathered many plants ; 
we also found the first appearance of rock that we had 
seen in Texas, near the banks of the stream. Near by 
was a Mexican ranch, which was then an object of 
curiosity, being the first of the kind we had met with. 
It was built of sticks set upright, the interstices filled 
in with mud. The floor was of the same material. 
The house contained but a single apartment, which was 
occupied by a Mexican, his wife, and several children. 
The pigs were rooting near the door. Several fowls 
were perched upon projecting sticks, or nestling on 
the beds ; and we had ocular proof that they some- 
times deposited their eggs there. Bought out the 
entire stock of eggs, and all the milk that could be 
spared. 
September Sunday. Thermometer at 101°. 
Announced that I would read the church service at 9 
o’clock, and invited all to attend. It was a source of 
gratification to find that the whole camp were present 
save the two men on guard. The service took place 
beneath the branches of a large tree, where we were 
sufiiciently protected from the sun’s rays. The chapter 
