TO EL PASO. 
127 
alluded to above, to herd oxen. I shall send this letter 
and a small supply of sugar and coffee by them. Mr. 
Scallen, the bearer of this, will direct you to watering 
places this side of the pass, which we missed, not 
knowing where to find them. It will be necessary to 
fill up the water kegs here. The water, though smell- 
ing strongly of sulphuretted hydrogen, is not unpala- 
table. All kinds of provisions are very high and scarce 
in El Paso. Flour is $92 a barrel ; coffee., sugar, and 
pork, 50 cents per pound. We are all in good spirits, 
and move from here at noon. 
“ Very truly, your obedient servant, 
“ George Thurber. 
“John R. Baktlett, Esq. 
Commissioner.” 
After partaking of a hearty breakfast, provided for 
us by Mr. Percy, we made preparations to start, deter- 
mined to press through, believing that we should find 
water enough for our small party at the three springs, or 
watering places, between us and the Rio Grande, which 
was yet about one hundred and eight miles off. But we 
had expectations from another source : as ‘Mr. Daguerre, 
who had just arrived from El Paso, informed me that 
his wagons were on the way to the camp bringing 
water for Mr. Coon’s train, which they were depositing 
at certain points on the road ; and he most generously 
gave me permission to use it, if we found none at the 
watering places, and should require it for ourselves or 
for our animals. 
While making our preparations to start, Mr. Percy 
filled our kettle with some excellent boiled beef, bread, 
