EL PASO. 
175 
to ruined buildings. There were three groups of these 
singular rocks, a few rods apart, entirely disconnected, 
yet of the same general character. Their sides were 
perpendicular, like walls ; their height about sixty feet. 
In the crevices at their base, and on their summits, 
grew a few bushes, which added to their picturesque 
appearance. But the most singular feature about them 
was, that many portions of their exterior surface were 
as smooth and as highly polished as though they had 
been submitted to some artificial process. It was 
probably the effect of exposure for ages to the weather. 
A similar appearance was observed at Thorne’s W ells, in 
the Gornudos del Alamo ^ described on our journey from 
San Antonio. I took a sketch of these curious rocks, 
which will convey a better idea of their appearance. 
March ZOth. Accompanied by a party of six, well 
armed and mounted on horses and mules, I left camp 
early in the morning to visit the great Waco Mountain. 
The mountain was about five miles distant, and the 
route lay through the very pass which we traversed 
on a former occasion. Stopped at the place where 
we let the carriage down by ropes, of which I 
took a sketch. It was one of the most grand and pic- 
turesque scenes I had witnessed on our journey up. 
There was much more vegetation here now, and Mr. 
Thurber made many additions to his collection of 
plants. It is in the beds of these mountain torrents or 
ravines, that the flora presents the greatest variety. 
Although the plants found here are adapted by their 
nature to these parched and desert regions, they nev- 
ertheless appear to seek the more secluded spots, 
which afi‘ord them a little protection from the scorching 
