TO THE COPPER MINES. 
225 
are gradually crumbling away, several having already 
fallen. When I had completed my sketch, we mounted 
our mules, and hastened back to camp, which we did 
not reach until some time after dark, my long absence 
meanwhile causing much uneasiness. Several turkeys 
were seen during our ride, and a couple shot. A 
number of fish of the trout species were taken here. 
May 2d. Crossed the Mimbres, and soon after 
reached the level of the table-land, gradually ascend- 
ing toward the high mountainous region wherein the 
Copper Mines are situated. Having heard of the Ojo 
caltente^ a remarkable hot spring two miles from the 
road, I determined to visit it, and accordingly struck 
off the wagon road, accompanied by all who were 
mounted. A ride of three or four miles brought us to 
the spot. This spring lies within a crater-like opening, 
twenty feet in diameter, on the top of a mound of tufa 
about six hundred feet in circumference at its base, 
and about thirty feet high, all of which seems to con- 
sist of the deposits made by its waters. The tempera- 
ture of the water was 125° Fahrenheit. Its surface was 
some six or seven feet below the rim of the basin ; 
and its depth I judged to be about the same. Dr. 
W ebb collected the gas which bubbled up from the 
bottom, and found it to be neither hydrogen nor car- 
bonic acid gas. He consequently judged it to be 
atmospheric air. The water was not unpleasant to the 
taste, and would be palatable if cooled. Lower down, 
upon one side of the hill, a small spring burst out, and 
at a short distance, where it collected in a pool, the 
water was cool enough to bathe in ; but even there I 
found it literally a hot bath. Mr. Thurber discovered 
VOL. I. — 15 
