236 
EL PASO 
taken from those in the worst condition to complete 
the others, roofs were added, and comfortable habita- 
tions made for the officers of the commission. 
The hills and valleys abound in wild animals and 
game of various kinds. The black- tail deer {Gervus 
lewisii) and the ordinary species* ((7. virginianus) are 
very common. On the plains below are antelopes. Bears 
are more numerous than in any region we have yet 
been in. The grizzly, black, and brown varieties are 
all found here ; and there was scarcely a day when 
bear-meat was not served up at some of the messes. 
The grizzly and brown are the largest, some having 
been killed which weighed from seven to eight hun- 
dred pounds. These are dangerous animals to ap- 
proach, unless there are several persons in the, party 
well armed; and even then, it is well to have a place 
of retreat in case of emergency. I have known a 
grizzly bear to receive twelve rifle or pistol balls 
before he fell ; though in one instance a huge animal 
was brought down by a single shot from a well- 
directed rifle, which pn^ssing though his entire length, 
killed him instantly. * Turkeys abound in this region 
of a very large size. Quails too are found here ; but 
they prefer the plains and valleys. While we re- 
mained, our men employed in herding the mules and 
cattle near the Mimbres, often brought us the fine trout 
of that stream, so that our fare might be called 'sumptu- 
ous in some respects. But it requires something more 
than meat and game to satisfy the appetite and pre- , 
serve health and vigor, and we would willingly have 
exchanged either or all of these luxuries for a few 
vegetables. We had not tasted a potato for a year, 
