AGUA PRIETA. 
255 
a little earth had given them a hold, formed a complete 
canopy over our heads. The various cacti, the agave, 
and the yucca also abounded, each flourishing in p'erfec- • 
tion, and, as it were, striving for the ascendency. To 
these must be added the fouquiera^ with its tall leafless 
stems and its brilliant scarlet flowers, which shot forth 
from every rocky crevice. 
On emerging from the canon our road led up a high 
hill where there was a level plateau, of a desert-like 
character, about eight miles across, with an excellent 
road, which brought us to the rich valley of San Ber- 
nardino. Here was stretched out before us a level 
patch of green, resembling a luxuriant meadow, some 
eight or ten miles long, by one broad ; and directly 
beyond, on a little spur of the plateau, lay the ruins of 
the hacienda of San Bernardino. Crossing this valley 
we stopped on the banks of a little stream, a tributary, 
or one of the sources of the Huaqui, which passes within 
a few rods of the ruins. As we approached, a flock of 
herons arose from the water, alarmed at the unusual 
invasion of their quiet haunt. One of them, whom 
curiosity had prompted to leave his companions and 
take a closer inspection of the intruders, fell a victim 
to his boldness, and was added to oar ornithological 
collection. 
San Bernardino is a collection of adobe buildings 
in a ruined state, of which nothing but the walls re- 
main. One of these buildings was about one hundred 
feet square, with a court in the centre ; and adjoining 
it were others with small apartments. The latter were 
doubtless the dwellings of the peons and herdsmen. 
The whole extending over a space of about two acres. 
