ARISPE. , 
273 
feet high, covered with evergreen, and supported at 
the base by a large mound of loose stones. Usually, 
these crosses are simply two rough sticks bound 
together in the form of the sacred emblem ; though 
some we saw were constructed with more care, and 
had inscriptions carved on them. They mark the 
places where travellers have been murdered by the 
Apaches. 
About six miles from Fronteras we passed a small 
stream running through a little valley, on the opposite 
side of which, on the edge of the plateau, stood the 
deserted village of GocuidracM. The fields that 
skirted the roads, the rows of pomegranate trees in 
full bloom, and the orchards of peach, pear, and mul- 
berry, all betokened a high state of cultivation. We 
halted a few moments at the place, and entered 
many of its tenantless houses, which are fast falling to 
ruin. The church was in good condition; for the 
savages, though they often burn and destroy the habi- 
tations of the people, always spare their places of 
worship. It was indeed sad to see such desolation, 
where but a few years before there had been so much 
happiness. On leaving this place we ascended a long 
and very steep hill, to accomplish which we had to 
double our teams. Continuing on the plateau for six 
or eight miles, we again descended into a pleasant 
valley, called Barhab% thickly covered with oaks. As 
we were moving along through these, a fiock of wild 
turkeys fiew up, from which one of the party dropped 
a fine large, one with a pistol shot. Having now made 
twenty miles, and finding ourselves in one of the most 
romantic spots we had yet seen, with fine grass and 
VOL. I. — 18 
