274 
AGUA PRIETA TO 
water at hand, we pitched our tents beneath some 
oaks and rested for the night. We were in a com- 
plete amphitheatre of low rounded hills, all covered 
with trees, with a high and rugged mountain on the 
south. Taking it altogether, I had seen nothing that 
reminded me so strongly of the scenery of Vermont 
;and New Hampshire. Near the little brook where we 
encamped were some wild currant bushes, from which 
we gathered an abundance of fine fruit. These made 
into a sauce, and added to our turkey, furnished us 
such a supper as does not often fall to the lot of travel- 
lers. A deer, too, was killed, which was laid aside for 
the morrow. This valley, owing to its seclusion, is 
considered one of the most dangerous places in the 
country, a hundred persons having been murdered 
here within the last two years. 
May 2Wi. Owing to the great heat during the 
middle of the day, I determined to set off early. By 
daybreak, therefore, we were under way, and soon 
after entered a mountain pass or canon, which proved 
to be exceedingly difficult for our animals. So long 
and steep were the ascents, that at each of them we 
were obliged to double the teams, and at every descent 
to chain the wheels. The valleys and mountain sides 
were covered with oaks, while the summits, as far as I 
could judge, were covered with pines. The whole 
country during the night had been on fire, including 
the mountain ; so that every thing around us was now 
black and gloomy. One of Colonel Craig’s wagons 
again broke in this defile, causing a delay of several 
hours. ‘ These mountains are said to contain^ gold, and 
we were told that “ lumps,” in comparison with which 
