374 
THE COPPER MINES 
again opened to our view as before, with a range of 
mountains bordering its western side, about thirty-five 
miles distant, and running parallel with those we had 
just left. 
This plain appeared, as it subsequently proved to 
be, destitute of shrubbery or trees, and covered with 
grass. It was without a hill, and extended in both 
directions from sixty to eighty miles. A dry lake 
appeared about midway in the plain ; and a closer 
examination made by some of the party showed that 
there was water in some portions about two inches 
deep, but so brackish and muddy that even the cattle 
would not drink it. From our present elevation above 
the lower plain, we had a most extended prospect. At 
the south-west we saw a long line of trees marking a 
water course or arroyo, which we at first believed to be 
the San Pedro, though we afterwards found it was not 
the case. The plain being hard and smooth, with a 
slight descent, we pushed rapidly forward, and late, in 
the afternoon perceived with our glasses the camp of 
General Conde, yet a great distance from us. Those 
who were mounted hurried on in advance of the 
wagons, and at six o’clock reached the camp, having 
been in the saddle eleven hours, without taking food, 
and exposed to a broiling sun. The wagons could not 
get in, but stopped about five miles back, when they 
were overtaken by the darkness of the night. The 
mules too were greatly fatigued. 
The water here, which was taken from pools a mile 
from the camp, was found to be very bad. Not a 
shrub was to be seen ; the grass was poor ; rounded 
heaps of white sand, or patches of bare clay, appeared 
