TO RIO SAN PEDRO. 
375 
in all directions. On tlie whole, we had not before 
been encamped in so miserable a place. The General 
had been led here by the report of the existence of a 
large lake, which turDed out to be the dry bed I have 
mentioned. Finding it impossible to stop there, his 
men in searching further discovered the pools near 
which we were now encamped. 
General Conde gave us all a warm reception, and 
invited the officers to his tent, where refreshments 
were served to us. Mr. Salazar, the Chief Astronomer 
of the Mexican Commission, arrived here to-day, 
having finished running the line of the southern boun- 
dary of New Mexico through its entire length of three 
degrees, as agreed upon by the Joint Commission. 
September 6th. We were all glad to have a day 
of rest after our fatiguing journey, even in so desolate 
a spot. The weather was quite warm, and we felt the 
heat more than when moving. Our cooks had the 
greatest cause for complaints; as no fuel could be 
found but dried grass and stalks of the yucca. These 
would answer for nothing but to boil a pot ; to bake 
bread was impossible. 
General Conde had with him the whole Mexican 
Commission, consisting of seventy men, besides his 
officers. This included his military escort, who per- 
formed the duty of laborers, and assisted the engineers 
in* the field. He informed us that he had been 
attacked by the Apaches when encamped at the 
Sugar Loaf Mountain. They approached, unperceiv- 
ed, within a quarter of a mile of his tent, and drove 
off his saddle-horses. Another party on the opposite 
side made a dash at his mule herd, which they 
