TO SANTA CRUZ. 
383 
September lltJi. We followed the wagon trail for 
several miles, till at length it turned off in a north- 
westerly course. At this I became uneasy, knowing 
that Santa Cruz, whither we were bound, lay to the 
south. Not knowing but General Conde might have 
gone that way to avoid some deep ravine, although I 
could see none, I came to a halt, and sent Mr. Cremo- 
ny ahead for a mile or two to see whither the trail 
we were following led. He reported that it kept the 
same north-westerly-course, and seemed to be follow- 
ing a well-marked Indian trail. I now became satisfied 
that General Conde’s party had mistaken their route, 
and that by following it, they must reach Tucson^ a 
military post towards the Gila. I had now come, since 
I changed my course yesterday, about eight miles out of 
the way. I determined therefore to leave the trail and 
go south over an open plain, towards a high mountain ; 
and this direction we pursued until four o’clock, when 
we encamped near a little pool of water. The whole 
face of the country had changed to-day, in fact since 
we had left the valley of the San Pedro. From that 
river we had ascended to a plateau of an undulating 
character, similar to the western prairies. It was 
covered with short grass ; and in the depressions, 
some of which were fifty or a hundred feet lower than 
the plain, we found pools of water, more luxuriant 
grass, and groves of small oaks. 
We saw for the first time to-day a herd of mus- 
tangs^ or wild horses. They at first caused us much 
alarm, as we took them for a party of Indians ; but a 
close examination with a spy-glass disclosed what they 
were. When within half a mile of them they dis- 
