384 
RIO SAN PEDRO 
covered us, and soon disappeared from view. Many 
deer and antelope were also seen. 
On our right, about ten or twelve miles distant, a 
lofty range of mountains, one of which, towering far 
above the others, terminated in a peak. We after- 
wards learned that this was called the Santa Rita 
Mountain. It was altogether the most magnificent 
that we had seen. Spurs extend from it five or six 
miles towards the plateau, and its sides are deeply 
furrowed with gorges and ravines. At sunset, when a 
deep shadow was thrown over it, its appearance was 
truly grand. We all went up on the plateau to enjoy 
the scene, and Mr. Pratt devoted the daylight that 
remained to taking a sketch of it. ^ 
September Vlth. On setting out we ascended the 
plateau again from our encampment, but dropped 
down soon after into a valley which extended several 
miles towards the south, its banks studded with oaks. 
The grass continued rich and abundant, with frequent 
pools of water from the washings of the adjacent hills. 
Six miles brought us to a hill some five of six hundred 
feet high, which lay directly across our path. In 
every direction, except around the western base of the 
hill on which we stood, arose higher hills and lofty 
mountains intersecting each other, and presenting an 
impassable barrier to our progress. After three hours’ 
detention spent in search of a passage, we retraced 
our steps for a short distance, and by surmounting 
several low, though very steep hills, crossing many 
ravines, over which it was necessary for every man to 
put his shoulder to the wagon, and wading through a 
swamp, where the rank grass reached above our heads, 
