400 
RIO SAN PEDRO 
was an event unknown to them. Boys occasionally 
escape from their captors, and find their way again to 
their homes ; but young women are generally forced 
to marry, and when they become mothers, they have 
no desire to return. It was gratifying to the fair cap- 
tive to learn that her mother, brothers and sisters, were 
well ; though her mother still pined for the loss of her 
daughter, under such painful circumstances. 
Two of the party dined with me on the scanty fare 
I could offer them ; after which they all returned to 
their camp, except the father and uncle of Inez, who 
remained to accompany us to Santa Cruz. Finding 
that we were short of provisions, they sent us a fine 
quarter of beef 
Mr. Cremony returned at nine o’clock in the even- 
ing, and reported that all were well at Lieut. Whip- 
ple’s camp. Mr. Gray, with two or three others, had 
left several days before for Santa Cruz. We felt con- 
siderable anxiety on their account ; for as they had not 
reached there when the couriers left, it was pretty cer- 
tain, that, like the rest of us, they had missed their way. 
September 21st It rained all day, making it impos- 
sible to move. More of the hunting party on the San 
Pedro, visited our camp, to see the captive girl. The 
men who were unprovided with tents, and the cook, 
took up their quarters in the old hacienda, where they 
were sheltered from the rain. 
September 22d. Set off once more for Santa Cruz, 
recrossing the stream, and passing around the north- 
western extremity of the Sierra. Our course was then 
due south to a range of hills, through the valleys of 
which we pursued our way among scattering live oaks. 
