450 
ILLNESS AND 
On the 15th of December, I had so far recovered 
from my illness as to sit up the greater part of the day, 
and to walk out without assistance, although still 
very weak. I sometimes felt my strength failing me 
entirely, and my limbs becoming almost destitute 
of sensation. On this day, I resumed my diary, 
which had been suddenly broken off on the 5th of Oc- 
tober. 
The gentlemen of the Commission who had accom- 
panied me to this place took leave of me to-day, to re- 
trace their steps to Santa Cruz, and thence proceed to 
rejoin the surveying parties on the Gila. The party con- 
sisted of Dr. Webb, Mr. Geo. Thurber, Mr. H. C. 
Pratt, Mr. J. J. Pratt, and their attendants. They 
were kindly provided with an escort, as I have already 
mentioned, by Governor Cubillas. Not having any 
troops at his disposal, he gave me an order on the Al- 
calde of each town through which Dr. Webb and his 
party should pass, who were required to furnish him 
with eight mounted and armed men to the next town, 
and so on, to the place of his destination. 
December News was brought in to-day that a 
large band of Apaches were ravaging the country to 
the west ; and that after attacking and robbing several 
haciendas, they had proceeded southward towards 
Hermosillo. 
December l^th. The town was thrown into a state 
of alarm, by the news of a fight between a body of 
Mexicans and the Apaches before referred to, in which 
the former were completely cut to pieces. It seems 
that an effort had been made to arouse the inhabitants of 
Hermosillo to their danger, and induce them to send 
