118 SAN DIEGO TO 
active, moving life in the open air always brings with 
it a good appetite and sound sleep, and is the surest 
antidote to, or rather preventive of, disease. Distance 
travelled to-day, twenty-two miles. 
I found my party encamped a mile beyond the 
Indian village of Santa Isabel, in one of the most lovely 
groves of large branching oaks that it had ever been 
our fortune to meet with. It is closely hemmed in on 
three sides by high hills, all of which are thickly 
wooded, while a clear mountain stream passes directly 
through it. Grass in abundance grew all around 
us, on which our mules were luxuriating. The tents 
were all pitched beneath trees, and but a few feet 
from the stream to which I have alluded. 
Soon after I arrived, Colonel Craig, commander 
of the escort, called and reported his men ready for 
our march. He had been furnished by Colonel Magru- 
der with six additional soldiers, who were to accom- 
pany us to Fort Yuma. Lieutenant Whipple was 
occupied during the evening in taking astronomical 
observations, as the weather was now clear and plea- 
sant, a very perceptible change having taken place 
since we left the coast. 
Soon after the train had left its camp near the Mis- 
sion of San Diego, it was reported to me by Mr. Thur- 
ber (who acted as Quarter-Master in addition to his 
other duties), that another wagon would be absolutely 
necessary. Jlaccordingly directed that he should send 
Mr. Leroux at once to the Mormon settlement at San 
Bernardino, about a hundred miles distant, to purchase 
a wagon from some of the recently arrived emigrants, 
and should await his return at Santa Isabel. Mr. Leroux, 
