ALAMO MUCHO. 129 
days without water, had drunk themselves to death. 
Most of the bodies were in the immediate vicinity of 
the stream. 
It was not until half-past seven o’clock, p. m., that 
we moved from camp. ‘The road continued heavy 
through loose sand and stones, making it impossible 
to move more than two miles an hour. Six or seven 
miles brought us to a steep sand hill, which no team 
alone could ascend. Ten mules were accordingly 
hitched to each wagon, when by dint of tugging, and 
a good deal of beating and hard swearing, the poor 
animals reached the summit with their loads. One of 
Colonel Craig’s wagons was upset and rolled over and 
over to the bottom of the hill, but fortunately escaped 
with no other damage than that of smashing the medi- 
cine chest; which, however, was a loss we afterwards 
severely felt. 
This was the most desolate spot we had seen, pre- 
senting indeed the very climax of barrenness. We 
were surrounded in all directions by hills of clay, their 
sides cut into deep ravines. As far as the eye could 
reach by the light of the moon, which rose at ten 
o'clock, not a sign of vegetation appeared. I believe 
there had not been a day, from the time of our landing 
on the coast of Texas till we trod the shores of the 
broad Pacific, that we had not seen the mezquit insome 
form, or the common prickly pear. Here they could 
not exist. 
June 5th. Reached the water-holes called Sackett’s 
Wells, twenty-four miles from Carrizo, at 3 o'clock this 
morning. Before leaving camp last night, I sent four 
men with spades in advance, in order that they might 
VOL. I1.—9 
