132 SAN DIEGO TO ALAMO MUCHO. 
their speed as they progress, when it becomes difficult 
to restrain them to the gait of those in wagons. The 
road continued very good during the night; so that, 
with the bright light of the moon and the air moderately 
cool, we made good progress. As morning approached, 
the road became heavier ; when my mules fell back, the 
pack-mules still keeping on at their former pace. We 
had now to get out and walk; and this relief to the 
poor animals enabled us at length to reach the stopping 
place known as the Alamo Mucho, where water is ob- 
tained by digging. 
Although there may have been cotton-wood trees 
here in former times, all have now disappeared ; for we 
saw nothing but stumps and a few miserable mezquit 
trees. 
