TO THE COCO-MARICOPA VILLAGES. 187 
weariness. The Gila was discovered within half a 
mile; and after doubling the teams to cross a bed of 
loose sand, we succeeded in reaching it, and there we 
encamped. No grass was found; but the mules ate 
with avidity the cane which grew on the river’s banks. 
Distance travelled, fifteen miles. 
June 19th. Left camp at six o’clock; and after pro- 
ceeding through loose sand and arroyos, and cutting 
our way through the jungle which grew near the 
stream, we reached the road, and soon after a spur 
of the mountain ridge around which the river ran. In 
‘ going down a short and steep hill, the king-bolt of one 
of the wagons broke, in consequence of which we 
were compelled to unload it, which detained us about 
‘an hour. Continuing our journey, we struck the Gila 
at one oolock; where, to our agreeable surprise, we 
found a small patch of coarse grass, the first we had 
seen, excepting a tuft here and there on the desert, 
since leaving San Felipe. For the fifteen days since 
we left that place our animals had lived almost exclu- 
sively upon the mezquit bean, and twigs of willow, 
cotton-wood, and mezquit bushes. We encamped here, 
having come twelve miles. 
The bottom here does not exceed a quarter of a 
mile in width, owing to the proximity of the moun- 
tains on each side of the river. The vegetation con- 
sists of willow and mezquit. We found that Lieutenant 
Whipple had had a station near us, and had moved 
forward but an hour before our arrival. 
June 20th. Kesumed our journey at half-past five 
in the morning, over a sandy road, and soon after left 
the bottom and ascended to the table-land, here ele- 
