188 FORT YUMA 
vated about forty feet above it. The vegetation con- 
sisted of mezquit and palo verde. 
After journeying about six miles, we overtook Lieu- 
tenant Whipple with the surveying party, and agreed 
to encamp together six miles further ahead. We pro- 
ceeded to the point fixed on, which we reached at 11 
o'clock and pitched our tents, having made but twelve 
miles. The bottom-land continued narrow, the desert 
approaching quite near on both sides of the river. 
There was no grass; but with cane and mezquit, our 
mules did very well. 
On the northern side of the river, arose a mountain 
chain about twelve miles distant, presenting a con- 
tinuation of fantastic summits, among which were three 
resembling the tops of Hindu pagodas. I took a sketch 
of these singular mountains; although at such a dis- 
tance, but little more than the outlines could be dis- 
cerned. 
To-day, for the first time since leaving Fort Yuma, 
we again encountered our friend the petahaya, or Giant 
Cereus, which we had met with the preceding Septem- 
ber in Sonora; and much to our delight, we found it in 
bloom. The fruit, too, appeared in various stages of 
perfection. As no full and correct description has yet 
been given to the world of this extraordinary produc- 
tion of the vegetable kingdom, and as I had the advan- 
tage of seeing it at different periods of the year, in flower 
as well as in fruit, I shall endeavor to give a popular 
account of it. The buds, flowers, fruit, seed, &c., were 
collected by Mr. George Thurber, Botanist to the Com- 
mission ; and by him a scientific description of it will 
be prepared, with the aid of a distinguished botanist 
