CASAS GRANDES TO SANTA ORUZ. 285 
CHAPTER XXXII. 
CASAS GRANDES TO SANTA CRUZ, 
Leave the Gila—Terrific storm on the desert—Encounter a party of Amer- 
icans at midnight—Stopped by the darkness—Unpleasant situation— 
Pack-mules and cattle missing—Picacho mountain—Vegetation of the 
desert—Second night’s march—Arrival at Tucson—General Blanco— 
Arrival of Mexican troops—Campaign against the Apaches—Meet Mr. 
Coons with 14,000 sheep—His disasters—Visit from Gen. Blanco and 
his officers—Repairs on wagons—Tucson and its valley—Meteorite— 
San Xavier del Bac—Beautiful church—Spanish and Anglo-Saxon col- 
onization—Incessant rains—Presidio of Tubac—Meet Inez Gonzales, the 
captive girl—Her sad fate—Uncertainty of irrigated lands—California 
emigrants—Calabasa—Picturesque valley—Tumacacori—San Lazaro— 
More emigrants—Reach Santa Cruz. 
July 13th. The heat continued excessive. The ther- 
mometer had ranged every day since our arrival at 
the Maricopa and Pimo villages at from 100° to 119° 
between the hours of 10 and 3; in fact it had scarcely 
fallen below 100 between these hours since we struck 
the desert beyond the Colorado. During the week 
we were at Fort Yuma, as well as during our journey, 
there was but little variation. The nights remained 
comfortable all the time; so that in the open air a 
single blanket was necessary. | 
Having a long march before us, we left camp at half- 
past 4p. m., desiring to reach a mountain forty-five | 
