326 SANTA CRUZ TO 
was no water to be seen, we were reluctantly compel- 
led to keep on until near night, when we reached a 
stream, called by Leroux “‘ Ash Creek,” where we en- 
camped. He said it was the same place where Colonel 
Cooke stopped with his battalion in 1846, and from 
which several parties were sent out in search of water, 
ag it was then dry. The stream is so called from the 
ash trees which grew near it, but which have now 
nearly disappeared. It is the toughest and best wood 
for repairing wagons; and passing trains have stopped 
here to cut new tongues, and make other repairs. Dis- 
tance travelled, twenty miles. 
August 1st. Our general course was still east, 
through defiles in the mountain’s ridge we were then 
crossing, for about four miles, when we emerged into 
an open plain from twenty-five to thirty miles across. 
Keeping the same direction, slightly descending for 
nine miles, through a level plain covered with mezquit 
chapporal, we reached Agua Prieta, or the “ Black 
Water Creek” of Colonel Cooke. My readers will 
recognise this as the spot were I encamped at the 
time of my visit to Fronteras in May, 1851, when I 
was accompanied by Colonel Craig and a small party. 
It was then dry; but now it was filled with a dark 
muddy water, whence it derives its name. This, like 
many other small streams we had lately passed, we 
now know is not permanent. After heavy rains, it 
receives the washings of the broad plains, which rise 
eradually on either side for many miles. 
As the next water we expected to find was at 
San Bernardino, eighteen miles distant, I thought it 
best to go no further, although it was but twelve 
