370 CORRELITOS 
arets. Some of these were of a deep red, others of a 
yellowish cast. There were no continuous ranges to 
be seen; but all were isolated, or in groups, rising 
abruptly and extending but a few miles. 
At 3 o'clock, the usual black cloud began to rise at 
the south, portending rain, which warned us to make 
our camp before it reached us. We took advantage 
of a little patch of grass, where the animals might 
obtain a scanty meal, and stopped. Every man with- 
out exception, at once set to work; and within a 
very short space of time the tents were pitched, 
trenches dug, and the camp-fires made. Scarcely was 
this completed, when the storm was upon us; and but 
for the extra ropes and stays put to the tents, all 
would have been blown away. But as it was, we sat 
quietly within, listening to the peals of thunder, and 
watching the vivid flashes of hghtning. We needed 
not to seek for a stream or a spring, for in a very few 
minutes the depressions in the plain around our camp 
furnished an ample supply, both for man and beast. 
We made 18 miles to-day, over an excellent road. 
The country around is of a most desolate character. 
August 14th. Six miles from camp brought us to a 
hill, on which was a smooth rock covering about half 
an acre, to the right of the road. In this rock I count- 
ed twenty-six artificial cavities within a few feet of 
each other. They were from twelve to eighteen inches 
deep, and about six in diameter; and had been dug 
out by the Indians for mortars in which to pound their 
maize. The place was thickly covered with various 
kinds of cacti as well as the agave and yucca. The 
common prickly pear abounded with its luscious look- 
