THIRST. 
67 
make a proper demonstration in the presence of his fellow mules, 
gave a few peculiar gyrations with his tail, threw his head up, 
then threw it down, and threw his heels up, and at this particu¬ 
lar time his master threw his heels up, and they parted company. 
It would be difficult to imagine a position more humble than the 
one assumed by the above mentioned master. He was literally 
with his face in the dust, and I never saw a more peculiar cast 
of countenance. If I had not seen the above transaction, but 
had met him with the same expression of countenance, I should 
have thought he had stolen the mule he was on, or would steal 
one if he had an opportunity. He didn’t give us his card, but 
hurried on in the direction of Sacramento city. 
We found the country a continuous plain entirely destitute 
of water, vegetation parched, and nothing showing signs of life 
excepting the few scattering oaks, an occasional wolf, and nu¬ 
merous gray squirrels. These last have much the appearance of 
the gray squirrels of the forests of New York ; but they burrow 
in the ground, in families. We exhausted the supply of water 
we had put on board, and w'ere suffering with thirst. The sun 
had gained the meridian, and his rays were almost consuming. 
We hurried on through clouds of dust, and at 2 P. M. reached 
the point at which we expected to find water. To our painful 
surprise, the spring was dry. It was three miles to the next, 
and we were almost crazy with thirst. It was no time for delib¬ 
eration. There was no alternative but to push on. On arriving 
at the next spring, we found a puddle containing a quart of 
water, the surface covered with yellow wasps. We were, however, 
not fastidious, and drank all excepting the wasps. It again filled 
and was again drained, until all had replenished their flasks. 
We here took dinner, and moved on until about 5 P. M., when, 
after a most fatiguing day’s journey, we reached the “ half-way 
tent.” I here saw a herd of deer, and notwithstanding the 
fatigues of the day, indulged in a “hunt,” but without success. 
Here, in the way of public accommodations, we found a tent, 
luxuriating in the name of the “half-way house.” A rough 
board running the entire length served as a table, the guests 
sleeping in the open air outside, under the protection of their 
own blankets. A blacksmith had erected, under a temporary 
