170 CAVE AND CLIFF DWELLERS. 
Indians, and a few Mexicans who held 
mining property in that portion of the 
mountains. It was, therefore, one of the 
roughest and steepest in that region. 
Instead of seeking any sort of grade, it 
struck out wherever fancy had dictated to 
the original Indian travelers, generally 
over the steepest peaks or along the edge 
of some high and dizzy precipice, even 
when this course was wholly unnecessary. 
Although that made it somewhat labori¬ 
ous for us, as well as our animals, it gave 
us unusually fine views and picturesque 
effects, and despite the roughness of the 
trail we rode fifteen miles that morning 
and made our noon camp on time. 
When but a very short distance out of 
Carichic, while crossing a high ridge, I 
observed, in a little valley below, a curi¬ 
ous looking creature skulking along half 
