NEW RIVER-WELLS IN THE DESERT. 
109 
Three or four miles beyond the foot of the slope we reached the margin of a small pond of 
muddy or slimy water, called the Big Lagoon , and encamped. This lagoon was very shallow, 
and the shores shelving and miry, so much so, that it was difficult to obtain any of the water. 
The water was slightly brackish and bitter, bad an unpleasant odor, and was very warm. 
Chenopodiaceous plants were abundant. 
December 5.— Big Lagoon to Alamo Macho — twenty-six miles. —The surface of the desert con¬ 
tinued the same—a level and hard clay A mile or two beyond the Big Lagoon we came to the 
edge of another and smaller one, called the Little Lagoon. It is much like the first, except that 
it is bordered by mezquit trees, which, in some places, grow very thickly together. The shores 
are muddy and shelving. We passed two canal-like channels, or wide gullies, in the surface, 
with mezquit trees growing in the bottom, and evidences of the presence of water at a former 
period. Shells of Anodonta , and small spiral shells, were abundant. These channels probably 
communicate with the two lagoons, and may be the bed of the stream called New River; so 
called from the fact of its sudden appearance in 1849. At that time the Colorado River was 
very high, and broke over a part of its banks between the mouth of the Gila and the head of 
the Gulf. The water flowed inland, running backward through the desert towards the centre 
of the valley once occupied by the ancient lake; thus proving the valley to be lower than the 
banks of the river at the place of overflow. Major Emory and party, who crossed the desert 
from the Colorado to Carrizo Creek in the year 1846, does not mention this stream, or any indi¬ 
cation of its pre-existence. He mentions, however, that he was informed by a Mexican that a 
running stream would be found a league west of the Alamo. Parties were sent out to search 
for the water, but no stream could be found. 1 The appearance of the stream in 1849 was a 
subject of general surprise and wonder; and was an unexpected relief to the many emigrant 
parties who crossed the Desert that year. It is the general belief that this overflow was the first 
instance of the kind, but it has evidently often taken place before, and there are many reasons 
for believing that it once flowed in a larger and stronger stream than it has since its existence 
became known. The lakes are connected with New River, and are filled by it when the Colorado 
is high. Since the appearance of the stream, a part of the travel across the desert has been 
diverted from the usual course, in order to have the advantage of its waters and the margin of 
grass and tule along its banks. When, however, the channel is not filled with water, the old 
route is preferred. We did not follow the river, but kept the road towards the well and camping 
place known as Alamo Mocho. 
The surface of the desert, between the lakes and Alamo Mocho, is slightly undulating; but, 
to the traveller, it appears to be level. 
After passing the lagoons, there is but little vegetation; and about half-way (13^ miles) from Big 
Lagoon to the well we passed a thin layer of drifted sand, and the surface became mofb gravelly. 
Alamo Mocho. —The name of this place appears to have been suggested by the abundance ot 
cotton-wood trees that grew there several years ago, and that have been cut down. One or two 
decaying trunks were all that remained. Our camp was on the margin of a steep bank of clay, 
about thirty feet high. The well is dug at the foct of this bank, in one of the lowest places, 
and appears to be in the dry bed of a water-course, or canal, similar to that seen near the 
lagoons. The desert beyond the well, south and southwest of the camp, appeared lower than 
the plain on which we were, and was sparsely wooded with low, and partly dead, mezquit bushes. 
The well was about eighteen feet deep, and lined with boards, and protected by a low curb; but 
'Report of Major W. H. Emory, p. 100. 
