SHEEP-GRAZING.—RETURN OF ZUNI GUIDES FROM MOQUI. 
75 
we please, without fear of the want of grass. Formerly New Mexico, according to Gregg, 
exported annually 500,000 sheep for mutton alone. Twice that number could doubtless have 
been sheared. The wool, allowing two pounds per fleece, and that it is worth forty cents per 
pound, would he worth $800,000, and would pay every year to a railroad company a handsome 
freight. An improved breed of sheep would produce wool of more value, and there scarcely 
need he a limit to the number that may graze upon this region. Nature has furnished grass, 
sufficient water, and a climate most favorable to this purpose. 
Many petrified trees have been seen to-day, their woody texture faithfully preserved in silex, 
producing jasper variegated with rich and bright colors. Many specimens have been collected 
by members of the party for seal rings. 
December 4 —Camp 77.—This has been a day of rest. Lieutenant Tidball, with the addi¬ 
tional escort from Fort Defiance, not having yet overtaken us, it seems proper to move slowly. 
Mr. Campbell discovered upon the low lands near camp traces of ruins quite similar to those on 
Eio Gila. Among them he found an arrow-head of jasper, and a sort of earthen amulet. The 
buildings must have been of adobes, differing in that respect from the walled pueblos previously 
seen upon mesa heights. Those of Moqui are said to be upon hills more than a thousand feet 
above the surrounding plains. Barricaded passes, like those at old Zuni, lead to the top. It 
was probably a powerful enemy that drove the people from watered valleys to arid heights, 
notwithstanding their strange tradition of a flood. 
December 5 —Camp 78.—Another bright morning, calm and cloudless, followed a cool night. 
The water in the lagunas of Lithodendron creek was abundant, though deeply colored with red 
marl. Taking an early start, the pack-train following the guide and the wagons as usual in 
rear, we proceeded about eleven miles over a slightly undulating prairie, covered with grama de 
china, to the bed of a river coming from the north, to which we gave the title of Leroux’s fork. 
By a gradual descent we crossed this stream, and encamped near its junction with Colorado 
Chiquito. The valley of the last named river is very wide, reminding us forcibly of the bottom 
land upon Rio Gila. Like that, the soil is good, and, with irrigation from the river, might be 
cultivated to advantage. The barometer shows our present camp to be eighteen feet below 
Albuquerque. The day has been uncomfortably warm for travelling; the thermometer at 3 
p. m. reading 65° Fahrenheit. Camp is beautifully situated in a cotton-wood grove, upon the 
bank of Rio Colorado Chiquito. This stream was called “'Rio del Lino” (Flax river) by Coro¬ 
nado, in 1540. Mezquites of small growth line its banks. A porcupine of an unknown variety 
was secured to-day by Dr. Kennerly, our zealous naturalist. Jose Hacha took leave of us this 
morning to return to Zuni. He had despaired of meeting those sent to Moqui, but this evening 
they came prancing into camp. Every one was glad to see them, and their arrival created 
quite an excitement. Their mission had been performed, but no Moqui guide could be obtained. 
The smallpox had swept off nearly every male adult from three pueblos. In one remained 
only the cacique and a single man from a hundred warriors. They were dying by fifties per 
day; and the living, unable to bury the dead, had thrown them down the steep sides of the 
lofty mesas upon which the pueblos are built. There wolves and ravens had congregated in 
myriads to devour them. The decaying bodies had even infected the streams, and the Zunians 
were obliged to have x - ecourse to melons both for food and drink. The young of the tribe had 
suffered less, few cases among them having proved mortal. Juan Septimo brought for us seve¬ 
ral excellent robes of wild-cat or tiger skin, such as the Moquis wear in winter. 
December 6 —Camp 79.—Our Zuni guides left us this morning to return, and the survey pro¬ 
ceeded along the right bank of the river for fifteen miles. Several dry ditches were crossed, 
the banks of which it was necessary to cut down, thus creating a few hours’ detention. It was 
dark when camp was reached. The valley of the river continues to be several miles in width, 
and the soil, like that of Rio Gila, would doubtless be excellent for maize or cotton. The 
stream is now small, but rapid; its waters are fresh and clear, and sufficient for the irrigation 
of a considerable portion of the low lands that border it. Its sinuous course through the hot- 
