RETURN TO NEW YEAR’S SPRING.— MEETING WITH TRAIN. 
87 
and at tlie foot of one of them was New Tear’s spring. Here again, at sunset, we made the 
usual signal, but fruitlessly, as before. Unable to account for this, we had many misgivings 
with regard to the safety of our friends. The loss of mules by an Indian stampede is the great 
danger to he apprehended in a country like this. A plan for that purpose, well concerted by 
savages, is almost sure to succeed; and, however strong the sufferers may be, pursuit on foot 
is hopeless. 
In a ravine at the foot of the hills we hivouaced. All the arroyos crossed to-day were dry; 
hut as we have ascended some eight hundred feet, there is now snow upon the northern slopes, 
supplying water sufficient for our men. Some mules, when thirsty, eat snow readily; others will 
not. 
January 6.—A cold sleet was blowing into our faces this morning, and it awoke us before 
daybreak. The cedars in this instance proved less comfortable quarters than tents would have 
been. Having again made signals from the hill, and watched in vain for smoke of camp-fires, 
with considerable anxiety we turned eastward. On the way, water was found in canons of the 
valley; hut without stopping, we travelled over broken ground, frequently strewn with ped- 
rigal, fourteen miles, to New Year’s spring, where, to our delight, we found the main body 
encamped. 
The peaks of San Francisco mountain are again white with snow. A sheet of the same also 
tips the summits of Mt. Kendrick and Mt. Sitgreaves. But the valley westward, with its grassy 
slope and border of pine and cedar forests, forms a pleasing contrast to the wintry-looking region 
which we are now prepared to leave behind. During the eight days we have been absent from 
the main party, we have travelled, according to our estimates of distances, only ninety-six 
miles;* hut'the labor in wading through snow and soft gravel has been greatly fatiguing to 
the mules. We have, however, examined a large extent of country. The long mountain 
range that lies west of the Black Forest remains for a subsequent exploration. 
January I —Camp 94.—The day was passed in camp to rest the mules and have them shod. 
A triangulation was made to fix the positions of mountains and hills that can be seen from this 
place. The usual series of magnetic and astronomical observations were taken. 
Savedra has returned from a three days’ reconnaissance to the northwest, upon the trail that 
he thinks he followed when he accompanied the Moqui Indians some years ago. He reports 
that he has now travelled thirty miles in that direction without finding any indication of water. 
* Subsequent examinations proved our estimates about one third too small. 
