FERTILE VALLEYS.—REMAINS OF FORTIFICATIONS. 
93 
first sent met him. The next day the survey was carried on as far as Turkey creek. On the 
way the guide became bewildered, and led the train over rough and rocky ground up a wrong 
arroyo. It was obliged to go hack several miles. One wagon was broken and abandoned. 
From Turkey creek to this place, four miles, it was necessary to cut away cedars and cross a 
ridge of hills, but no further difficulty was experienced. The two Mexicans sent on foot this 
morning for the train have to-night returned. They walked to the wagon-camp of night before 
last, (No. 101,) upon the edge of the China valley, finding among the low hills an excellent 
wagon route. Water was found in Partridge creek, several miles below Picacho spring. 
We are in the pleasantest region we have seen since leaving Choctaw territory. Here are 
clear rivulets, with fertile valleys and fine forest trees. The wide belt of country that borders 
the Black Forest, and probably extends along Bio Yerde to the Salinas and Bio Gila, bears 
every indication of being able to support a large agricultural and pastoral population. The 
valley of Bio Verde, which we saw from the source in San Francisco mountains, is magnifi¬ 
cently wooded with firs and oaks, affording excellent timber. Ancient ruins are said by trap¬ 
pers to be scattered over its whole length to the confluence with Bio Salinas. We therefore 
seem to have skirted the northern boundary of a country once populous, and worthy of becom¬ 
ing so again. Besides the advantages already enumerated, the mountains in this vicinity bear 
indications of mineral wealth. A specimen, apparently silver, has been found upon the surface; 
and, according to my understanding of the account of Coronado’s expedition in 1540, a gold 
mine that was said to have been discovered west of Cibola is located near San Francisco 
mountain. Among the Mexicans of the present day there is a tradition of its having been 
found in later times; but the hostility of Indians, and the difficulty of obtaining supplies, have 
prevented it from being worked to any extent. Some of the tributaries north of the Gila are 
known to contain gold. As late as 1850 or 1851, a party of Americans was organized in New 
Mexico for the purpose of working placers which were said to exist upon Bio San Francisco; 
but that name has been applied to so many tributaries of Bio Gila, that I am unable to 
point out the locality of the one referred to. I think, however, it was that which rises 
among the Pinal Leho mountains, east of the Salinas, and empties into Bio Gila about twenty 
miles above the mouth of the San Pedro. One of that company was afterwards employed in 
my party as a teamster upon the Mexican boundary. He stated that they really found a quan¬ 
tity of gold; but, being surrounded by troublesome Indians jealous of the advance of Ameri¬ 
cans into their country, and many of the adventurers desiring to proceed to California, the 
party soon became disorganized, and abandoned their search. 
Lieutenant Ives and Dr. Kennerly to-day ascended a peak three or four hundred feet high, 
the last in the ridge that bounds and overlooks the valley of Pueblo creek, some three miles 
below camp, and found upon the top an irregular fortification of stone, the broken walls of 
which were eight or ten feet high. Several apartments could be distinctly traced, with crumb¬ 
ling divisions about five feet thick. From thence to the jmeblo, upon the gravelly slopes that 
lie slightly elevated above the bottom lands of the creek, there are, as has before been noted, 
vast quantities of pottery, and what appear to be dim traces of the foundations of adobe walls. 
It would seem, therefore, that in ancient times there existed here a large settlement, and that 
the inhabitants were obliged to defend themselves by strong works against attacks from a pow¬ 
erful enemy. This agrees with the accounts, previously referred to, which the Indians gave 
Marco de Nica of the people of Totonteac. But this race appears to have degenerated into wild 
Tontos—a rude people living in huts, ignorant of labor, and subsisting only upon game, mezcal, 
berries, and other supplies which nature affords unassisted. 
It has been already remarked that, at the old pueblo, two branches unite to form the stream 
that flows eastward to join Partridge creek. That which conies from the southwest has been 
explored to-day. It is but a small brook, which takes its rise among high hills at the foot of 
Mount Hope. 
