96 
WHITE CLIFF CREEK.—INDIAN BREAKFAST. 
Our camp is upon one of the numerous rills with which this region abounds. The vegeta¬ 
tion continues to he grama-grass and cedar trees. Cactacea? are becoming more abundant. 
Three new species have been found at this place—a cereus, an opuntia, and a mammillaria. 
Within the last two days we have seen hut slight traces of Indians. Upon the hanks of streams 
we occasionally come across a metate. Some appear to have been recently used. A fresh arrow 
was found lying near camp, where it had probably been lately shot at a black-tailed deer, or some 
other game with which this creek abounds. The arrow is of reed, pointed with a stem of hard 
wood, and winged with four strips of feathers, between which it is painted green and yellow, and 
carved, perhaps with the private mark of the original owner. The length is two feet eight 
inches. It is bound with sinews and artistically made. 
January 21.—Leaving the east end of Mount Aquarius we travelled eight miles northwest, 
to the other extremity of the same range, crossing numerous spurs that formed rivulets tribu¬ 
tary to Bill Williams’ fork. Desiring to proceed as directly as possible we traversed a succes¬ 
sion of hills and valleys, some so steep that we were obliged to allow our mules to pick their 
own way, ourselves following on foot, making the march a weary one. We encamped upon the 
stream we had expected to find ; which, rising at the north or northwest base of Aquarius 
range, flowed nearly west through a pretty valley where were willows and fine alamos, the first 
seen for many days. Fresh tracks of Indians and of horses were seen upon the borders of the 
creek. The rock here changes from porphyritictrap to a coarse breed, cemented by lime. The 
northern ridge which bounds the valley is broken into white clifis of fantastic shapes; hence 
the stream is called White Cliff creek. At camp were found rough pottery and a wide metate. 
The weather continues clear and warm. 
January 28.—We were favored with another charming morning, mild and without a breeze. 
Following an Indian trail down White Cliff valley, we soon came to a projecting rock, beneath 
which were walled partitions, with remnants of fires, showing signs of having been recently occu¬ 
pied. Coarse pottery and white quartz, pure like semi-opal, were scattered around. A short 
distance beyond, Indians were seen upon the hills. Five were counted. They would not come to 
us, nor allow themselves to be approached. After half an hour spent in vain efforts to induce 
them to hold friendly intercourse, we pursued our way down the creek. The valley was covered 
with dense groves of cotton-wood, beneath which flowed the prettiest brook we have found since 
leaving Pueblo creek. Its rapid waters were clear and sparkling; its course was direct; and, 
although we followed a trail over a spur to avoid dense thickets, the banks seemed favorable for 
a road. Deserted Indian encampments were frequently seen. At one, from which a party of 
perhaps twenty had evidently fled in haste upon our approach, was a fire and the remnants of 
their breakfast. Their fare was somewhat novel, and had been dressed in novel style. A 
large Echino cactus, a species which grows abundantly in this region, furnished not only a 
portion of the food, but also the sole culinary apparatus. It was three feet long and two in 
diameter, cut upon one side and hollowed so as to make a trough. Into this were thrown the 
soft portions of the pulpy substance which surrounds the heart of the cactus ; and to them had 
been added game, and plants gathered from the banks of the creek. Mingled with water, the 
whole had been cooked by stirring it up with heated stones. They probably owed us no good 
will for disturbing their meal, but nevertheless kept at a respectful distance. At 2 p. m. we 
reached the point where White Cliff creek emerged from the hills, and found ourselves entering 
a wide valley, bounded on the west by a range of mountains before seen from Aztec Pass, and 
named Blue Ridge. 
The stream, turning southerly, appeared a short distance below to join a wide arroyo from 
the north, called Big Sandy. There the water sunk below the surface of loose gravel. The 
trap dikes, calcareous cliffs, and masses of broken and worn sandstone, that Ave had successively 
passed through since leaving Bill Williams’ fork, gave place to granite, leading us to expect 
few canons beyond. It therefore became desirable to bring the train to this point. In return¬ 
ing, instead of ascending White Cliff creek to its source, we proposed to proceed farther north, 
