ARRIVAL AT THR COLORADO RIVER. 
109 
terday till they saw us, and then returned. The Mojaves may have heard of our approach 
from Tampais, and sent this party to reconnoitre. 
We have learned this evening the cause of the sudden failure of the mules. The Mexicans 
say they are dying of hunger; not because of absolute scarcity of grass, but on account of the 
unwise manner of herding them. The sentinels, unaccustomed to the care of a large mulada, 
have deemed it their sole duty to prevent them from straying, and have kept the whole in a 
mass near the same spot all night. Consequently, when morning comes, and again they are 
harnessed for the fatiguing service of the day, they are suffering for the want of food. Since 
learning this fact Lieutenant Jones has given such orders to the soldiers as will probably rectify 
the error. 
February 20 —Camp 127.—Continuing the survey westward, we followed the now wide and 
fertile valley of the river four miles, and found ourselves at its junction with the Colorado of the 
west. Ascending the gravelly ridge which separated the valleys of the two rivers, a fine view 
-was obtained. The Colorado came from the northwest, meandering a magnificent valley, and 
having received the waters of Bill Williams’ fork, entered a chasm among a pile of black 
mountains below. Upon both sides of it were chains of mountains. That upon the right bank 
seemed to recede towards the west-nortliwest, leaving a wide opening, and an extensive view in 
that direction. 
Bill Williams’ fork, at the junction, is twenty-five feet wide, and two feet deep. Its clear 
and sparkling stream, deflected slightly from the general course of the valley above, unites 
with the chocolate-colored waters of the great Colorado at nearly a right angle to its course. 
The latter is here about two hundred and fifty yards wide, with a current of probably three and 
a half miles per hour. Above it appeared, wider, deeper, and less rapid. On both banks are 
strips of bottom lands, from half a mile to a mile wide. The soil is alluvial, and seems to 
contain less sand and more loam than is found in the valley of Bio del Norte. But here, 
as there, are occasionally spots white with efflorescent salts. A coarse grass grotvs luxuriantly 
upon the bottoms. Bordering the river are cotton-woods, willows, and mezquites, or tornillas,* 
but more sparsely scattered than in the Avatered part of the valley of Bill Williams’ fork. 
Larrea Mexicana and chamisa cover the gravelly ridges that bound the valley. 
At the junction we halted for aAvhile to make examinations in the vicinity. Astronomical 
and magnetic instruments were set up, and observations made to determine the latitude, longi¬ 
tude, and magnetic elements at the place. Having completed these operations, we entered a 
well-beaten trail, and by a northwest course ascended the Colorado valley four miles and 
encamped in a mezquite grove near a late Indian lodge. There were around numerous fresh 
tracks of bare feet, and the remains of frugal fires. The grass of the valley had been burned 
at this place a few Aveeks since, and now shooting from the roots fresh and green, formed good 
grazing. The day has been remarkably fine; the atmosphere Avarm and summer-like. 
February 21 —Camp 128.—We proposed to make an early start; but, upon collecting the 
mules, four were missing. They had taken advantage of the neAv system of herding, and wan¬ 
dered among the hills, in search of better grass. Half the day Avas lost in hunting for them. 
A mile and a half from camp the Indian trail, which we still folloAved, passed a ridge of granite 
hills that came doAvn to the bank of the river. With some labor we levelled a space Avide 
enough for the wagons, and turned around the point of it, making a pretty good road. Having 
proceeded thus four miles, a black, metamorphic spur from the mountains, with a serrated pro¬ 
file like a saAv, crossed the valley to the very bank of the river. As the trail again ascended 
the hills, we were convinced that there Avas no natural passage for the Avagons upon this side of 
the valley. To cross the river Avould be difficult, and we had no time to devote to the construc- 
* The tornilla is a mezquite, bearing fruit twisted like a screw, from the Spanish of which is acquired its name. The bean it 
bears is highly saccharine, and, like the common long-pod mezquite, is ground by the Indians into flour, called pinole, from which 
bread is made. The fruit is highly saccharine, and 1 have been told by emigrants that when boiled an excellent syrup and sugar 
may be obtained from it. The tree bears a gum, which is supposed by Dr. Shumard to be equally valuable with gum arabic. 
