DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY. 
19 
wrought into regular form by the winds. * * The day was hot, and as we held our course 
over the barren waste, without sign of water, we languished, and feared we should not find that 
necessary article. Our sufferings were greatly alleviated by the refreshing fruit of the plum- 
tree, which everywhere grew in great abundance ; and we found the fruit equal to any of the 
cultivated varieties that we recollected to have tasted in the United States. * * * We 
reached a beautiful valley, where we found a clear, cold spring. * * * Our camp was 
formed under a grove of unusually tall cotton-woods, the characteristic sylva of this region, and 
which heavily-timbered the course of the rill which flowed from the spring. A few yards north 
of our camp were a few low “ buttes,” covered with dwarf plum-trees, profusely laden with 
fruit. * * 
September 5.—We continued on the same trail as yesterday until about 8 o’clock, when, find¬ 
ing that we were rapidly diverging from the river, we were forced to leave it, and to shape our 
course almost direct for the “ Gooalpa.” We passed through a sandy country, * * and, 
after a toilsome march of seventeen miles, reached the bank, canoned by a bluff escarpment 100 
feet high, and absolutely impossible of descent. We were obliged to make a retrograde move¬ 
ment, and camped in a deep, tortuous ravine, where we found a little stream of clear water. 
* * The valley appeared full of grape-vines. * * We saw to-day an abundance of raez- 
quite, * * thought by some persons to be the same as the u acacia Arabica.” 
September 6.—After quite a pleasant march on the level prairie we attempted to reach the 
river, and, knowing that there were high banks which coasted it, we undertook to reach its 
valley by the way of a tributary ravine. * * * * We find the Canadian still increasing 
in width and velocity of its waters, which have now a deep tinge, and justly merit the name of 
Colorado. Latitude 35° 31' 36" ; longitude 102° 47' 02". 
September 7.— * * * * The sandy bed of the river is here 100 yards wide ; the water, 
dwindled to a small stream by the absorbing material through which it flows, is slowly mean¬ 
dering, and as we travel on is alternately rising and disappearing. After a march of 19 miles 
we again formed our “ kraal ” in the bottom. * * * * Our road to-day was everywhere 
beautified by a luxuriant profusion of plum-trees and grape-vines. * * 
September 8.— * * * * About noon we found a stream of cool water which ran swiftly 
along the bottom of a deep ravine. * * * * We pitched our tents at night on a point 
lying between the river and the bluff. * * 
September 9.—The rain still continuing at intervals, we remained in camp all day. * * * 
The river had been rising gradually during the day. On hearing a rush of water, and looking 
out, we saw a foaming torrent, bearing rapidly along with it trunks and branches of trees. 
* * * * The river immediately doubled in depth and velocity, and, for a moment, threat¬ 
ened to deluge our camp, and at once dissipated our hope of being able to cross it and pursue 
our journey on the opposite side. We were therefore forced to clear a way along the face of the 
bluff. * * * The bottom here is pretty wide, and bears marks of fertility, and is walled up 
by a bluff 100 feet high. * * 
September 10.—At an early hour in the morning we were on our way, and soon leaving the 
bottom, entered a more desolate country than we had hitherto seen. The high and dry table¬ 
lands were covered with but a few scattered plants, and were altogether desert-like. The cacti 
and mezquite were most abundant. * * * Wherever we approached the river we found it 
swollen and muddy, with a very rapid current. * * * We again found an abundance of 
prickly pears, grape-vines, and plum-trees. * * * Our day’s march was upwards of 27 
miles, and the route sandy. * * * We encamped close to the river’s banks, which were not 
more than five feet high, with the bottom extending back 300 feet to the base of the bluffs. 
Upon going into the river to bathe I found the depth to be two feet. * * * Latitude 35° 
27' 25" ; longitude 102° 0' 6". 
September 11.—At 7 o’clock we found ourselves on our journey, but experienced some trouble 
by meeting continually with cut rock and deep ravines. Passing into a valley, beautiful in the 
