APPENDIX A.—DIARY OP THE EXPEDITION. . 71 
Observations for the time taken in the forenoon; afternoon and night cloudy. General 
direction, north 50° east; miles, 18 T V 
Camp No. 28— Tuesday, March 28, 1854.—Left last camp at 7 o’clock a. m. From various 
accounts we anticipated meeting with water to-day in more than one pool on our route. In 
these hopes we were sadly disappointed. Parties were sent out in every direction to look for it, 
and our anxiety was increased as each of them returned with an unsuccessful report. The 
animals were now showing symptoms of wanting it. The heavy dews of the last two nights 
have, in some slight measure, relieved their thirst, and this, together with the fact that the days 
have been cool, has enabled us to travel the frightful road we have traversed since Sunday last. 
Every gully and pond where water was likely to be found were visited, but in vain. Our 
only alternative to prevent the loss of our animals was to push on briskly for the ‘ c Mustang 
springs.” We halted once during the day to rest our animals, and then proceeded at a steady 
pace. The grass was good until within six miles of our camping place, when it changed, 
becoming poor and full of weeds. 
We saw a number of antelope and deer to-day; one of the party shot two deer. On a ridge 
near camp we perceived a mustang, the only one we had yet met with. 
The soil is much the same as yesterday; our road is an excellent one. 
Reached camp at 5| o’clock a. m. bio water, the animals evincing signs of fatigue, having 
been two days and nights without water; grass very poor; mezquite and brush plenty. 
There was not sufficient water left in the kegs for cooking, through the injudicious conduct of 
some of the command in drinking it during the day. The matter was investigated, and some 
of the party punished to prevent a repetition of so serious an offence. Our good spirits do not, 
however, fail us, as we hope to strike water to-morrow about 10 a. m. Same arrangement as 
usual with regard to the animals. 
No observations taken; day cloudy; it blew hard at night. General direction, north 52° 
east; miles, 251%. 
Camp No. 29— Wednesday, March 29, 1854.—Left last camp at 6 o’clock a. m., and moved 
for the Mustang springs, over a rolling prairie. About three miles from camp we met Captain 
Taplin and party, all well and in good spirits. His report, and a detailed account of his pro¬ 
ceedings, will be given in the subsequent pages. We arrived at the Mustang springs at half¬ 
past 10 o’clock a. m. Last night all our sheep (thirty-two in number) were stampeded by the 
wolves, and our exertions for their recovery were in vain. This is deemed an appropriate place 
to take a retrospective glance at our road for the last few days. 
From the point where we first struck the Sand Hills, we proceeded along their western base 
and crossed the main ridge of sand at the lowest apparent point. At five miles across, we came 
to the last known watering-place to the eastward. In this direction we passed over many ridges 
of deep sand, separated by valleys of the same character. They are in reality impassable for 
heavy-laden wagons. From the above point to the hard prairie east of the Sand Hills, a dis¬ 
tance of thirteen miles, we continued to cross deep sandy ridges, with intervening bottoms of a 
similar description, totally destitute of vegetation. From the Pecos river to the level prairie 
east of the Sand Hills, the road passes through about thirty miles of the heaviest sand. It is 
the worst road to be found in New Mexico, on tbo Rio Grande, or indeed anywhere else. It 
cannot be too strongly urged upon emigrant parties never to attempt travelling by this route, 
except in the rainy season, from August to the middle of October, as the distance without water 
from the Sand Hills to the first permanent water to the eastward is sixty-seven miles, thirteen 
of which (immediately to the eastward of the hills) are through sand so deep and heavy as to 
be absolutely impassable for heavy-laden teams. With animals perfectly fresh, and lightly- 
loaded wagons, it requires all our exertions to overcome the difficulties of this dreadful road. It 
is also to be observed that our animals were in fine order, with eight and ten mules to each 
wagon. 
The Mustang springs form several lakes or large pools, which are highly saline. The one 
