APPENDIX A.—DIARY OF THE EXPEDITION. 73 
The animals were turned out to graze; they were not fed with corn, except the few retained 
in camp. Corn was not necessary, as the grass is good, and the mules in capital order. 
Observations for the time taken in the day, and also at night for the latitude. General 
direction, north 52° east; miles, 10 T 8 U . 
Camp No. 32.— Saturday , April 1,1854.—Left last camp at 9| o’clock a. m. Before starting, 
all our kegs were filled, and the animals watered, as we do not expect to reach water this even¬ 
ing. Immediately on leaving camp we crossed the beaten road which we had traversed from 
the Rio Pecos, and moved in a southwest direction. We at first encountered a succession of 
ravines and gullies, composed of lime and sandstone; but from these we did not experience 
any difficulty. By following a ravine we came upon a fine hard bottom, over which the wagons 
travelled well. It is to be borne in mind that we are now making our own road. Along our 
route we perceived many salt lakes without water; they were, with one exception, on the left. 
To the right of the bottom there is a table-land, which extended the whole way for this day’s 
march. The wagons did not ascend, as the valley is the best road for travelling. 
The soil is clay and sand, with gravel at intervals. In the immediate vicinity of the 
Lagunas the surface is covered with a saline efflorescence; the grass also is tinged with salt. 
We reached camp at ten minutes to 2 o’clock p. m., where we had plenty of wood and grass; 
no water. 
The same arrangements as last night in respect to the mules. 
No observations taken in the day or at night. General direction, south 70° west; miles, 10j 6 ff . 
Camp No. 33.— Sunday , April 2, 1854.—Left last camp at five minutes to 7 o’clock a. m., 
and moved in the direction of the Sulphur Springs of the Colorado, the first water reached by 
Captain Taplin’s party; our road being over a hard and slightly rolling prairie. 
The soil is a fine sand, gravelly in some places. The mezquite continues abundant. The 
grass is generally good, with some exceptions, when it becomes dry and weedy. 
We have seen a considerable quantity of antelope, deer, and pheasants for the last few days ; 
the former are so shy, it is difficult to get near them. 
Reached camp—Sulphur Springs of the Colorado—at 3 o’clock p. m. In the neighborhood 
of the springs the mezquite root is scarce; but wagons can be sent about two miles from them 
where there is an abundance. 
The usual arrangement respecting the mules continued. 
No observations taken during the day or at night; general direction, north 70° west; miles? 
about 16. 
Chapter III. — From the Sulphur Springs of the Colorado to the Clear Fork of the Brazos. 
The following, which is the first portion of Captain Taplin’s report of his exploration of the 
Llano Estacado, was received at the Pecos March 18, 1854: 
Sulphur Springs op the Colorado, 
March 15, 1854. 
Sir: In obedience to your instructions, dated March 9, 1854, to examine the Llano Estacado 
from the falls of the Pecos river, mouth of Delaware creek, to the headwaters of the Colorado 
or Brazos river, I have the honor to submit the following report. 
On Thursday, March 9th, I crossed the Pecos at 11 o’clock a. m., in a direction north 70° 
east. My command consisted of wagonmaster Mitchell, six of the topographical party, and 
five men of the infantry escort—in all, thirteen persons—having two light wagons, with eight 
mules each, rations for ten days, six kegs of water, and eight sacks of corn; the number of 
mules was twenty-two, six of the party being mounted. This day we made eighteen miles, and 
encamped at 7| o’clock p. m. 
10 e 
