APPENDIX A.—DIARY OF THE EXPEDITION. 
81 
steep; we did not experience, however, much difficulty in crossing them. They run off in a 
northeast direction towards the mound and hluffs already mentioned, and eventually fall into 
the stream on the hanks of which we camped, supposed to he one of the forks of the Colorado. 
The soil passed over to-day is good red clay and sand ; we came upon two or three gravelly 
places. There is an abundance of mezquite trees and roots ; the former growing same as 
yesterday. The grass is green and abundant. Wild flowers are'’scattered profusely over the 
plain. Saw a number of antelope ; killed one. Beached our camp on the Colorado fifteen 
minutes after 4 p. m. Its banks are very steep ; the water is running, and not deep. This 
encampment is about fourteen miles south of a mound and bluffs' we saw yesterday, and which 
continue in sight throughout to-day. There is a plenty of mezquite and some hackberry ; 
water brackish. In the neighborhood of camp there are many mounds of red sand ; the tops 
and sides covered with red sandstone in great profusion. On the "summit of these hills we 
found fossil sea-shells and portions of petrified trees : these hills stand apart from each other ; 
one of them assumes the form of a pyramid. There is plenty of game here. 
Animals grazed loose till sundown ; then driven in, hobbled, and "turned out for the night, 
as usual—under a strong guard. 
No observations during the day ; observations for time and latitude taken at night. General 
direction, north 70° east; miles, 18,%. 
Camp No. 37— Saturday , April 15,1854.—Left last camp at fifteen minutes after 7 a. m., and 
crossed the Colorado about four miles from camp, at the base of a red sandstone bluff. The 
banks were steep and rocky. After some labor, a very good crossing was made. The banks 
were cut down on both sides, and the rocks being thrown along the bottom, made it firm. The 
stream was narrow and shallow ; the sides of it are of good firm clay. 
Having effected a safe crossing, we ascended a high rolling prairie, passing over two deep 
arroyos—one dry, the other with a stream of clear running water, which empties itself into the 
Colorado. The sides of these arroyos are steep, but we succeeded in crossing them without 
much difficulty. We encountered several ravines on our route, but none of them of a formida¬ 
ble character. A portion of our road (about three miles) was heavy sand; with these exceptions 
it was excellent. 
The soil is good clay, of a red color, mixed with gravel. The mezquite-tree still continues 
abundant. Scrub-oak is beginning to appear in considerable quantities. The grass is generally 
good, except in the vicinity of the sand, where it becomes coarse and scanty. 
We nooned for two hours at the arroyo mentioned above as having the running water. Our 
animals were watered here, and as we were uncertain of finding water at night, our casks were 
filled. 
When within a couple of miles of camp for the night, we met a party of Camanches. We 
halted, and two of them approached us with a white flag. Immediately after the whole party 
came up, headed by a most outre looking figure. This was Sanchoz, one of their chiefs, dressed 
in an infantry captain’s uniform coat, silver epaulets, red sash tied over his shoulder, nonde¬ 
script pantaloons, and moccasins : add to this a military cap with an enormous red pompon, 
and some idea may be formed of an exhibition at once ridiculous and humiliating. This man, 
who is rather old, has an intelligent countenance and piercing eye. The party consisted of 
about seventeen in number ; five of them were squaws, whose appearance was not very fasci¬ 
nating. One of them had a “ muchecho” on the saddle before her. Through their interpreter 
(a Mexican captive boy) we learned that they had been to Fort Chadbourne, and were going to 
hunt wild horses. The women rode a la mode des liommes. They all had good horses ; indeed 
some of their animals were beautiful and in high condition. After the usual embracing, and 
the customary vows of eternal friendship, the chief, though so well-dressed, commenced 
begging. We gave them an ox. They then departed, as we devoutly hoped; but some of 
them came afterwards to our camp in time for supper. They were told not to come near camp 
after night-fall. 
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