Chap. II. THE AUTHOE'S DIARY. 447 
" we sing, whether it be cold or warm, whether we be wet 
or dry, and whether we have food or not." 
23rd. — It has rained all night. In the morning the 
clouds break. We remain encamped, and feed our mules 
on maize. 
24th. — The night very cold, with a violent north-wind. 
We still remain here for the animals to rest. An unplea- 
sant Christmas-eve in the barren prairie. 
25th. — We start in the morning at eight o'clock, with 
half the waggons and double teams, and proceed to within 
three English miles of Victoria, when the other waggons 
are fetched up. A. farmer of the neighbourhood, with his 
wife, comes in a coach to visit our camp, and brings us a 
few bottles of egg-punch. 
26th. — Pass through Victoria to the Guadalupe. From 
Lavaca to this place the distance is about thirty English 
miles, — a journey which we performed in sixteen days. 
27th. — The waggons are ferried across the Guadalupe, 
which occupies the day. Meanwhile ten of our men are 
at work mending the road on the other side of the river. 
28th. — The mules are ferried across in the forenoon. 
The rainy weather is over. A splendid clear sky, warm 
sun, and mild air. Seven waggons are taken on to the 
prairie from the lower land. 
29th. — Cold night, beautiful morning. The other wag- 
gons are brought up. The soil on the banks of the Gua- 
dalupe is a stiff black clay, which in bad weather is almost 
impassable. 
30th. — Continue our journey, and in the evening cross 
the Coleto. 
31st. — From the Coleto to the Manahuia. The wag- 
gons sink deep into the wet sand of the prairie, as soon as 
they at all leave the beaten road. 
