494 SANTA CTUJZ. Book III. 
peculiarly adapted for the cultivation of wheat and differ- 
ent kinds of fruit. All the numerous and deserted estates 
in this country have still their orchards (although in a wild 
state), in which apples, pears, peaches, apricots, and further 
into the country also grapes, figs, and pomegranates, grow 
wild. Nothing but security is wanting to make this valley 
the abode of a thriving population : dread of the Apaches 
prevents the timid inhabitants of this country enjoying the 
advantages which nature offers. In the large bend of the 
valley lie some large buildings of a hacienda, which, like 
so many others in these parts, has been .abandoned on the 
same account. Only a few days ago the savages had stolen 
several horses close to the town of Santa Cruz, and a divi- 
sion of Mexican cavalry from Tucson made their appearance 
during our stay at the former place, in pursuit of the rob- 
bers. Since then the country may have become more 
secure ; for, although Santa Cruz, in the new frontier 
regulation, has remained on the Mexican side, yet the 
establishment of a United States fort, at San Xavier del Bac, 
has no doubt exercised a salutary influence over the whole 
neighbourhood. The frontier line now runs past Santa 
Cruz, at a small distance on the north, and cuts through 
the valley in two places ; now in the southern, and again 
in the northern course of the river. The upper and lower 
parts of the valley, belonging to the United States, are 
thus separated inconveniently by an intervening tract of 
Mexican territory. 
The valley at its head, where only flat heights surround 
it, is treeless, and loses itself in the adjacent steppes of the 
table-land ; but at Santa Cruz, and further down, the banks 
of the river, and the valley itself, are covered with poplars 
and willows, ash-trees and plantains, oaks and walnut- 
trees. On the lower part of the mountain declivities, 
