Report of an expedition down the Zuni and Colorado rivers / by Captain L. Sitgreaves.

  • United States. Army. Corps of Topographical Engineers.
Date:
1853
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of an expedition down the Zuni and Colorado rivers / by Captain L. Sitgreaves. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    shot from one of the Mexicans on the flank inspired us with hope, for it was the signal fixed upon to notify the discovery of water; but still I observed nothing to warrant it; and it was not until we had reached the bottom of the cliff that I discerned a narrow thread of grass and weeds, greener and ranker than the surrounding growth, winding out from a little nook, and losing itself in the plain. It proved to be a spring of delicious water; and thus providentially terminated our fears and anxieties for the time. October 13, Camp No. 17.—It was necessary to halt here for a day or two to rest the mules and have them reshod. The feet of the sheep, too, had become sore and worn out; and at the suggestion of a Mexi- can, my rnayordorno, the cracks in them were filled, by means of a hot n-on, with, resin and pine-tree gum, by which operation the animals ap- peared much relieved. Mr. Leroux reconnoitred the route ahead and found water in several places ten or twelve miles distant. He avain surprised a few lodges of Indians, who fled, leaving their effects behind them. This time he did not permit his men to pilfer, but, on the con- trary, left at the lodges a small present of tobacco, handkerchiefs, and 'ni ves, for the purpose of conciliating the Indians, and inducing them to hold some intercourse with us, by which means we hoped to obtain useful information m regard to the route. The only provisions found in the lodges were pifiones and the grass-seed before mentioned The box chronometer had been carried in a pannier, carefully packed n wool, and placed on the steadiest mule of the atajo, which was auajs ec y t e halter; but it was nevertheless found to have stopped rom the roughness of the last day’s journey. Independent observations veie therefore made for the longitude, the pocket chronometer not hav- ing sufficient regularity to be depended on. During the night we were alarmed by a stampede of the mules. For- unately they ran mto a gorge near the camp, from which there was their h-T ’ “a suocce‘M in Viet!g them. The cause of flight was made apparent by the roaring of a panther, or other rge animal, in uncomfortable proximity to the herd. October 15, Camp No. 18.-Our route lay across plains of n-entle slope. Mingled with the pines were a few small post-oafa- aiaf in « green glade was found some white clover of a different variety from tint common the States. Flowers and birds were more 0,1,1™ , upon ilie northern slopes of the mountain, but no fragments of pottery W habitation were seen. Our camp was upon the dry a lagoon, a mile ,n extent, having some small pools of water