To

rain with an India rubber coat, until well lighted. these was added some dry wood found in the wagons; and when bushes were piled upon the whole, a blazing fire was the result. This served as a guide to our scattered people, some of whom had found themselves among the emigrating party, with their faces turned towards the Gila!

June 14th. As soon as we could see, the animals were mustered; when three mules with their packs, two donkeys, and our three remaining beef-cattle, were missing. Two Mexican arrieros were left to hunt up these animals, and the train resumed its journey. The road was now very muddy, and every depression in the desert became filled with water, making the travelling quite heavy.

Soon after starting we met the rest of the party that we encountered in the night. They had become separated from those in advance, and had been compelled to await the return of day. Among them were several women on mules, who appeared to have had a sorry time of it. The "Picacho" was still far ahead; but after watering the animals, we pushed on, and at 11 o'clock reached its base, where we encamped. I had been eighteen hours in my seat, and was glad to throw myself on the ground beneath the shade of a mezquit bush, and get some sleep. After an hour's rest I got up and made a fire for my cook, who was still deep in his slumbers; and by one o'clock we had our breakfast. This forty-five miles was the most fatiguing day's journey we had yet had, including the exposure during the whole night to such a tempest of wind and rain.

VOL. II.-19

The vegetation of this desert is the same as that near the Gila, viz., dwarfish mezquit at intervals, larrea Mexicana, palo verde, and cacti; the great petahaya luxuriating as usual in the barrenness. A tuft of grass was occasionally seen, and now and then some brilliant flower that had ventured to "waste its sweetness on the desert air."

The mud holes here were filled with water, but so turbid that we could not taste it. We had enough, however, in our canteens and kegs for drinking purposes. There was quite a thicket of mezquit here, and

an excellent place for a camp. The animals found a tolerable supply of food in the tufts of grass, and mezquit beans.

At 5 o'clock in the afternoon we started again, although we had had but little rest. I would have remained till morning, but our water was nearly out. The road had by this time become quite dry, and we rolled on at a steady gait of three miles an hour. Soon after leaving, the sky became overcast, and we feared a repetition of the storm; but it did not occur, and, although we had considerable difficulty in keeping our course, we were enabled to continue our journey through the entire night.

July 15th. At 5 o'clock this morning, being in advance of the train, we reached some mud holes containing a little water, which our thirsty animals drank with eagerness. During the night, many who were mounted on mules were so much fatigued as to be unable to retain their seats in their saddles; so dismounting, and tying their animals to the bushes, or to their bodies, they lay down on the desert, and refreshed themselves with a couple of hours sleep. At seven, the wagons with the rest of the party came up; and, although but eight miles from Tucson, such was our fatigue after two long nights' ride, that we determined to remain here to-day. Much to my regret, no tents were pitched; for a heavy shower came up in the night, which wet most of the party to the skin. I was so fortunate as to make my bed beneath a wagon; where, protected by an India rubber blanket, I passed a comfortable night, and scarcely knew of the rain that was falling around me until morning.

July 16th. We started with a heavy road, and made but slow progress. The wagons got mired several times in crossing arroyos, one of them so deeply that it became necessary to unload it before it could be released; while another, in passing a deep gully, plunged so suddenly down, that the tongue was snapped off. We reached Tucson at ten o'clock, A. M. As we passed the garrison, a body of Mexican soldiers were entering, who had just arrived from the south on a campaign against the Apaches. Among the officers standing at the gate I recognised Captain Barragan, who was in command at Santa Cruz when we reached that place in October last. Hearing from him that General Blanco was within, I left the train and accompanied the Captain to pay my respects to him.

General Blanco informed me that the depredations of the Apaches had lately been more frequent than ever. Many animals had been stolen in the immediate vicinity of Tucson, Tubac, and Santa Cruz; and many Mexicans had lost their lives. The troops had had some skirmishes with the Indians, in which Coletto Amarillo, one of the chiefs who so frequently visited. us at the Copper Mines, was killed. The General furthermore told me that when on his march he fell upon a large Indian trail, and noticed among the footprints several made by new American shoes, which he readily distinguished from the Mexican shoes by their larger size and heels. He believed that there were Americans among them, or that they had murdered and robbed some party of emigrants. In October, when the weather should be cooler, and the rainy season past, it was his intention to make a campaign against