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Show RECONNAISSANCE IN THE UTE COUNTRY. 37 granite. So far as seen the mesas have disappeared; some spruce and cedar on the hills, but most of the timber is pinon. On the crest of the cliff over Camp 53 I fouud a line of small erescent- shaped rifle- pits, of loose stones piled up to one or two feet, so placed as to command the bottom, and more especially the month, of the canon through which oar trail comes in. This whole valley is said to have been an old stronghold of the Utes against the plains Indians, Kiowas, Comanches, & c. Marched about fourteen miles and made Camp 54, in a clump of cotton-woods on a brook; poor grass; no rain yet on eastern slope. The whole region about Camp 54 is a mass of hills, of red and gray granite, 500 to 800 feet above streams, with little soil or timber. No grass except a narrow strip on little stream. Cacti and American aloe, pinon, and a little spruce on high hills. Land seems about worthless and sterile. Camp 55.- At Camp 55 the valley has spread out to about two miles. The funnel- shaped mouth is formed by long, low, sharp spurs from the hills running out into San Luis Park. Some lines of low hills nearly cross the valley here. These hills are granite, 300 to 500 feet high, barren of everything. The river valley in immediate vicinity of stream, and its arms, is green and fertile; elsewhere, except where artificially irrigated, it is covered with sage, ( thorny kind,) and sand. Crops of fine spring- wheat are here raised; said to average fifty bushels per acre. Potatoes also are good. Up and down the stream are numerous ranches. They have comparatively little snow. Two blacksmith- shops, one store, and one saloon make the town. No timber on this part of the valley except a few small straggling cotton- woods. This fact, and the near neighborhood of Indians, wonld seem to make it * an undesirable place. Camp 56.- We passed out of Saguache Valley around the southern jaw of the valley into San Luis Park, and down this park about one to three miles from western foot- hills. Found the park here as below, and barren, except for sage- brush. About seven miles from camp passed some brackish springs where is a cattle- ranch, the run being out in the park around the marsh, where the waters flowing in are supposed to sink. The road just here seems to be muddy, except in very dry times, otherwise it is admirably hard, smooth gravel. About fifteen miles from 55 a brook crosses the road, and near 56, on Carnero Creek, is Royal's ranch; a stock ranch. Here is a poor stock run, narrow, but reaching far out into the park along the Carnero. The mountains along the north and east all day were pecur liarly fine. The sky- line is wonderfully bold, appearing as deep serrated crests, and sharp peaks of every possible shape. Along this range, from below the timber- line to near the crests, lay a bank of white clouds drifting slowly, effect, sharp sky- lines, soft white clouds, deep black gorge, sharp spurs, and sand- hills. From Camp 56.- The foot- hills on right rugged, destitute of all vegetation, except piiions, and composed of basalt and lava, come out in • spurs from main range. On our left was the broad, slightly undulating plain, covered with sage- brush and cacti, bounded by the S& ngre de Cristo range; fhe Carnero and Garcia run out into the plain and sink in the marsh or hypothetical lake. We closed with our former line at Bel Korte, and then marched to Camp Loma. We were detained a day at Gamp Loma waiting for transportation, and obtained one wagon on the 19th; this was our entire transportation to Fort Garland, and this was filled to the bows, after our load was in, with pack- saddles. The consequence was that Mr. Hine lost thirty- eight negatives broken, a |