OCR Text |
Show 226 TEAVELS AND ADVENTUEES IN THE FAE WEST. three miles in length. We reached the river at five o'clock, after a toilsome and most disagreeable day's travel. We found excellent grass for our animals on its banks; the temperature was 90° Fahrenheit, which is not much above the average of the coldest weather. This river, supposed to be the Rio de los Angeles, vulgarly called Muddy, takes its rise from hot springs in the mountains. The Indian name is " Moap." The Indian name of the Santa Clara is "Tonequint"-Rio Virgin, is " Paroos." The water is clear and pleasant to the taste, and by no means deserves the name of Muddy. As soon as my mule was unsaddled, I was in the water, and enjoyed a delightful bath, which was refreshing after such a long hot ride. We intend to encamp here for a day, to recruit our animals, and make some little preparation for our travel over the dreaded Jornada, a distance of fifty-five miles, without a drop of water or a blade of grass for the animals. Jornada means a journey, viz.: a journey on which you cannot stop; for your animals, if they rested without food or water for such a distance, would go mad; therefore, it is necessary to continue, and push right through, on one stretch, for fifty-five miles. It is most serious tacontemplate, but "no hay remedia." My mule is in good order, and I trust to him to carry me safely over it. Yesterday I found it necessary to lend my horse to the woman who accompanies us; one of her horses gave out, and my horse was the only spare animal. It is just what I expected; but as she is along with us, we must assist her at all hazards. The |