ly by the
horizon; but a keen eye could perceive its western rim--in the dim
outlines of the Sierra San Juan, backed by the brighter summits of the
"Silver" Mountains (_Sierra de la plata_). More conspicuous, on the
north, were the wooded slopes of the Sierras Mojada and Sawatch; while,
right and left, towered the snow-covered peaks of Pike and the Watoyah--
like giant sentinels guarding the approach to this fair mountain-girt
valley. These details were taken in at a single _coup d'oeil_; and in
the same glance the eye was attracted by the sheen of real water, that,
like a glittering cord, was seen sinuously extended through the centre
of the plain. Under the dancing sunbeams, it appeared in motion; and,
curving repeatedly over the bosom of the level land, it resembled some
grand serpent of sparkling coruscation that had just issued from the
mysterious mountains of the "Silver Sierra," and was slowly and gently
gliding on towards the distant sea. From the elevation on which we
stood, we could trace its tortuous windings, towards the distant Sierra
of San Juan; and in the concavity of one of these--almost upon the verge
of our vision--we beheld "el campamento de los Judios."

Unprepared for it, we should never have thought of taking what we saw
for an encampment of Mormons, or men of any kind. Under the white filmy
veil that floated over the plain, some half-dozen little, spots of a
more intensified white were barely visible. These the Mexican
pronounced to be "los carros" (the waggons). I had recovered my
pocket-glass, and this was now called into requisition. A glance
through it enabled me to confirm the trapper's statement. The white
spots were waggon-covers: they could be none other than those of the
Mormon train. I could make out only some half-dozen of them; but there
were others behind. The vehicles were clumped, or, more likely,
_corralled_ upon the plain. This, indeed, was evident from their
arrangement. Those seen were set in a regular row, with their sides
towards us--forming, no doubt, one quarter of the "corral."

I looked for living forms. These were also visible under the glass--men
and animals. Of the latter, a large drove of different kinds and
colours could be seen, mottling the plain to some distance from the
waggons. The men were moving about the vehicles. Women I could also
distinguish by their dresses; but the distance was too great for me to
note the occupations of either sex--eve