es of stunted sage-bushes and clumps of thorny cactus;
but not a blade of grass to gladden the eyes of our animals. Not a drop
of water was met with, nor any indication that rain had ever fallen upon
that parched plain. The soil was as dry as powder, and the dust, kicked
up by the hoofs of our mules and horses, hung around us in clouds as we
marched. In addition to this, the heat was excessive; and this, with
the dust and fatigue of travel, brought on an unquenchable thirst, that
soon caused us to drink up the contents of our water-gourds. Long
before night they were all empty, and every one of our party was crying
out from thirst. Our animals suffered worse--for we, at least, had
food, while they, poor brutes, were without a bite to sustain them.

We could not well turn back. We thought we should surely come to water,
sooner than we could get back to the river we had left; and with this
hope we struggled on. Late in the afternoon, our eyes were greeted by a
glad sight, that caused us to start up in our saddles with a feeling of
joy. You may think that it was water--but it was not. It was a white
object that appeared against the sky at a great distance. It was of a
triangular shape, and seemed to be suspended in the air like the upper
half of a huge kite. All of us knew at a glance what it was. We knew
that it was the white cap of a snowy mountain.

You will wonder why this sight should have given us such feelings of
pleasure, as, in your opinion, there is nothing very hospitable in the
appearance of a snow-capped mountain. That is because you do not
understand the peculiarities of the Desert. I will explain. We knew,
from the appearance of the mountain, that it was one of those where the
snow lies for ever, and which throughout Mexico are termed "Nevada," or
snowy. We knew, moreover, that wherever these are met with, streams of
water will be found running down their sides, almost at all seasons, but
certainly in hot or summer weather, in consequence of the melting of the
snow. It was this knowledge, then, that cheered us; and although the
mountain seemed at a great distance, we pushed forward with renewed
energy and hope. Our animals, too, as if they also understood the
matter, neighed and brayed loudly, and stepped out with a more springy
and elastic tread.

The white triangle grew bigger as we advanced. At sunset we could
distinguish the brown seams in the lower part of the mountain; and the
yell