The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-02-19

country in Sonora, Mexico which | passed over
in November and Dect mber last, with wagon
train, when deviated in search of practicable
route from the mule trail of Brig. Gen. S. W.
Kearny on his march from New Mexico to California.
When he turned off from the Rio Grande, oppo-
site the Copper Mines and the heads of the ella
river for thirty miles to the south, and making
southern bend, turned again toward the north, and
struck his route-as surveyed by Mr.. Emory, of
your corps-iust above the village of Pirro and
Maracossa indians-an estimated distance of 444
miles.
Immediately below the point of deviation-on the
Rio Grande-the country bordering the river be-
came sensibly hater and less broken. | left the
river when in view of a point marked on the COM
mon maps as s. San Diego and the distant view
toward Ell Pass" proved the country 10 be I'M
broken and comparatively level. From the river
| assembled to the table land Of Mexico, by
almost insensible slope over a smooth prairie. For
$50 miles on this smooth level table land. which is
studded with isolated hills mountains journeyed
without any difficulty passing over but three hills
in Two cases know, in the third | believe unne-
cessarily. | then Unexpectedly and suddenly
arrived at a great break off, to q lower level of
country the descent to which was broken and
rough mountains for fifteen miles.
found, however, that had at that moment fallen
into old wagon trail, which led, was told, from
lanos | was able TO get my wagons through, fol-
lowing stream all the way, and descending in the
fifteen miles possibly thousand feet. This was
the California Gulf Twas told that this was called
the Pass of Guadalupe. then passed an unbro-
ken country about 80 miles, when fell upon the
San Pedro river, which empties into the ella. l
descended this without difficulty of ground about
80 miles. In turning off there is ascent to
nearly level country of perhaps above an hundred
feet, but it could be made very gradual 1t is then
about 49 miles to FuestOn, a town of about 500 In
habants, with fort and garrison. This distance
is much smooth ground maintaining the same
general level. Tucson is in rich and well cult
waited valley, where there IS also dense forest OF
Magque timber From Tucson il is some IS miles
TO the ella it is level plain generally OF clay,
where my wagons and footmen, water being very
scarce, passed at the rate of about 30 miles day.
On the map which made, and which is in your
bureau, is marked route considerably to the north
of the Guadalupe Pass, which some of my guides
believed would avoid that broken descent, and be
found to be nearly level throughout, to the San Pc
dro, at that point where | turned off from that
beautiful little river. The most sensible and eXpe
renced of these men, Derouy, who lives In Taos,
NewMexico and who had trapped on the ella,
and passed. in different direction, over that coun-
try, was decidedly Of this opinion but his know
ledge, on the other hand, sufficient to forbid
the attempt to explore it, in my situation, on ac-
count of scarcity of wafer
The Rio Grande bottoms, for hundred miles
above and at the point where lett IT, are well UNI
bered-there is none on the table land, save upon
the small mountains which are every where TO be
seen this is cedar and pine, but of small growth !;
rock is every where to be had-secondary rocks OF
almost every kind. But by this wonderfully level
route the continent may be passed with scarcely
vein of granite. As far as Tucson. the CANA grass
is abundant, and it will fatten cattle while work
ing, and in the winter. The route from ues9n
passes through a country Astounding in exceedingly
rich Gold Mines.
am very respectfully, your obedient servant,
P. ST.. GEORGE Cook. Major I'd Dragons.