The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-08-23

The 0il. Route ths Desert.
Mr.. Durivage. the correspondent of the New Orleans
Picayune, gives the following account Of his suferngs
and those Of his party in crossing eighty miles OF
desert just before reaching the Gia
consider the crossing of this eighty miles an era in
my le and shall never forget il TO the day OF my death
II very proving The OF my stepping out
from this subunay sphere. and that did arrive al
the Gila in safety was almost miracle. Until has
crossed barren DESERT without food or water under
burning tropical sun, at the rate OF three miles hour,
he can form no conception what misery is My pen is
utterly incapable OF properly describing It. Each person,
upon starting, had canieen Of two quarts Of water
which we thought would be sufficient to last through
Our course lay nearly due north, over as sterile desert
tract OF country as II was ever my lot 20 traverse.
BY O'Clock in the morning the heat became excessive
and our desire for water commented From that hour,
the sun increasing IN power every moment became really
hanston, stopped nj IL O'Clock, stunfed
mesquit, 10 rest The road was mostly level and sandy
but as far the eye could reach, the vegetation
scanty in the extreme. few mesqu and the larrea Mex
icana composing the entire growth. Clouds of dust
would arise as we moved along. producing thirst most
difficult to allay In some places there was rank
growth OF greens,aked weed destitute OF leaves, and
90 unpaatable that animals will not eat il even when
starving, Our beasts were pickeied near patch Of
very miserable grass, but they preferred TO doze in
heat. AT o'clock we again in the saddle, having
come twenty miles already. determining TO push
We travelled until O'Clock at night at the rate Of four
miles an hour, by the light Of beautiful moon, and
with the exception OF one patch near dry creek,
saw no grass oa The eonI Tor leagues the road ran
there stnned bush Just such heath must that have
been where the weird sisters who tortured Macbeth
tons fully expected TO see circle Of midnight hars
dancing around bubbling eauldron Not sound broke
the stiffness OF The night except the CHATTER Of horses
hoos-not even an owl hooted, and the thevng, skulk
ing vol never crossed our path. In the sury and
dreadful air that waited across the plain in great
pulls and gnsts, even the hoerse crosking of Inc
m nj he un.lI h.~.
sweet a. the voice OF nightingale Our canteens had
been drained dry long before midnight our thirst was
intense and the ella was still leagues upon leagues dis
tant Having been told that there was water in peak
OF the mountain AZ certain pass scaled IT, but found
none Al 2oeiock we pulled up under mesqut to
increased, and would cheerfuy have given doubloon
our incoming place.
The next morning at o'clock, after two hours. re-,
we were again en route. My pony showed evident signs
OF fatigue and thirst did two Of the Others and was
very fearful they would cave in" before reached The
ella, which we hoped 10 do by 10 o'clock. They all
started OF well, however, and we ratified ON at the rate
Of hve miles an hour until O'Clock when the sun had
thirst still increased and my poor beast became 90 veal
that he could not be urged more than two miles and
q half an hour. II was then my real suderings CON-
and seeing nothing but mountains in the distance, i was
with difficulty could keep on. So powerful was the
heat OF the that found Il affecting my head very Sc.
riously and rapidly willing me up
Al last what feared came TO pass; the intense heat,
the lack Of food and water all conspring, received
coup dc soiei Ny brain reeed my limbs lost all power,
my sight grew dim. while the noise Of thousand cat
crswed under mesqat where lay peech!ess for some
time pr Brent alarmed 1t my stale Of suffering, from
my wild looks swollen lips covered with roth, and the
deahy paleness Of my counenance advised 10 keep
perfectly quiet He remained with me for half an hour,
when my condition becoming and worse he deter
mined % Enop ON and send me hack water, which he
imagined would relieve me. | thought nv time had
come, and made up my mind 10 die will not pretend
70 describe what my feelings al the idea OF perish
ing in that spot But twas ordained otherwise