Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-09-18

\ From letter Of member Of the Mexican ROM
dairy Commission to the Providence Journal we
take the following extracts descriptive of portion
of the desert country through which they travelled
u Junction Of the Gaa and Colorado Rivers, June 10.
is only by actual experience that form any
idea Of the desoaon and barrenness Of the desert
extending from the Colorado the range of noun
tains When crossed it in February last had no
water for about eighty miles, though thanks to the
abors of Capt Davidson, there well opened in the
arroyo Of Alamo Aucho and the longest ounada is forty
Se fifty miles AT the few watering places the sup
ply IL scanty and obliged to keep constant
y th. wells dipping up the it oozed through
the sand The water at all the wells is hard and brack
ish and seems to create thirst rather than aay it,
There mol spear Of grass for about hundred miles,
any herb age upon which animals subsst the
foliage and fruit Of the mezquit At present the leaves
in perfect and the animals get tolerabe good
browsing though the young beans too acrd afford
much nourishment
The intense heat renders travel by day almost impos
sibe We usually a. complish march between sun
and eight o'clock in the morning laying by during the
day which is almost AZ intolerabe as travelling for
with the mercury ranging -om l20 TO 400 in tents
sleep affords refreshment food is disgusting and read
ing fatigue Generally there rs strong breeze which,
coming from on the heated sands ourns ana parches the
skin it does not bring cloud Of dust to add to the
eral discomfort.
The Colorado, just below the Junction runs througha
short canon in rocky h which forms an abrupt pro-
montory on each sideof the river The post IS situated
upon the one on the western bank most bar re for
ornookng spot to live in which must be abo ut equal to
exile to Siberia. The officers and men are at present
living in TENTS which covered with rude sheds Of
branches protect them from the SUM- There arr, about
two hundred here artillery and infantry and tn post
is commanded by Major p Heintzelman The difficulty
Of supplying the post with the necessary articles Of ub
sistence prevents the introduction Of any thing like luz
uries, and officers and alike confined to soldiers
fare The command comfortably situated as the ma
ture OF the place and its naccessibiy will allow but
long deprivation of fresh provisions has filled the hospital
with scurvy PATIENTS and many of the were ragged
and shoeless partially successful attempt has been
made to supply the post by vessel loaded with
supplies was sent up the Gulf Of California and up the
river to within about hundred miles of the post but
the provisions could not be brought scows against the
strong current much faster than the command consumed
them. 1t is now in contemplation to procure small
steamer to bring up supplies from the Gulf and probably
less difficulty will be found in maintaining the post The
eminence upon which the post is situated commands
view Of the junction Of the ella and Colorado of the
latter river for considerable distance. The distant
mountain scenery peculiar the peaks assuming singu-
lar shapes, particularly those known Chimney Rocks
and Capitol Dome The overflow of the river has COM
peey insulated the post and only approachable
by means of boats