Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-02-02

From the San Francisco Alta California. Narrative of Lieutenant Beals Wagon | Expedition from Fort Defiance to the Colorado River.
 We present our readers, this morning. with | an outline narrative of Lieutenant Beale's ex- poration of the southern wagon route, taken | from the notebook of Mr. J. H. Porter, attach l ed to the scientific corps of the expedition. Lieu tenant Beale arrived here on Thursday, from Los Angeles. The object of the expedition (which is just completely as specified In the written instructions of the Secretary of War, was to proceed from Philadelphia to Indianoia, Texas, where the cames had been landed from the store ship Supply, Lieutenant David Porter, and from thence 10 proceed to Fort Defiance, ln New Mexico, near Santa Fe, and from that place to commence the survey of the wagon road through to the Colorado river, near the supposed mouth of the Moiave.
 ARRIVAL AT SAN ANTONIO.
 Lieutenant E. F. Beale and his party arrived at San Antonio on the 16th of June. From San Antonio they proceeded to Camp Verde, on the Verde river, where the camels had been conveyed, to await his requisition and that of Captain Pope of the United States topographi- cal engineers, who had been deputed by govern ment to construct artesian wells upon the Pecos, in Texas. He selected twenty three out of the ninety camels at that place, and three drome- daries. Together with the animals were two Greeks, Turk and two Arabs, who left him at San Antonio, being desirous of returning home.
 THE START.
 The party left San Antonio on the 25th of In ba oEo6 lor of the grain for ten teams of mules The tou- Jus, or regular pack camels of which there were seven, are capable of carrying d load of one thou sand pounds. They passed over the old wagon road, extending some seven hundred miles be- tweed San Antonio and Fl Paso. The princi. pal stopping places on the route were Leon Springs. the HOndo the Camanchique, Fort Clark, Rio San Felipe, Rio San Pedro, or Devils River, Camp Lancaster, the Pecos, Escandido Springs, Leon Springs, Barella Springs Fort Davis. Higo Springs, and reached the Rio Grande on the 22d July. The expedition followed the road leading through the valley of this stream, along a fertile and well watered country. and af- fording sustenance to hundreds of thousands of sheep. They passed Fl Paso few miles to the southwards and reached Alberquerque on the 10th of August.
 THE CAMELS.
 The camels performed this journey between San Antonio and Alberquerque-a distance of not less than thousand miles, in which there was considerable space to be passed devoid of water or grass-wihout in single instance ex. hbting any sign of fatigue or distress, or show ing aly signs of thirst. They kept pace easily with the teams at an average rate of four miles on hour, though when required, u a rate could have been doubled without their suffering the least inconvenience.
 ALBERQUE UERQUE.
 Albuquerque is primitive Mexican town, bull of adobes, and is the depot of the troops of that quarter It is the centre of the supplies for the United States forts in that section Its population is about 6 GOO. The expedition was cordially and hospitably received at every stop ping place. The vicinity is entirely destitute of grass.
 THE ROUTE THROUGH NEW MEXICO
 Leaving some of the wagons which had be- come unnecessary to transport the baggage. the expedition crossed the Rio Grande. and turned towards the Colorado. They crossed the dry bed of the little Puerto, and proceeded on the road lying within sight of the river and among the mountain spurs extending through New Mexico. They passed through the pueblo of Laguna, inhabited by a mixed population of h. dians and New Mexicans. They were now travelling upon Coronados route-who. in l53O passed through this country, the first explorer of New Mexico. Continuing upon the road to the new town of Zuni, situated about eight miles from the aboriginal ruins of that name, they pas sed the Rio Frio, running throug a remark able volcanic basin of ancient formation They wait ed, upon the Piscado, the arrival of Colonel Loring, who was returning with his command. from the Gila. While the expedition was pro- ceeding to Zuni, Lieutenant Beale in company with Colonel Loring, made detour toward the northward, in the Navajo country, to Fort Defi- ance, distance of ninety miles, to procure an escort of United States troops, for which he had an order from the Secretary of War
 THE INSCRIPTION ROCK.
 Passing over this country, which Mr Porter considers the most beautiful he ever traversed. and covered with almost interminabe forests of noble and lofty pine trees, they arrived, on the 24th of August, at Fl Moro or the Inscription Rock. This remarkable natural formotion merits particular description. Emerging from the forest which skirts the bases of the back bone of the western continent without any previous indication of its existence and in the midst of an almost excluSive Y volcanic country smooth wall of white sandstone rises from the glassy plain which spreads away from its base to an altitude of thousand feet At its southeastern base Is the spring known as Fl Moro. It is wedge-shaped and its summit is crowned by an ancient, aboriginal fortress, evidently the work of the same artisans whose tumuli are visible from Peru to Wisconsin. Sloping from the southwest is an artificial plateau, leading to the western entrance of the mou, tain, which forms a natural corral capable of holding at least five thousand head of animals, and entirely impreg- nabe except by very narrow passage, easily defended and partially fortified. In this corral grow the loftiest pine trees, whose heads are far below the crest of the rock which towers above them. The party from this point proceeded to within twelve miles of Zuni where they en- camped, and awaited Mir. Beales arrival from Fort Defiance.
 THE ROUTE FROM FL MoRo
 He arrived on the 18th, with his escort, and after treating with the Indians for corn. they started upon Nipples trail, and encamped upon plain covered with splendid gamma grass The expedition from this camping place, passed over a comparatively level country, well water ed, and abounding in fine grass Ranges of mountains of volcanic origin, were visible in all directions, some of them capped with snow.- This mountainous feature is the prevailing to- pography between Zun and the Coorado- They came in sight of the Colorado Chiquito on the 4th of September; on the 9th, they crossed it without difficulty. The river is very wind ing, barrow and muddy stream. At the forI there were only four feet water The cames from the first made the marches without fatigue or Tagging They continued their course on the parallel of 35 degrees, finding excellent water at convenient intervals, and the most luxuriaut blue gamma grass.
 AN UNEMPLOYED COUNTRY
 The course now lay through an unexplored region, presenting the wave line, intersected bv ranges of irregular serrated volcanic mountains They encamped upon reservoir of pure water, discovered by the guide, Sevedra; to which Lieut.. Beale gave the name of Kings creek- The trail of 1853, made by Lieut. Whppe, be- ing ohliterated by time and also that of 4 IL hro.