Arizona miner., 1867-01-26

into New Mexico. where Che Gila comes out or them. prospecting nearly every place that looked at all favorable for gold and found nothing. The peaks of this range are very
 high. but the range itself is somewhat broken up Lava is the formation. lt rains or .uows nearly every day n the year, as ! was alter
 waris informed by the lndians The timber
 is fir. very large and as thick as it can stand.
 Cinnamon bear, elk, deer antelope, turkey
 and grouse are abundant. There are large
 and beautiful valleys and lakes The valleys are surrounded by hills, skirtcd by iringes oi
 fir. spruce, poplar, etc. Every brook runs full
 of water. and grass seems to be q drug m the
 market. Some of the streams contain fish ;
 and were t n for the altitude of the place,
 with it's freezing cold water in Midsummer, l
 should certainly have supposed myself in
 heaven. Upon no other portion of the world
 which have ever seen has nature lavished
 her charms with so unSparing hands. The
 mind becomes exalted and filled with rever-
 ence for the Greater of such enchanting love
 illness the eye wanderS over bcauteous seen
 cry, gorgeous, brilliant landscapes, until, like
 ia lNng last look at ths loved form of some
 dear friend before it is consigned beyond Ihor
 tai vision, you are compelled tO conquer your
 desires and close your eyes lest you tarry until grief gets the mastery of your mind and
 you become incapable to leave the enchanted
 spot. IL is beautiful country, indeed, and
 .ight of it never fades from the mind. Here
 the once powerful tribe of NavaiOs hunted the
 antelope, the deer, the elk and the bear, and
 herded their sheep. No wonder they fought
 against the power and edct that transplantcd
 them to the parched plains of New Mexico.
 The veriest slave, the most cOwardly pal
 troon, would and ought to fight for such a
 country
 From these peaks we went northeast to
 within sight of the Zuni villages, and finding
 nothing, turned east toward the Gila. The
 mountains at the head of the Rio Prieta and the Gila are very high and heavily tim
 bered. There are some beautiful valleys
 The formation Is cement, and contains no gold
 We descended the mountains about one hun dred miles east of the Sierra Blanco peaks, and crossed nearly all the streams running into tbe Prieta, and soon came to it, crossed 1t, and followed it down some thirty or forty miles, when we left it and struck out for the Gila. On the Prieta there are some large and excellent valleys, the climate is good timber Is plenty, gramma grass grows in abundance, and l consider it a splendid farm ing region. Irrigation would be unnecessary, as warm showers fall frequently during the Summer season. All along this stream we saw old, abandoned Indian huts we also saw camps made by white men. In the streams coming m from the east we saw some quartz rock and gravel, but could find only the color. We soon came in sight of the t;ila. and camped on the north side of 1t, in an old camping ground, where we found fences. old sheds, an empty whisky barrel, and various other things used by civilized folks. Across the Gila, about ore and half miles from this camp, there are the ruins of an old Gov erninent pest, which, we afterwards learned was the ruins of old Fort West There Is not much difference in the size of the Gila and Prieta, but the difference is in favor of the 'iih. We then travelled down the latter stream. through some excellent yale,s. Tine country looks somewhat like a gold country. but we found nothing to pay. After follow ing the Gila for few days, we left 1t to avoid a canyon, and the second night from 1t the Indians stole splendid American horse. be longing to II. Jacobs, of Austin, Nevada. The guard shot at them, but did not nit them. The formation on and close to the river for ths last lew dats was ieidspsihic granite wIth beds of mica siate, but quartz WAS very scarce. We were now very short oi pro islOns, so we crossed to the south side .,. the 6iia, 50 as not to mis, Fort Goodwin. fol lowed lt down a couple Ol days, turned away from II on an old wagon rad, and went witt in sight of Apache Pass and Stein's Peak The country was getting barren and water was scarce, SO we steercd our course for tbe lii'a aga!n, and after two days nard drives. aupcd upon its banks at some old rum. ss,oaii forty miles above Fort Goodwin. called believe, Pueblo Nielo, or old town. The bottom lands on this portion of the Gila are and the soil is rich. There is plenty li grass on the hills, but timber is rather scarce.
 On our way down the Gila, we one day saw ! great dust rise, and thought it might be made by wagons around the post. and on ar irving at the place we saw about one hundred 'attle tracks, which were driven pelI- -mcl icro>s the Gila by Indians On cur arrival It ort Goodwin we learned that Cocbise'. band of Apaches had a short time belpr., made raid on fort near the Sonora line drivin ,if some three hundred head of Uncle Sam. 'attie. Had our party been one hour sr,ner. se might have re-captured the stock and re 'ienished our larder, which was getting Very can As 1t was We had to 20 it upon z fresh | igD.n
 on the evening of September 9th We en- | ainped within or : miles of the fort and hree ol our party went down to see about citing enough provisions to enable ms to each the settlements; saw the commander 'olonel Chapin; told him what we were and hat we wanted. He said he would give roVisions to those who had no means to pur- nase any, and who would sw ar to that fact ie cut oi the discourse very abruptly and 'elned to look upon us as 6eggars. outlaws interlopers. Next day we drove down op- Dsite the post and camped The men went 'r .heir allowance of provisions, but were ,,u 'ney eouia not get ny that day, not. ( ithstanding the fact that some of them ,ver.. /. lthout any ytning to eat. Next day came. , id with It renewal of the application ', bout one. half of the party wished to po to . !, acson and New Mexico; (including onr cap I !lf, under ur newly elected cantain Mr !. m. Stockton, determined, if possible to ro [ rough the mountains cia the south side of |