While out on this trip I was one day surprised by the appearance of a Mormon in my camp.  It was really a pleasure to see someone from the outside world again; and this was a frank and intelligent man, very pleasant to talk to.  He told me that he had never been farther north than where he was now; nor had he ever been farther west than the little creek about two miles west of the place where he met me, which he called the “Golden Gulch.”  This creek probably originates in the mountains near by; there was still another creek west of us which joined the Golden Gulch near the Mormon’s tent, and this he called “North Creek.”  The ranch near our main camp he had taken up only about three years ago, and he considered agriculture in this region successful, especially with potatoes.  Maize, too, may also ripen.  Furthermore, he told me of some interesting cave dwellings near the Mormon settlement on the eastern edge of the sierra, which I decided to investigate.

When the Mormons had come to colonise parts of northern Mexico, an American called “Apache Bill,” who had lived for a number of years with the Apaches, told them of a large, fertile valley showing many evidences of former cultivation.  Probably he referred to a locality that had once been inhabited by a remnant of the Opata Indians, who had become christianised and had received fruit trees from the missionaries.  The trees, when found, were said to be still bearing fruit, while the people had vanished—­having probably been killed off by the Apaches.

I returned to the main camp, leaving, however, two men behind to search still further for the casa blanca.  When they returned after a few days, they reported that nothing could be found, and that the country was difficult of access.  On my return I found the men who had gone to Casas Grandes back already, bringing with them some provisions and the first mail for three months.

Two miles east of our camp obsidian was found in situ.  It was not in the natural flow, but in round, water-worn pebbles deposited in the conglomerate.  Many of these had been washed out and had rolled down the hill, where a bushel of them might be collected in a few hours.  The outcrop does not extend over a large area, only about two hundred yards on one side of the bank.

On January 22d I started eastward toward the Mormon settlement, passing the watershed at a height of 8,025 feet.  After fifteen miles of travel we arrived at the Mormon colony called Pacheco, and situated on the Piedras Verdes River.  It consists of small wooden houses lying peacefully on the slope, surrounded by pine forests, at an elevation of seven thousand feet.  A saw-mill bore evidence of industry.  There were sixteen families living here, and as we arrived some eighty children were just streaming out of school.  Near by stood a kindly looking old man, possibly their teacher.  The children, who ranged in age from seven to eighteen years, were all studying in one class.  They showed remarkably varied physiognomies, yet all looked healthy and sturdy, and were demure and well-behaved.