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the State of Sonora。 He thus describes that section：
〃The Indians represent rich Placers existing throughout this region；
and large numbers of them had lately come in with considerable quantities
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of the dust。 They were trading it for trifles to the Mexicans。 I got some
specimens of it which was the same as the California Gold。 This was not
the time of year （June） for them to work the mines； but in the fall； after the
rain has commenced。 The greatest drawback to the profitable working of
the Placers of this district； is the scarcity of water。 If artesian wells succeed；
there is little doubt that it will create an important change。 West from
Tuseon and Tubac； towards the Gulf of California； the country presents
more the appearance of a barren waste or desert than any district I have
seen。 It nevertheless has occasional oases； with fine grazing lands about
them； and the mountains； which are more broken and detached； have
distinct marks of volcanic origin。 The ranges though short； have generally
the same parallel direction as those further east。 It is the country of the
Papago Indians； a peaceful and friendly tribe； extending down to the Gulf
coast； where they are mixed up somewhat with the Cocopas of the
Colorado。 From Sonoita I explored to the Gulf shore； near the mouth of
Adair Bay。 It was 62 miles； following a dry arroya most of the way； and
the point at which I struck the Gulf was in latitude 31 degrees 36 minutes
34 minutes。 The 〃Bay〃 is about 15 miles across； and from all I could learn；
15 miles long； and represented as having four fathoms of water。 It is
completely encircled by a range of sand hills； reaching north…west to the
Colorado river and south…east as far as the eye could discover。 These
〃sables〃 are probably eighty or ninety miles in extent； by five to ten broad。
〃Notwithstanding it appears to be the most desolate and forlorn…
looking spot for eighty miles around the head of the Gulf； the sand hills
looking like a terrible desert； nature seems even here； where no rain had
fallen for eight months； to have provided for the sustenance of man； one of
the most nutritious and palatable vegetables。
〃East of the Tinaja Alta or high tank range； lie the famous Sierras del
Ajo； now United States territory。 These mountains derive their name from
the vast deposits of red oxide and green carbonate of copper found about
them； and which the Indians have made use of to paint （ajo） themselves
with。 The mines are unquestionably of great value； and must become
important； more particularly from their being situated in the neighborhood
of the contemplated railway。 The tall Cereus Giganteus and Agave
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Americana are found in abundance。 From the latter plant the natives make
the pulque； mezcal and agua…diente； and the petahaya or cereus； produces
a fruit from which is made a very pleasant preserve。 At the Pimo and
Maricopa villages are found wheat； corn； tobaco； and cotton； besides
melons； pumpkins； beans； etc。 The nature of the soil for great distances in
the Gila valley is of a reddish loam； some parts coated with a beautiful
crystallization of salt； a quarter to half an inch thick。 This seems to be
more particularly the case below the Maricopa villages and toward the Rio
Salado。 The cotton； of which I procured specimens； though cultivated by
the Indians in the most primitive manner； exhibited a texture not unlike the
celebrated Sea Island cotton。 Its fibre is exceedingly soft and silky； but not
of the longest staple。 Large tracts of land on the Gila and in other portions
of this district； appear to possess the same properties of soil； and where； I
have no doubt； the finest cotton will soon be extensively raised and
brought to its highest state of perfection by proper cultivation。〃
The climate is thus referred to by Gray：
〃One of the most favorable features upon the route in the vicinity of
the 32nd degree proposed for the Pacific railway is； its accessibility at all
times； admitting of labor being performed in the open air at each season。
The nature of the climate through Texas to the Rio Grande has already
been referred to； and from thence to the Santa Cruz valley half way to the
Colorado； over the elevated plateau of the Sierra Madra； it is equally
salubrious and temperate。 The rainy season falls in the summer months；
and but seldom is snow seen even upon the mountain tops。 Towards the
Colorado river it is much drier and more torrid； but by no means unhealthy；
nor does it prevent out door work the whole of the day during the heated
term of summer。
〃The great riches of the country； however； are a total waste at the
present time； but which the Pacific railroad will at once develop； and make
to itself the foundation of a vast revenue。 I refer to its metallic wealth； the
silver； gold； and copper mines that abound in almost every mountain and
valley； between the Rio Grande and the Gulf of California。
〃The ores of Chihuahua and Sonora ＇now Arizona。 S。 M。＇ are chiefly
sulphuret （lead or iron）； or native silver in porphyritic or stratified
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limestone rocks passing at greater depths into igneous rocks。 From loose
piles lying upon the surface and evidently picked over； I procured
specimens of silvier and copper。 Three samples representing points on the
line of our exploration about equi…distant from each other； viz。： the Rio
Grande； the neighborhood of Tubac； and within 90 miles of the junction of
the Gila and Colorado rivers； were submitted to Dr。 I。 K。 Chilton； of New
York； for analysis。 He found in one sample of lead ore （argentiferous
galena）； by fire assay 71 per cent。 of lead； and the 〃LEAD YIELDED
SILVER EQUIVALENT to 128 ounces； 1 dwt。 to the ton〃 （of 2000
pounds）。
〃In another； he found the lead obtained from it to yield silver in the
proportion of 72 ounces 5 dwts。 to the ton or 2000 pounds。