not a part of the same； being a portion of 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 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
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 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。
〃The copper specimen was the red oxide； and yielded as follows：
Copper；。。。。。。。。。。。。 71。80
Iron；。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 7。84
Oxygen；。。。。。。。。。。。。。12。34
Silicia； Alumina；。。。。8。02
100 parts。
〃The Papagos and Pimas Indians； by proper management； might be
made very useful； in working upon the road where there is not
much rock excavation。 They are unlike the Indians of Texas； or
the Apaches； living in villages and cultivating the soil； besides
manufacturing blankets； baskets； pottery； etc。 Quiet and
peaceable； they have no fears except from their enemies； the
Apaches； and are very industrious； much more so than the lower
order of Mexicans； and live far more comfortably。 It is
astonishing with what precision they construct their
acequiasirrigating canalssome of them； the acequias madre； of
very large size； and without the use of levelling apparatus； but
simply by the eye。 Their gardens and farms too are regularly
ditched and fenced off into rectangles and circles； with hedges
and trees planted as if done by more enlightened people。〃
The population of the new Territory of Arizona is at present not
far from eight thousand； and is rapidly increasing。 The Mesilla
Valley and the Rio Grande are probably the most thickly
populated； containing about five thousand people。 A majority of
the Mesilla inhabitants are Mexicans； but they will be controlled
by the American residents； whose number and influence is
constantly on the increase。 The Santa Cruz Valley； in which are
situated the towns of Tueson； Tubac； Tumacacari； and the mining
settlement of Sopori and others； is； next to Mesilla； the most
thickly settled。 Tueson was formerly a town of three thousand
inhabitants； but the majority have been driven off by the Apache
Indians。 It is fast becoming a thriving American town； and will
before long be a place of more importance than ever before。 Real
estate is already held at high rates； and the erection of
buildings shows that American energy is about to change the face
of the last half century。 Tubac had been completely deserted by
the Mexicans。 It has been reoccupied by the Sonora Exploring and
Mining Company； and now boasts a population of several hundred。
The Calabazas valley is also fast filling up with an American
population； and another year will see the whole centre of the
Territory dotted with settlements。 Many of the fine claims on the
San Pedro River have already been located by emigrants under the
general pre…emption law； but until protection is afforded to the
settlers； but little progress will be made in agricultural
pursuits。 The Apache Indian regards the soil as his own； and
having expelled the Spanish and Mexican invader； he feels little
inclination to submit to the American。 A small settlement of
Americans is growing up at Colorado city； opposite Fort Yuma； at
the junction of the Gila and Colorado rivers。 This point is
destined to be one of great commercial and pecuniary importance。
Situated at the present head of navigation； at the point where
the overland mail route crosses the Colorado； and where the
Southern Pacific Railroad must bridge the stream； it is a
necessary stopping place for all travel across the country。 Here
are transhipped all the ores coming from the Territory； which
find their way to market down the Colorado to the Gulf of
California； thence by steamer or sailing vessel to their
destination。 Here all supplies of merchandise for the Territory
are landed； and from this point forwarded to their various
owners。 A thriving commerce has already sprung up between Arizona
and San Francisco。 In almost any daily paper in San Francisco may
be seen vessels advertised for the mouth of the Colorado。 Two
steamers find active employment in transporting government stores
from the head of the Gulf of California to Fort Yuma； and goods
to Colorado city for the merchants of Tueson； Tubac； Calabazas；
and for the mining companies。 Should the exploration of the Upper
Colorado by Lieutenant Ives； United States Army； now in progress；
prove successful； Colorado city will become still more important；
as the surplus products of the rich valleys of New Mexico； Utah；
and California to the north； will all find a market down the
Colorado。 Property in this new city is held at high rates； and by
the last S