A THIRSTY LAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 268, 29 October 1862, Page 5

A THIRSTY LAND.

The following is extracted from the account of explorations in search of the Colorado mines, by the special travelling correspondent of the Alia California :— Finding the supply of water thus limited to these two or three waterholes at this point, we proceeded nearly a mile further up the creek to where we were told (to get rid of us) that there was a better prospect Prospect there was, and plenty of it, but the water was confined to two holes dug by the Holoomb Valley boys and another company who were encamped in one o£ the numerous ravines leading to the creek. Following their example, we (four in company) sunk a hole in one of the ravines, and not finding water at the depth of six feet, abandoned it and sunk another. Still no water; and in digging these holes we had a foretaste of the endurance required for that class of labor under a hot sun, in the mines beyond. Gave another look afc the first hole, and finding signs of moisture, sunk it a little deeper, and, to our greajt joy, the water commenced seeping into it through the "hard pan," so that we obtained in the course of an hour enough to allay our immediate wants, although it was late that nighj befure we had sufficient for, the poor thirsty animals. We were so careful of the precious element that, or^e pan of water served to complete the toilet of our party, each individual member of, which expressed himself as feeling "so refreshed," after taking such a " good " wash.

auSuw *« ÜBthat where there are rabbits and quail there you will find water. As a proof of this, as J2VI h- ad Watei> rabbits "Shares eomit ced running m our ravine, a* if they belonged to our private warren, and doves aud quail would make right for the spring. The doves would fly at and ahghtuponihc blankets which covered the sunn", and I had to scare then away by throwing up my hands and shouting at them. The quails, naturally so shy and timid, tried to reach the water from the rear. pitying the poor creatures, 1 placed awash-pan with about three incnes of water in it at a distance of three yards from v. here I was sitting. The doves made for it at once, but the quails hesitated (the pan evidently being a new thin- to them), uutil one, more daring, or perhaps thirstier than the rest, marched up and took a drink. Then lining his plumed head, he gave that peculiar cry of the quail, which to me always sounds like "fresh water, fresh water," and then all the quails in the vicinity and within hearing of that welcome note came flying, wlnrnn-, and runf. m- in P-'irs, i» coveys, by ihe hundred, by the thousand, to the spot. They did not seem to mind my presence, although so near, nor those who, lvin-'----under the tent cover, were looking at the curious sight, but pushed aud struggled fur the first water aud then would drink more like horses than birds Ihe caivful mother quail would lead her numerous brood right up to the pan. fighting her way throir'h the crowd. The liitle " chicks "'would flutter their downy wings until they gaincl a footing on the ed«-e ot the pan, but the iron, already boated by the sun entered their little soles, and over they would so kersouse "into the water. To keep the pan clear, and give all a fa r chance, I scooped these " juveniles" ojtbythe.doublelianJfull. What a shuuhter (yes, j slaughter is the word !) a double-barrel led shot gun | would have made in that mass meeting of quails ' but the desire to destroy died out from sheer sympathy with the poor creatures, and not on- v,is sl/oi at the spring during our stay at Chocol-Walla At another tune I noticed a lbardtryiusrt) suck a Hub moisture from the wetted covering- 01 - luv c;l . llf;tn ij ing at my side. I poured a jutle water in my hand ana then l,t it fall like rain-drops upon the thirsty iK£fl,» I 1"U- Se;.!, lfcs h™}> aild with open tuoutii caught the drops of !on»e.i-ibr water as they fell into its parched throat while ils sparkling eyes seemed1 fixed on me witli an expression of confidence aud delight. There were others of our party who saw this, aud it excited no decree of surprise. They only smiled at my having such an ugly pot. Yet, notwithstanding these pi-oofs of heat and scarcity of water which existed during the time I was there, I fully believe that there is always water to be found at U.ocol-waila-dse why do th^e Indians resort vie re, and the quail, etc,-for without water they could not and certainly would u<,fc stay thcroBut even previous to our arrival, several parties had leached there, aud the unusual demand caused the supply to diminish, in fact, to very nearly '• dry up." Brown's well, on the surveyed route; " was a* water hole in this same civok, and at that point Uolonol VV ashuigtou caused a we!! to be .sunk, which at thirty teet m depth was stopped by v " boulder " too'l.-u-.'"' to be takeu out, but it was curbed up at the bottom from malenal furnished by one of their wa-ou b.;ds. Ihis well, still retaining the name of Brown's wil furnished the surveying party with a plentiful supply ot water for along time ; evcii when at their last camp, withm ten miles of the river, they puch-d water from the well, as the Indians c.used them considerable annoyance wh-n they went to the river for a supply. At a point of the mountains, about midway between Brown's well and Clu.iyUWalla, say about six miles from wth-jr pl:ic;, tiiore is a .small lake or pondot water, smi-ouiidud with giod grass, so abundant that Mr. Charles Cu.min-hW states tint Ikcan cut 100 tons of hay there this season. Hi-j [ilao<v was known to the surveyors, and was termed by them the _" Meadows." Mr. 0. and others, while i W . pectmg tor water, discovered it, and at, once drove their suffering stock over Ui"re to r-c-nit