The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 8, July 1904 - April, 1905 Page: 210

210

Texas HIistorical Association Quarterly.

12. Tuesday after Easter, the 12th, we crossed the river, and
found the ford very easy (acomodado). We travelled five leagues
to the east, over some low hills, without any timber; we crossed
some ravines of red and yellow earth; we entered a mesquite
thicket, and found water in a creek. The creek was dry where we
first struck it (en los principios), and we were somewhat discom-
fited because we thought our guide had mistaken the direction;
about a league farther, however, there was a very good stream.
We named this creek the Arroyo del Leon,' because we found a
dead lion near by, very much mutilated (disforme). The country
was level, and furnished good pasturage. 5.
13. Wednesday, the 13th, we advanced to the east, sometimes
east-northeast2 six leagues. About half a league from the camp
we passed by the point of a little hill on which ends a clump of
oaks, and which we left on the right hand. Among them were
small piles of stones placed by hand (p2iedras puestas d manos).
We followed some low hills; there were about two leagues -of oak
timber which had to be partly cleared away; but after this all the
county was level till we reached a little creek. 6.
14. Thursday, the 14th, we moved forward, east-northeast, in
search of a great river which the guide told us we should find
and which we reached at two in the afternoon. We travelled six
leagues, the first three over some hills, and the rest of the way
(despues) over some hills that were timbered, and marked with
1The San Antonio. Mr. Clark (THE QUARTERLY, V 179) suggests that
the name arroyo indicates that it was crossed rather high up. It is drawn
far out of the true position of the San Antonio, being almost far enough
west to represent the Nueces.
"The Map gives the direction as "east, veering to the northeast."
'Mr. Eugene Giraud, of Austin, informs me that in Western Texas one
often finds near a water supply a heap of small regularly shaped stones,
and, usually, a larger flat stone near by, with a hole scooped out of the
middle of the top. The theory generally accepted in explanation is, that
the Indians piled up the stones and used them in cooking the stem of
lechuguilla, a species of the maguey (agave Americana; American aloe,
century plant), afterward pressing the juice out of the stem to make an
intoxicating drink; and that they used the flat rock as a receptacle for
the juice. The heaps of stones mentioned in the text are doubtless of
this character.