The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 25, July 1921 - April, 1922 Page: 197

Journal of Lewis Birdsall Harris, 1836-1842

land. one thing certain there never was as much good land
passed over by the same length of road as we have passed. After
leaving the Concho we struck across the table land for the Pecos,
the ascent to the dividing ridge is so gradual that you hardly
know when you have reached it and begin to descend, the dis-
tance from the head of the Concho to the Pecos is about 65 miles
and over as good a road as could be formed by the art of man,
we came the distance in part of two days and two nights on ac-
count of water, and came through the Pass in the mountains in
the night, a distance of about J of a mile, and I believe I locked
one wheel 3 times and would not then have considered it neces-
sary if it had been day time. It was a most magnificent sight
to see the long train of wagons and pack mules winding their
way through the Pass by moonlight, the rocks almost overhang-
ing them on either side and towering up for hundreds of feet
into the sky, every object almost appearing ready to transform
itself into an indignant Commanche or Apache ready to roll the
rocks upon our heads for transforming their long used war trail
into a good smooth wagon road. After getting through the Pass
we struck the valley of the long talked of but little known Pecos,
and I must say that so far (and we have travelled up it now
about 60 miles) I would not pay taxes on one league of it if the
Gov. would donate the balance to me. We have had nothing but
one strong stream of dust and sand since we struck it and the
sand now covers my ink as I write so as to make a sand box
superfluous. The stream is at this time about as large across as
Brays Bayou at its mouth but very deep-bluff banks running
like a mill race and muddier than the Mississippi and the water
is quite salty so that it is very disagreeable to use. We found our
Boat here indispensible it answered a splendid purpose and
crossed every thing in a few hours, in fact we were only de-
tained here about 24 hours and that mostly on account of recreat-
ing our animals after the long march.

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