_August 15._--Our second drive to-day was for a mile or more, through a long and narrow cañon, with the mountains bordering the Rio Grande on the east. This cañon led us into the valley of the river, at a point one hundred miles below where our road leaves it in going westward. After crossing the valley, and making a camp on the banks of the river, our road to-day turns abruptly northward. We encountered a terrible thunder storm at noon, it being the first heavy rain we have had on the road. August is one of the rainy months throughout this portion of the Rio Grande valley and Sonora; we may, therefore, expect many such storms before reaching the coast range of mountains which form the climatic boundary between California and Arizona. After a thorough drenching, we started at two o’clock, in a bright sunny afternoon, and drove slowly up the Rio Grande. Through this particular portion of the valley the rainy season is an advantage to the otherwise sandy road. Along here, animals which are fatigued from a tedious or rapid journey through Texas must be well treated or they give out. Fifty miles above here, in the neighborhood of San Eleazario, and, indeed, at all the Spanish towns along the river, the road is made much worse by the rains. The corn and wheat fields are all cultivated by irrigation, and the irrigating ditches, called _acequias_, liable to be overflowed from the rain, cross the roads in many places. Camped to-night on a slough of the river. Made 40 miles to-day. _August 16._--The road proving so very muddy in some places, and heavy from sand in others, besides finding it was growing more and more muddy as we proceeded, I took my light four-mule carriage, with a change of animals, left all our heavy coaches and baggage, and started on with the mails. We reached the _presidio_ of San Elearan at 7 p. m. to-day; there we changed our mail, and then pushed on, after dark, for Socorro, where the conductor, with his train, was waiting to take the mail through to Santa Fé. Our drive from San Elearan to Socorro was at a slow walk through mud and water all the way, caused by the recent rains overflowing the ditches. Many portions of the surrounding country were covered with water like a lake. Made 43 miles to-day. _August 17._--Rained all night, showering during the morning. I went nineteen miles to-day, to Franklin, El Paso. The Santa Fé mail went on to its destination. The quartermaster at Fort Bliss very kindly gave me the use of his blacksmith shop in which to repair one of my wagons, by which timely aid I was enabled to place it in a pretty decent condition for service. Looked about me for mules to complete my outfit for the Pimos villages, but much to my disappointment could find none suited to our service. Mules are scarce at El Paso. _August 18._--Another rainy day, with occasional sunshine. Found an abundance of very excellent fruit at El Paso: pears, peaches, and particularly grapes. The heavy train came in to-day.