Occasionally we encountered one or two cowpunchers: either Texans, habited exactly like their brethren in the North, with broad-brimmed gray hats, blue shirts, silk neckerchiefs, and leather leggings; or else Mexicans, more gaudily dressed, and wearing peculiarly stiff, very broad-brimmed hats with conical tops.
Toward the end of our ride we got where the ground was more fertile, and there had recently been a sprinkling of rain.

Here we came across wonderful flower prairies.

In one spot I kept catching glimpses through the mesquite trees of lilac stretches which I had first thought must be ponds of water.

On coming nearer they proved to be acres on acres thickly covered with beautiful lilac-colored flowers.

Farther on we came to where broad bands of red flowers covered the ground for many furlongs; then their places were taken by yellow blossoms, elsewhere by white.