Twice he succeeded in descending to the water, but both times was unable to cross.

They had now become so reduced in food that they were obliged to eat some of their horses.

With great difficulty they climbed over the cliffs, and at the end of twelve days from their first arrival at the river they found the ford, which ever since has been called El Vado de los Padres.

This was the 8th of November, 1776.

The entrance to the river from the west, the side of their approach, is through a small canyon in the homogeneous sandstone, no more than ten feet wide.