The houses were only one story high and seemed built of mud of a gray color, the roofs flat, and the streets almost deserted.
Occasionally a man could be seen, sometimes a dog, and now and then an Indian, sitting with his back to the house.

The whole view indicated a thinly populated place, and the entire absence of wagons or animals was a rather strange circumstance to us.

It occurred to us at first that if all the emigrants were gone our reception might be a cool one in this city of mud.

One thing was in its favor and that was its buildings were about fire proof for they had earthen floors and flat roofs.
We rested half an hour or so just outside, and then ventured down the hill into the street.

We met an American almost the first man, and when we asked about a suitable camping place, he pointed out the way and we marched on.