The section occupying Northwestern Mexico is called Sierra Madre del Norte, and offers a wide field for scientific exploration.

To this day it has never been surveyed.
The northernmost portion of the Sierra Madre del Norte has from time immemorial been under the dominion of the wild Apache tribes whose hand was against every man, and every man against them.

Not until General Crook, in 1883, reduced these dangerous nomads to submission did it become possible to make scientific investigations there; indeed, small bands of the "Men of the Woods" were still left, and my party had to be strong enough to cope with any difficulty from them.
Inasmuch as my expedition was the first to take advantage of the comparative security prevailing in that district, I thought that I could best further the aims of Science by associating with me a staff of scientists and students.

Professor W.Libbey, of Princeton, N.J., took part as the physical geographer, bringing with him his laboratory man; Mr.A.M.Stephen was the archaeologist, assisted by Mr.R.Abbott; Messrs.

C.V.Hartman and C.E.Lloyd were the botanists, Mr.F.Robinette the zooelogical collector, and Mr.H.White the mineralogist of the expedition.
All the scientific men were provided with riding animals, while the Mexican muleteers generally rode their own mounts.