Away off toward the north, at a distance of from fifteen to twenty miles, could be seen a high chain of sharp peaks.
I may mention here that I found the water of many streamlets and brooks throughout the western mountains of Mexico to have a slightly whitish colour and a dull, opalescent look, like a strong solution of quinine.

The Mexicans call it _agua blanca_, or _agua zarca_, and consider it the best water they have.

Many places, especially ranches, are named after it.

In the locality where we now found ourselves the water had a slightly bitter taste, owing to a strong admixture of iron and other minerals, but generally it was very palatable.
Here, only twenty-three miles from Nacori, and at an elevation of 4,000 feet, we were obliged to make camp for three days.

Dense fogs and occasional hard showers made travel impossible.