Maize, too, may also ripen.

Furthermore, he told me of some interesting cave dwellings near the Mormon settlement on the eastern edge of the sierra, which I decided to investigate.
When the Mormons had come to colonise parts of northern Mexico, an American called "Apache Bill," who had lived for a number of years with the Apaches, told them of a large, fertile valley showing many evidences of former cultivation.

Probably he referred to a locality that had once been inhabited by a remnant of the Opata Indians, who had become christianised and had received fruit trees from the missionaries.

The trees, when found, were said to be still bearing fruit, while the people had vanished--having probably been killed off by the Apaches.
I returned to the main camp, leaving, however, two men behind to search still further for the _casa blanca_.

When they returned after a few days, they reported that nothing could be found, and that the country was difficult of access.