He had been furnished with reports, sent in by the provincial and local juntas, as to the state of the roads, but, as he had expected, he soon found these to be grossly inaccurate.

The roads marked as excellent, and fit for the passage of artillery and trains, were found to be mere bridle roads.
Others, marked as highroads, were almost impassable lanes.

The bridges across the streams were, for the most part, in such a bad condition as to be unsafe for a country cart and, until repaired, impossible for the passage of artillery.
He carefully noted all the points at which work was required to render them in any degree practicable for the passage of troops, and reported fully to Colonel Crofton.

The latter, who was provided with full authority, despatched the greater portion of his troops, with a large number of peasants, with materials to fill up the deep ruts, repair the bridges, and make the roads, as far as possible, fit for the passage of an army.
In ten days, Desmond had surveyed all the roads down both the valley of the Guadiana and that of the Tagus, and had sent off his report to Madrid, together with his observations as to the points at which a defensive position could, in his opinion, be best taken up.

Having done this, he prepared to undertake the second part of his mission, and to investigate the roads on the Portuguese side of the frontier.
"Now we shall have to keep our eyes open, Mike," he said.