metals are said to abound. The famous Planchas de Plata and
Arizona silver mines, which the Count Raouset de Boulbon
attempted to take possession of, are in this section of country,
not many miles below the present limits, and at several of the
old ranchos and deserted mining villages which we visited, were
found the argentiferous galena ore and gold. The Sierra Santa
Rita runs along to the east of the Santa Cruz valley, and forms a
part of this interesting region. It is very high and bold, filled
with fertile valleys and flowing rivulets, and covered with a
dense growth of timber. I saw much of this district, when here in
1851, on the survey of the boundry."

* * * * * * * *

The country bordering immediately the head of the Gulf of
California, through which Gray was probably the first to
penetrate, lies adjacent to the proposed Arizona Territory, but
not a part of the same, being a portion of the State of Sonora.©ªHe thus describes that section:

"The Indians represent rich Placers existing throughout this
region, and large numbers of them had lately come in with
considerable quantities of the dust. They were trading it for
trifles to the Mexicans. I got some specimens of it which was the
same as the California Gold. This was not the time of year (June)
for them to work the mines, but in the fall, after the rain has
commenced. The greatest drawback to the profitable working of the
Placers of this district, is the scarcity of water. If artesian
wells succeed, there is little doubt that it will create an
important change. West from Tuseon and Tubac, towards the Gulf of
California, the country presents more the appearance of a barren