216 DOCUMENT DEDUCTIONS. From No. 14, one-third of the amount, being for board, etc., of a servant at Mexico, not allowed. . . $ 9.08 From No. 15 one-third, being for stage-fare from Mexico to Vera Cruz 47.83 From No. 16, one-third, being for passage of servant to New York 61.66 From item for expenses in Mexico, one-third, for proportion of servant 3.66 From item for expenses in and from New York to Washington, for the same, 9.66 From item for hire of servant, the hire and expenses of whom is allowed from the period of the com- mencement of the journey of Mr. Slacum, in the execution of the duty confided to him, to that of his arrival in Mexico, when it is considered he could have dispensed with his services 6.00 $137.89 No. 1. PETIC, June 7, 1836. SIR: I have the honor to acquaint you with my having reached this place a few days since, on my way to the Oregon. I could not procure a vessel at Guaymas, to go up the coast, therefore felt compelled to attempt the journey by land, in- tending to cross the Rio Colorado, in 113 west, and 33 north latitude. I entertained some fears of not being able to cross the river, and two days ago met Dr. William Keith, late United States Consul at Petic. He had just returned from Upper California. In answer to my inquiries as to the difficulties of the route, at this season of the year, he answered me thus : "From the Augua Salada, to the Tinaga Alta, is a distance of 28 English leagues, without water. From thence to the river Gila you are still without water. That at the Tinaga Alta, is collected during the rainy season in the rocks. We had great difficulty in watering our animals, and Don Silvestre de la Portilla, who followed four days after in our track, informed us the water had given out; consequently you would have a journey of at least 55 leagues to perform, without watering
