Pages [26 and 27]

MARCH 23, 1949. - CONT.

DROVE TO CIUDAD GUZMAN, TURNING OFF THE HGHY SOMEWHAT
SHORT OF THE HGHY TO [???LAN]. THE ROAD RUNS PAST TWO
VAST DRY LAKES, ONE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY OFF THE MAIN
HGHY TO GUADALAJANA. THERE IS A SHORT STRETCH OF
MT. ROAD BEFORE WE CAME DOWN INTO THE FLAT. WE
STAYED LOW PAST A SECOND DRY LAKE AND SAYULA, THEN
CLIMBED A LOW RANGE OF MTS TO GUZMAN. WE OVERNIGHTED
IN GUZMAN. (HOTEL ANGUIANO - THE WORST YET).

MARCH 24, 1949. NEVADA DE COLIMA.
THE ROAD TO THE MOUNTAIN IS THE FIRST TO THE RIGHT
FROM THE SW CORNER OF THE PLAZA IN GUZMAN. IT FOLLOWS
AN OLD DRY [illegible] (PROBABLY FLOODED IN THE RAINY
SEASON TO THE HILLS. OUR CAMP SITE IS ON THE NW
SLOPE OF THE MOUNTAIN, WITH THE PEAK NOT VISIBLE.
IT IS SHUT OFF BY A LONG HIGH ESCARPMENT. THE ROAD
PASSES [illegible] AND JASMIN TO EL ISELTE AND
ENDWS THERE AT AN OLD SAWMILL. WATER FOR THE TOWN
MUST COME DOWN FROM HIGH IN THE MOUNTAIN VIA AN
AQUEDUCT MADE OF HOLLOWED LOGS. THIS IS OUR H2O SUPPLY
HERE. DR. MCVAUGH CAUGHT AN [illegible] FOR
ME ABOUT 7600 FT., ON THE ROAD UP. GOT 2 EUMECES
AND A SCELOP MICRO, AT THE OLD MILL. WE MADE CAMP
IN THE DIRTIEST, DRIEST SPOT YET.

MARCH 25, 1949. - NEVADA DE COLIMA.

SPENT THE WHOLE DAY WORKING UP AND DOWN HILLSIDES
AND CANYONS, TURNING LOGS AND RIPPING BARK. GOT TWO
SCELOP MICROS. THIS IS THE DRY SEASON HERE WITH A
VENGEANCE. THERE IS NO DAMPNESS ANYWHERE. I WORKED
JUST AS HARD IF NOT HARDER HERE THAN ANY PLACE YET, BUT

[right page]
MARCH 25 - 1949, CONT.

GOT NOTHING. THERE WAS NO "LITTLE RAINY SEASON" HERE
THIS YEAR - NO RAIN IN JANUARY - AND THE RESULT IS NOTHING
STIRRING.

MARCH 26, 1949 - NEVADA DE COLIMA.

WENT UP THE AQUEDUCT WHICH SUPPLIES THIS WHOLE AREA
WITH WATER TO ITS SOURCE. THIS IS ABOUT 1500 FT HIGHER
AND ABOUT 2 MILES SE OF [EL I SOLTE??]. THE WATER IS
CAUGHT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER FLOWING OUT OF THE
GROUND AND PIPED AWAY, SO THIS IS JUST AS DRY AN AREA
AS THE REST OF THE MOUNTAIN. I CAUGHT ONE PSEUDOEURYCEA
BELLII TO PROVE I PUT IN A DAY'S WORK. HE WAS UNDER
A LOG VERY NEAR THE AQUEDUCT. THE AREA IMMEDIATELY ABOUT
THE SPRING IS ENTERABLE ONLY BY LADDER, AND IS NOT
GRAZED BY CATTLE. URTICA, THE NETTLE, IS ABUNDANT AND
PAINFUL. HELMUT SAYS HE HAS NEVER MET IT IN MEXICO
BEFORE THIS. THE GRASS IS HIGH AND QUITE GREEN, AND BUSHES
ARE NUMEROUS AND LARGE. IT WAS STILL TOO DRY FOR ME, HOWEVER.

MARCH 27, 1949 - NEVADA DE COLIMA

TRIED BROMELIAD COLLECTING TODAY, AFTER GETTING ANOTHER
BELLII UNDER A LOG IN A DEEP CANYON. THIS SPECIES IS
APPARENTLY INURED TO DRYING, AND CAN STAND MUCH MORE OF
IT THAN ANY OTHER SPECIES I'VE SEEN DOWN HERE. THE
BROMELIADS PRODUCED NOTHING. THEY SEEM TO BE QUITE SPECIFIC
IN THEIR CHOICE OF HOST TREE, BEING CONFINED TO OAKS, AND
POSSIBLY TO ONE SPECIES OF THEM. THEY DON'T GROW ON PINES OR
EUCALYPTUS AT ALL. THE BROMELIADS ARE QUITE DRY, WITH NO
REAL POOLS, JUST MOISTURE AT THE BOTTOMS OF THE LEAVES.