316 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



is not one single redeeming trait of disposition or habits to be found 

 within its borders. 



Friday, December 23, 1853. 



Our course to-day was about N. 10^ W., and lay along the eastern 

 slopes of the Sierra de la Manzana. We faced a snow-storm for nearl}^ 

 the whole forenoon, and were therefore unable to observe much about 

 the features of the country. Six miles 729 yards from Manzana we 

 passed a small mountain sti'eam running towards the east — a mere 

 brook, that is soon lost in the ground. On this there is a httle village 

 called Torreon. Two miles 1,181 yards further north we passed ano- 

 ther similar brook, and another small town called Tagique. From 

 this last place, over a rolling, broken, and well timbered country, we 

 marched to a small hamlet called Chilili. This town, like Torreon and 

 Tagique, is situated upon a mere rivulet, running from the mountains 

 to the open plains towards the east. Here we encamped in the snow, 

 and sutiered much durins: the whole nio;ht from a cold wind frcm the 

 north. 



Saturday, December 24, 1853. 



This morning, before we left camp, an old Mexican brought us some 

 ore, which he said is to be found in great abundance near the Tetilla 

 Peaks, but that it is now covered so deeply in the snow as to be diffi- 

 cult to be procured. We believe the specimen he gave us contains 

 silver. When the snow has melted, it will be worth the trouble, per- 

 haps, to explore these mountains thoroughly, with a view to the dis- 

 covery of precious metals. 



After travelling north for about two miles this morning, we turned 

 off' toward the west, by a road that leads to Albuquerque by the Cailon 

 del Infierno. As we ascended the eastern slope of the mountain, we 

 passed through extensive groves of large pine-trees, suitable for boards 

 and other building purposes. The snow was a foot in depth, and the 

 air dry and cold, as in mid-winter in the extreme north. The Canon 

 del Infierno is 10 miles 562 yards in length. It is very circuitous. 

 The mountains rise abruptly thousands of feet above it on either hand. 

 This makes it a pass of great ruggedness, as well as of a wild and pic- 

 turesque beauty. Halt-way down through it we came to a fine spring 

 of water. The rocks are the same stratified, fbssiliferous limestone, 

 which we saw at Los Puertos de Abo. From the mouth of the Canon 

 del Infierno to Albuquerque, the road descends through an open prairie, 

 entirely destitute of water for the whole distance, which is 20 miles 

 492 yards. 



We arrived at Albuquerque at 8 o'clock in the evening, having 

 marched to-day 36 miles 317 yards. 



