g6 Audubon's Western Journal 



the camp of those to be stampeded. Horses and 

 mules, keen of scent and hearing, receive warnings 

 of danger through both faculties, and are so 

 frightened they will break any ordinary fastening. 

 No matter which way they go, the vagabonds are 

 such beautiful riders they soon turn the herd to 

 any course they like, and make their escape, for 

 those robbed have nothing to follow on; for, even 

 if a few animals are left, the speed of the thieves 

 can never be equalled. In this instance our vigi- 

 lant guard saved us; what would have become of 

 us if they had not, I dare not think. 



June Jth, Mapimi. After a ride of twenty 

 leagues we reached this place last night just before 

 twelve, and lay down without food for either our- 

 selves or our horses, and the poor animals had only 

 had water once that day. The journey had been 

 well enough. From time to time we enjoyed a 

 pleasant shade through a larger growth of mus- 

 quits than common, and again the country was bare 

 of all vegetation. Tired though we were, our 

 sleep was poor, for we were in a sort of barnyard 

 full of hogs, and surrounded by thieving Mexicans. 



This is a mining town and has several smelting 

 furnaces where charcoal is used. Lead, and 

 about an ounce of silver to every hundred pounds 

 of ore, is produced, so the silver pays for the 

 smelting, and in some of the mines copper is found. 

 The furnaces externally are picturesque, not high^ 



