lOO Audubon's Western Journal 



support it but its petty garrison of a hundred and 

 fifty cavalry mounted on mules. We were hooted 

 and shouted at as we passed through, and called 

 "Gringoes," etc., but that did not prevent us from 

 enjoying their delicious spring water; it was cool 

 and delightful. Our men rushed to it, and drank 

 two pint cups full each, hardly breathing between 

 times ; it was the first good water we had had since 

 leaving the Mississippi. 



Here we were visited by a member of a Mexican 

 travelling circus, who asked our protection as far 

 as El Valle, which we promised them. The party 

 consisted of five, one woman and four men. The 

 lady rode as we used to say in Louisiana "leg of a 

 side," on a small pacing pony; the two horses of 

 the ring carried only their saddles, two pack mules, 

 four small trunks, and four jaded horses the rest 

 of the plunder. The four men went one on foot, 

 driving the packs and continually refitting and 

 repacking, the other three riding. One man had 

 two Chihuahua dogs about six inches long, stulTed 

 in his shirt bosom, another a size larger on the 

 pommel of his saddle. A second man was in 

 grand Spanish costume, on a small but blooded 

 grey horse, with a large dragoon sword on his left, 

 and a Mexican musket made about 1700, which 

 would have added to an antiquary's armory. They 

 told us they had everything they owned with them, 

 so that if alone, and attacked by the Apaches, whom 



