THROUGH KANSAS AND NEW MEXICO. 



5 



train at La Junta, and continue on into old Mexico, for here the wonderful Denver 

 and Rio Grande Railroad comes down from its mountain fastnesses, and unites 

 the " Central Pacific " system with the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe. 



ON THE SANTA FE TRAIL. 



IN NEW MEXICO 



we find ourselves entering territory once pertaining to the Mexican Republic, a 

 portion of that New Spain obtained for the Spanish crown through the prowess 

 of Cortes, and described by Humboldt. Here we shall more particularly observe 

 the country — for it is radically different from Kansas and Colorado — and the 

 people and architecture, which are alike strange and interesting. Almost rectan- 

 gular in shape, the territory of New Mexico has an area of 121,200 square miles, 

 and contains a population of 130,000 whites, about 8,000 Pueblo, and nearly as 

 many more nomadic Indians. 



From the time of our entrance into the territory, we shall observe a varied and 

 wonderful landscape, — high and rugged mountains, as at Raton Pass, most pic- 

 turesque 7nesas or table-lands, deep cafions, and wide-stretching plains. The 

 mountains are covered with timber, the plains destitute of trees, while in the 

 valleys, by means of irrigation, are raised bountiful crops of the fruits and vege- 

 tables of the temperate zone. From the mountains, which are spurs of the Rockies, 

 and are reputed rich in ores of silver, copper, iron, and gold, come down the 

 streams produced by the melting snows, but for which the plains of the northern 

 portion of New Mexico would be but arid wastes. Chief of these is the Rio Grande, 

 a turbid river, which has been called the Nile of America, as its waters have 

 fertilized so many lands, and which, nearly 1,500 miles in length, after crossing the 

 territory, forms the entire boundary line between Texas and Mexico. Although 



