14 Proceedings. 



Notes on an excursion into northern Mexico. — A. D. 



Meeds. 



[abstract.] 



On October 4, 1891, the writer having been granted a leave of absence 

 from the University of Minnesota, left Minneapolis for El Paso, Texas, 

 where he joined Dr. Carl Lumholtz, the Norv^egian explorer, who was about 

 to continue his expedition in northern Mexico. The expedition* had started 

 the previous 3^ear from Bisbee, Arizona, and at this time the party was near 

 Casas Grandes, in northwestern Chihuahua, where they had spent the sum- 

 mer exploring the man\^ ruins and mounds of the early inhabitants. A very 

 valuable collection of pottery, utensils, etc., was made and sent to the 

 American Museum t)f Natural History, New York, under whose auspices 

 the expedition was undertaken. 



The general object w^as to explore and study the prehistoric ruins, to 

 make collections of animal and plant life, and of rocks and minerals, in 

 order to advance our knowledge of an unmapped and little known territory. 

 The region to be explored was in the inaccessible Sierra Madre mountains 

 lying along the boundary between the states of Sonora and Chihuahua, in 

 northern Mexico. These mountains from their ruggedness had been the 

 lurking place of hostile bands of Indians, especially Apaches, who had ter- 

 rorized the surrounding coim try, carr\dng death and destruction into the 

 pueblos and driving all settlers out of the country. They had been masters 

 of the region for many years and were only captured and dislodged by Gen. 

 Crook in his famous campaign. 



The early Spaniards had been through this country centuries before and 

 had left traces in the way of abandoned smelters, mines, etc. The Mexicans 

 told fabulous stories of this wonderful countr3^ It had been reported and 

 was believed by some scientific men, that a tribe of Cliff Dwellers still ex- 

 isted in their natural state, in the barrancas of this terra incognita. 



Casas Grandes is about 150 miles directly south of Deming, N. M., 

 where the explorers left the railroad, and about the same distance south- 

 west of El Paso, Texas. It is on a river of the same name which flows 

 through the sandy plain, enclosed on the east and west by mountains. The 

 topography of the country is very similar to that of Texas and New Mexico, 

 of which it is, in fact, a continuation. From this point the expedition trav- 

 eled in a southerly direction, climbing immediatelj^ into the mountains and 

 continuing along their ciests the greater part of the time. These moun- 

 tains vary from 6,000 to 9,000 feet high, and during the winter are covered 

 with snow, the weather at this time being very similar to a mild Minnesota 

 w^inter. 



The party consisted of the leader. Dr. Carl Lumholtz, G. H. Taylor, 

 topographer and photographer, C. V. Hartman, botanist, J. H. Locke, in 

 charge of accounts, A. D. Meads, naturalist, and about a dozen Mexicans 

 for general work. 



Leaving Casas Grandes, about 4,500 feet above sea level, the region of 

 the pines was reached, ranging from 6,000 to over 8,000 feet, and a few 



*See account of the Expedition in Scribner's Magazine, November, 1891. 



