, 33 [ 26 1 
erable. In some years it was estimated from 30 to eee in others from 
60 to $80,000, and in latter years even as high as $250,000 per annum. 
July 11,—Loaded with. pests of gold ore, I started this m orning to 
join the caravan which expected to reach Albuquerque within four 
days. 'The Alea'y fee here to of Bead leads at first through a cafion 
ina SSE. direction, because a chain of granitic mountains to the west 
does not allow a more direct course. Tall pines, cedars, and sometimes a 
small oak tree, grow in the narrow valley, and all over the ria aa 
mountains. After having travelled six miles, I passed by a small or 
village or pueblo; they cultivate some fields by way of irrigation, but loo 
exceedingly poor. The entrance to their tam USES WaS,aS fergie hole aoe 
top, to which they climb on a ladder. Riding on through a Pi ce 
I met ik a Mexican soldier, who estan! me at, me 2 a ‘Pej ve 
and, professing t friendship, bothered m with his Spanish 
I calls orse 3 trot sud ian him, with nee behind. » About 10 
miles ee I reached a Mexican town, San Antonio; my“horse was tired, 
and I would have wished, myself, to stop; but everything looked so mean 
and phy that I passed through the town, and. rode ‘three ‘miles farther. 
I met witi a little, stream, and followed it some distance into the 
mountains; and grass and water being excellent, I resolved to camp here 
for the night. I picketed my horse to the best ass ane prepared for my- 
self a supper, In the night my horse, watchful as a dog, disturbed me ' 
several. times by getting frightened and running towards me, but it was 
caused by nothing but phar. deers; and other innocent animals... 
July 12.—Follo course of the creek, I went in a southern direc- 
tion about six miles throu zh the valley, hemmed in on both sides by rug- 
ged granitic mountains.» ring then towards the west, I left the moun- 
ns for a plain, at the 2 western end of which, in a_distance of 10 miles, 
Albuquerque andthe Rio del Norte lay before-me: 
ground. Albuquerque is a town. as la r d for seve 
miles along the left bank of the Rio del | Norte, and if not a hand: somer, is at 
least not a worse looking place than the capital. Jtis.the usual residence 
of Governor Armijo; peepee he was out. of power, he retired hither to 
work himself i into ergo again 
Ibu that the caravan had not passed yeh 
T retired to a rancho on mall. farm) near the town, to or its arrival, 
sorrel. days I looked in vain for the caravan; but as it ned a apes in es 
atter days, I actestuated their delay to the et ron y poor | 
hospitable ranchero in the me wig ety did all in-his | sare to make me 
comfortable. He pes my Ser to the fattest cage _ provided my- 
self with milk, beans, and “tortillas,’? ad libitwin. e rancheros or 
small farmers pecined to me generally to be more | ay cae the rest of 
the p ? ey do not work to excess, fel it is anti-Mexi nN; 
