[ 26 ] 60 
leagues southwest of it, on an elevation commanding a wide view. Along, 
-the ereeks Casas Grandes and Janos a long line,of Indian mounds ex- 
tends, in some of which earthen vessels, painted white, blue, and violet, 
have been found; also weapons, and instruments of stone, but none of iron. 
The same artificial construction of houses is yet found amongst the Moqui _ 
Indians, northwest of the State of Chihuahua. But an old tradition re- 
rts that the Aztecs, in their migration from the north to the south of 
ico, made three principal stations—the first-on the lake de 'Teguyo, 
(great Salt lake?) the second on the Gila, and the third at Casas Grandes. — 
‘he ruins of Casas Grandes are only distant about four days’ travel from 
Cosihuiriachi, and 1 felt very anxious to examine them; but as the gov- 
ernment of Chihuahua, following the edent of Dr. Francia, in Para-. - 
ars 
guay, considered a scientific exploration of the country as endangering the » 
welfare of the republic, I had to forego the pleasure, and to confine myself . 
. 
to the reports given to me in relation to it.* 
Finally, let us look into the capital, the largest and finest city of the 
State. Chihuahua was settled about 1691. The number of its inhabi- 
tants is said to have been much greater about the middle of the last cen- 
tury than now; at present it is estimated at from12 to 15,000. Chihuahua 
has a most beautiful situation in a valley, open towards the north, and sur- 
rounded on the other sides by the projecting mountains of the Sierra Madre. 
The city is regularly built; has wide and clean strects—in some of them 
quite handsome and convenient houses; plenty of water from the Chihua- 
hua creek, and from an aqueduct; fine gardens around the town, and a de- 
lightful public wallx, (Alameda,) shaded with cotton trees. The finest place 
of the city, as usual in Mexico, is the Plaza, or public square. It isvery spa- 
cious; has a public fountain in the middle, and foot walks on the side, wi 
benches and pillars.of a white porphyry, which is found in the neighbor- 
ood. Three sides of the square are occupied with public buildings and 
g ual and p 
allel steeples in front of it are elevated 52} varas above the Plaza. Another 
expensive work of architecture, erected in Spanish times, is the aqueduct, 
guilt of rocks, with arches; it extends 6,533 varas, and provides the south- 
ern part of the city with water, while on the north side the Chihuahua 
runs, which unites below with the ‘‘ Nombre de Dios,’’ and falls into 
Conchos. Another remarkable building in town is the church of San, 
Felipe, commenced by the Jesuits, and left unfinished after, their expul- 
sion. In this building the patriotic Hidalgo and his associates were con- 
fined before their execution; also the Texan officers of the ill-fated Santa 
Fe expedition, on their march to the south; and in more recent times it 
was converted into a foundry, at which were cast the cannon taken by 
Colonel Doniphan’s regiment at the battle of Sacramento, and since trans 
sae By ‘ ) blic square, a sunple 
monument, in honor of Hidalgo, Allende, and Jimenez, the revolutionary 
heroes that were shot here by the Spaniards : rake e es 
.- 
in Mac: Se SP ie A hie ee sey 
- “Ss i ey 
count of these ruins is given. © 
