[ 26 } 48 
‘the Sacramento mountains. In the plain grows mezquite and other 
shrubbery; the mountains east and west of the valley are steep, ak er » and 
a parry formed by igneous rocks. About half way from Sacramento to 
Chihua wa we got the first sight of the city. I was taken a once with 
the faaaaifal * of the place. The mountains from both sides meet there 
in the middle, as if they intended to shut up the valley; and amidst this 
~ circle of Mautiains lies Chihuahua, with its churches and steeples, with its 
wide and clean streets, with its flat roofed, commodious houses, with its 
aqueduct and evergreen ae 1eda—there it lies, as bright, shining and in- 
~ 
nocent, as if it were a city of ‘brotherly love’’—but my enchantment ~ 
ity. 
ustom-house examined the tents of my wagon very 
ea: ef were rather at a loss héw to account for the various instru- 
ments, packs of plants, and heaps of rocks that I carried with me; how- 
ever, they let me pass. I stopped at the American hotel in Chihuahua, 
kept by ecam I 
time, that there was no Seer of peace; that General Wool was ordered 
_ to Chihuahua, and that in 1, SORRERIERE of it great excitement enies in 
town. ‘There was a Mexican war party in Chihuahua, and a more mod- 
¢ 
erate party. The then savernee of the State belonged to the latter one 
but on the next day after my arrival he abdicated, or was rather forced tg 
abdicate, to make place for the leader of the other ‘party. Such bloodless - 
revolutions, brought on by intrigue and money, had been so common in 
Chihuahua, that the State was “sometimes ruled ¢ every month by a differ- 
ent governor. Under present circumstanges the change of government - 
was more important to the State, as well as to the foreign residents of Chi- 
huahua. The new governor, chosen by the war party, was Angel Trias, 
aman conspicuous for his wealth, for his hatred against the Americans, 
and ‘for his ambition of power. His. inauguration. “took place with mili- 
and ecclesiastical. pomp, patriotic Sete incre oualy, and 
occasionally a a to the Americans!’’ was heard. The war fever 
"goon ‘grew every high; volunteers were “arille ae every ice ind. paraded 
through the Srieis; a foundry for cannon was established, snitaition 
provid oe ee hreats against the lives and pro yf es foreigners becam 
very comm Paying no more Boge to those like. eparati st 
pi nlanaliasciaealat cneailtioaps 
prep 
than I donid help, i. pursued, in the meanwhile, ‘the scientific object . 
of my excursion to Chihuahua ne collecting plants, examining the geo- 
logical character of the sunguading country, and making in the yard of 
my dwelling barometrical and astronomical observations. The prospect 
come too high, I intended | to retire to some more quiet place. As.I had 
esented the rt received in New Mexico from Governor 
lijo to the authorities of 'Chinngnos, ac 
e it, I rae ined no doubt that I was at liberty to leave the 
aye days afer my arrival i in Chihuahua, an occurrence, 
“brought m t: with the Mexican au thorities. 
omaniemmenisiagitiase= 
| 
