LOWER RIO BRAVO. 



67 



and banditti of that country. Opposite, on the banks of the Salado, and four miles from the 

 Eio Bravo, is the town of Guerrero. The Salado, like the San Juan, and the Alamo which 

 comes in at Mier, is a clear stream, having its rise in the sierras of igneous and metamori>hic 

 rock to the west, and forms a true oasis in the wilderness of rotten limestone which is found on 

 either side of the lower Rio Bravo, and which causes the waters of most of its tributaries to be 

 brackish and unwholesome. 



The falls of the Salado are seven miles above its junction with the Eio Bravo. A floral pheno- 

 menon exhibits itself on the Rio Bravo, which finds its explanation at these falls. Just above 

 Roma^ and thence to the mouth of the Salado, the cypress is found growing in the bed 

 of the Eio Bravo, and it was a matter of conjecture why it should grow there and not 

 elsewhere. On ascending the Salado to the falls-, it was ascertained the principal growth on 

 that river was cypress, and the trees in the Rio Bravo were evidently emigrants from this 

 colony. It is to be hoped that this useful tree will continue its emigration downwards, where 

 the country is now destitute of all building wood. 



The land from Bellville to Loredo is not altogether barren ; there are many flats on which 

 the water of the river could be brought for the purposes of irrigation ; but, until recently, the 



4 



Indians Lave liad entire possession of the coimtiy, and now they make continual forays, 

 crossing and recrossing the river to elude pursuit, at some of the many fords which 

 occur in the river, I was myself very near falling into the hands of a party of these savages. 

 Passing in a wagon from Bellville to Einggold Barracks, in one of our excursions to determine 

 the astronomical position of the former place, accompanied only by assistant Clark and the 

 driver of the instrument wagon, we struck the trail of a hand of Indians, where two roads 

 united, so close that the dust was still flying. We supposed at the time we were foUowii 

 the heels of a gang of wild mustangs going to water. These Indians were pursued by Captain 

 Granger of the rifles, and brought to bay just as they were crossing the river and making good 

 their escape to Mexico. That energetic officer succeeded in killing the chief and several others, 

 and capturing all their horses and arms. 



In many instances, along this portion of the river, American capital has associated with it 

 Mexican labor, in the attempt to open farms for the produce of grain and the rearing stock, but 

 the incursions of the wild Indians, and the depredations of the semi-civilized and half-breed 

 Indians, render such enterprises uncertain and unprofitable. After w^e ascend about thirty 

 miles above Loredo, all settlements on the Texas side cease until we get in the immediate neigh- 

 borhood of Eagle Pass. 



At Loredo there is a very considerable Mexican settlement, which dates back to the times 

 when the Spaniards occupied the country. It has at present fallen into decay, and derives its 



+ 



support principally from the United States garrison^ (Fort Mcintosh,) one mile above the town. 

 Loredo was once the residence of proprietors of countless horses and cattle, which have been run 



o 



off by the Indians. 



from their captors, have formed the source of the 



numerous herds of wild horses and cattle that are now roaming the prairies to the east and 

 norths the pursuit of which affords the chief occupation of many of the inhabitants of the Eio 



Bravo. 



much 



is more elevated and more freijuently intersected by dry arroyos, which give evidence of more 



frequent and copious falls of rain. 



Here, too, the geological character of the country is a little changed by the frequent occur^ 



