68 A REMINISCENCE. 



kansas late in the season; they were overtaken 

 by a hea^y snow storm, and driven to take 

 shelter on a large island. A rigorous winter 

 ensued, which forced them to remain pent up 

 in that place for three long months. During 

 this time the greater portion of their animals 

 perished ; so that, when the sprinj^ began to 

 open, they were unable to continue their 

 journey with their goods. In tliis emergency 

 they made a cache some distance above, on 

 the north side of the river, where they stowed 

 away the most of their merchandise. From 

 thence they proceeded to Taos, where they 

 procured mules, and retmned to get their hid- 

 den property. 



^ Few travellers pass this way without \dsit- 

 ing these mossy pits, many of which remain 

 partly unfilled to the present day. In the 

 vicinity, or a few miles to the eastward per- 

 haps, passes the hundredth degree of longi- 

 tude west from Greenwich, which, from the 

 Arkansas to Eed River, forms the boundary 

 between the United States and the Mexican, 

 or rather the Texan territory. 



The term cc^he, meaning a place of conceal- 

 ment, was originally used by the Canadian 

 I rench trappers and traders. It is made by 

 digging a hole in the ground, somewhat in 

 the shape of a jug, which is lined with diy 

 sticks, grass, or anything else that will pro- 

 tect its contents from the dampness of the 

 earth. In this place the goods to be conceal- 

 ed are carefully stowed away ; and the aper- 

 ture IS then so effectually closed as to protect 



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