CHAPTER V. 



A Beautiful Ravine — 'Runners' Starting for Santa Fe — Fourth 

 of July on the Prairies — The Cibolero or Buifalo-hunier 

 Mournful News of Captain Sublette's Company— Murder of 

 Captain Smith and another of the party by the Indians — 

 Carelessness and Risks of Hunters — Captain Sublette's Peril 

 — Character and Pursuits of the Ciboleros — The Art of Curing- 

 Meat — Purity of the Atmosphere— The « Round Mound' — The 

 Mirage or False Ponds — Philosophy thereof — Extensive and 

 Interesting Vie\r — Exaggerated Accounts by Travellers of 

 the Buffalo of the Prairies — Their Decrease— A ' Stampede' 



■Wagon Repairing — Rio Colorado or Canadian River- 

 Meeting between old Friends — Mexican Escort — Disorganiz- 

 ing of the Caravan — Dreadful Thunder-storm — First Symp- 

 toms of Civilization — San Miguel — Arrival at Santa Fe 

 Entry of the Caravan — First Hours of Recreation — Inter- 

 preters and Custom-house Arrangements — A Glance at the 

 Trade, etc. 



It was on the last day of June that we ar- 

 rived at the ' Upper Spring/ which is a small 

 fountain breaking into a ravine that declines 

 towards the Cimarron some three or four 

 miles to the north. The scarcity of water in 

 these desert regions, gives to every little 

 spring an importance which, of course, in 

 more favored countries it would not enjoy. 

 We halted at noon on the brook beloAV, and 

 then branched off towards the waters of the 

 Canadian, in an average direction of about 



