90 MEXICAN CIBOLERO. 



The first caravan of wagons that crossed these 

 plains, passed on the south side of these 

 mounds, havhig abandoned our present route 

 at the ' Cold Sprmg/ where we encamped on 

 the night of the 1st of July. Although the 

 route we were travelling swerves somewhat 

 too much to the north, that pursued by the 

 early caravans as stated above, made still a 

 greater circuit to the south, and was by far the 

 most inconvenient 



As we were proceeding on otir march, we 

 observed a horseman approaching, who excit- 

 ed at first considerable curiosity. His pictu- 

 resque costume, and pecuUarity of deport- 

 ment, however, soon showed him to be a 

 Mexican Cibolero or buffalo-hunter. These 

 hardy devotees of the chase usually wear 

 leathern trousers and jackets, and flat straw 

 hats ; white, swung upon the shoulder of each 

 hangs his car cage or quiver of bow and ar- 

 rows. The long handle of theh lance being 

 set in a case, and suspended by the side with 

 a strap from the pommel of the saddle, leaves 

 the point waving high over the head, whh a 

 tassel of gay parti-colored stuffs danghng at 

 the tip of the scabbard. Their fusil, if they 

 happen to have one, is suspended in Uke 

 manner at the other side, with a stopper in 

 the muzzle fantastically tasselled. 



The Cibolero saluted us with demonstra- 

 tions of joy; nor were we less dehghted 

 at meeting with him; for we were now 

 able to obtain information from Santa F^, 

 whence^ no news had been received since 



