106 MEXICAN ESCORT. 



nearest waters of the legitimate ' Eed River 

 of Natchitoches/ are still a hundred miles to 

 the south of this road. 



In descending to the Rio Colorado, we met 

 a dozen or more of our countrymen from 

 Taos, to which town (sixty or seventy miles 

 distant) there is a direct but rugged route 

 across the mountains. It was a joyous en- 

 counter, for among them we found some of 

 our old acquamtances whom we had not seen 

 lor many years. During our boyhood we had 

 spelt together in the same country school, 

 and roamed tlie wUd woods with many a 

 childish glee. They turned about with us, 

 and the remainder of our march was passed 

 m answering their inquiries after their rela- 

 tives and friends in the United States. 



Betoie reachmg the stream, we encountered 

 another party of visitors, bemg chiefly cus- 

 tom-house agents or clerks, who, accompanied 

 by a mihtaiy escort, had come out to guard 

 the caravan to the Capital. The ostensible 

 piirpose of this escort was to prevent smug- 

 ^ . I'~7'' company of troops being thus dis- 

 patched every year, ^.dth strict injunctions to 

 watch the caravans. Tliis custom appears 

 smce to have nearly grown out of use : and 

 ^vell might it be discontmued altogether, for 

 any one disposed to smuggle would find no 

 mtticulty m securing the services of these 

 preventive guards, who, for a triflmg doucevr, 

 would prove very efficient auxiUaries, rather 

 man obs acles to the success of any such de- 

 signs. As we were forming in the vaUey op- 



