VALLEY OF TAOS. 145 



most indispensable for protection against the 

 marauding savages of the surrounding wilder- 

 ness. The principal of these settlements are 

 located in the valley of the Rio del Norte, 

 extending from nearly one hundred miles 

 north to about one hundred and forty south 

 of Santa Fe.* The most important of these, 

 next to tlie capital, is El Voile de Taos,-\ so 

 called in honor of the Taosa tribe of Indians, 

 a remnant of whom still forms a Pueblo in the 

 north of the valley. No part of New Mexico 

 equals this valley in amenity of soil, richness 

 of produce and beauty of appearance. What- 

 ever is thrown into its prolific bosom, which 

 the early frosts of autumn will permit to ripen, 

 grows to a wonderful degree of perfection. 



AVheat especially has been produced of a 

 superlative quality, and in such abundance, 

 that, as is asserted, the crops have often yield- 

 ed over a hundred fold. I would not have it 

 understood, however, that this is a fair sample 

 of New Mexican soil ; for, in point of fact, 

 though many of the bottoms are of very fertile 

 character, the uplands must chiefly reniain 

 unproductive ; owing, in part, to the sterihty 

 of the soil, but as much, no doubt, to want 

 of irrigation ; hence nearly all the farms and 

 settlements are located in those valleys which 



♦ Ml 



--e settlements up the river from the capital are collectively 

 known as Rio-Arriba, and those down the river as -K^o-^i'- 

 The latter comprise over a third of the popdation, and the princi- 

 pal wealth of New Mexico. - ,, . „,„, t, 

 t ■ The Valley of Taos,' there heing no tovmol ^^f^^^-X 

 iucludes several villages and other settlements, the largest of whiclx 

 ate Fernandez and Los Ranches, four or five mdes apan. 



13 



